Culture Night 2026 in County Louth

Culture Night returns to County Louth on Friday, 18 September 2026, with free evening events running from 4pm onward at venues across the county. Louth County Council coordinates the county’s programme with support from the Arts Council, and this year’s line-up includes An Tain Arts Centre and Droichead Arts Centre alongside libraries and community venues in Dundalk and Drogheda.

What to expect

Culture Night is a single evening of free, open-access arts and heritage events held on the same night across the country, and Louth’s programme is built from proposals that local venues and artists apply to run with small grants from the council’s Culture Night Event Fund. Past years have included artist-in-residence open studios, live music, podcasts recorded in front of an audience, and behind-the-scenes access to venues that normally charge for a show. An Tain Arts Centre and Droichead Arts Centre are the two anchor venues, each running their own mix of performances, workshops and exhibition openings, while smaller events run in libraries and community spaces in both towns. Because each venue sets its own programme, the exact line-up is confirmed closer to the date rather than fixed months in advance.

Getting there

An Tain Arts Centre is inside Dundalk Town Hall on Crowe Street in the town centre, an easy walk from Clarke Station and the bus station. Droichead Arts Centre in Drogheda is a similarly central, walkable venue for anyone based in that town instead.

While you’re in Dundalk

Dundalk’s Town Hall, County Museum and town centre shops are all within a few minutes of An Tain Arts Centre. More on Dundalk, Drogheda and across Co. Louth.

Good to know

• Date: Friday, 18 September 2026, from 4pm into the evening
• Venues: An Tain Arts Centre and Droichead Arts Centre, plus libraries and community venues in Dundalk and Drogheda
• Price: free, no booking required for most events
• Annual event; check individual venues nearer the date for their specific programme