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theatre · Tuesday 15 September 2026 · 7:30pm 
Gate Theatre - Autumn Season 2026
At Gate Theatre · Cavendish Row, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
At Gate Theatre · Cavendish Row, Parnell Square, Dublin 1
The Gate Theatre’s autumn season runs from September through December 2026, bringing a full slate of plays to one of Dublin’s most admired stages. With just 371 seats, every performance has an intimacy that larger venues simply cannot match. The autumn programme is well-suited to anyone who wants a proper night out - a good seat, a well-produced play, and the city on your doorstep afterwards. It suits couples, friends, and solo theatregoers equally; there’s no dress code and the atmosphere is more relaxed than its grand Georgian address might suggest.
The Gate has been presenting theatre at Parnell Square since 1928, when it was founded by Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir. The building itself is part of the Rotunda complex, which dates to the 1780s, and has a handsome interior that adds something to any evening before a word is spoken.
The 2026 autumn programme opens with Meredith by Erica Murray from 30 September, followed by It’s a Wonderful Life, a stage adaptation by Mary Elliott Nelson, from 21 November - a good fit for the pre-Christmas run. The Gate’s typical season mixes new Irish writing with revivals and international work; earlier in 2026 the theatre staged Conor McPherson’s The Brightening Air (described by The Irish Times as “outstanding” and given five stars) and Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. Autumn productions tend to follow the same standard: properly resourced, well-cast, and running around 90-120 minutes with an interval.
Individual tickets are available throughout the season - no need to commit to a pass. Popular nights, particularly weekends and the Christmas run, sell out quickly, so booking in advance is wise once a show interests you. Matinee performances are offered on selected dates. Check the Gate’s own website for exact show times, casting, and running lengths.
The Gate is on Cavendish Row, facing onto Parnell Square - a five-minute walk north from O’Connell Street along O’Connell Street itself. Dublin Bus serves the area well, with multiple routes stopping along O’Connell Street. The Luas Red Line has a stop at O’Connell - GPO, which is a short walk south of the theatre. If you’re driving in from outside the city, parking on Parnell Square can be found at the Parnell Street multi-storey car park nearby, though public transport on a theatre night is generally the easier option.
The Gate sits at the top of Parnell Square, which is also home to the Garden of Remembrance and the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane - both worth arriving early for. The surrounding streets have a good choice of restaurants and bars for a pre-show dinner or a drink after the curtain comes down. There is more to see in Dublin and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to Gate Theatre in Dublin? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Dublin area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.