Dublin Dance Festival 2026

What to Expect

Dublin Dance Festival 2026 runs from April 30 to May 16 and takes over venues right across the city with a bold, citywide programme of contemporary dance. The 2026 edition opens with a proper headline act: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo making their return to Dublin for their 50th Anniversary Tour at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. If you’ve never seen the Trocks, they’re brilliant, a company of male dancers performing classical ballet with a knowing wit that somehow manages to be both brilliant parody and technically dazzling performance.

Beyond that, the programme spans the Abbey Theatre, IMMA, Project Arts Centre, The Ark, The Pavilion Theatre, and outdoor spaces across the city. There are lunchtime talks, VR experiences, free outdoor performances, and after-dark club nights that blend dance culture with the festival’s more formal programme.

Expect international choreographers alongside Irish premieres, and the kind of work you won’t find on any other stage in the country this month.

Good to Know

• Festival runs April 30 to May 16
• Multiple shows across multiple venues, check the full programme online
• Free outdoor events on select dates
• Suitable for first-time dance festival goers, the programme is well varied
• Student discounts available at most venues

Getting There

Venues are spread across the city centre, from the Docklands (Bord Gais Energy Theatre) to Temple Bar (Project Arts Centre) to the Northside (Abbey Theatre). Most are within easy reach of Luas or Dublin Bus. The Bord Gais Energy Theatre is closest to Grand Canal Dock DART station, a five-minute walk.