← All events
seasonal · Friday 18 September 2026 · Various, from 4:00pm 
Culture Night Leitrim
At Venues across Leitrim · Various venues, Co. Leitrim
At Venues across Leitrim · Various venues, Co. Leitrim
Culture Night returns to County Leitrim on Friday, 18 September 2026, part of the same all-island evening that sees arts and cultural venues nationwide open late and put on free events. Leitrim County Council’s Arts Office coordinates the county’s programme, inviting galleries, theatres, museums, choirs, book clubs and community groups to extend their opening hours after 4pm and offer something free to the public. Last year’s Leitrim Culture Night drew over a thousand people across fifteen venues countywide, and the council is again welcoming applications from returning and new venues for 2026.
Because venues apply individually to take part, the full 2026 Leitrim programme is confirmed closer to the night itself, but the format is well established. Participating organisations, from established venues like The Dock and The Glens Centre down to small community groups, choirs and theatre companies, put on a one-off evening event or exhibition opening free of charge, often aimed at reaching audiences who would not normally walk through their door. Leitrim County Council backs the scheme with grants of up to €1,000 per venue to help cover costs, and folds every confirmed event into its own Culture Night publicity once applications close. Past years have included exhibition openings, performances and open studio nights spread across towns countywide, with the council actively encouraging first-time participants as well as venues that have taken part before.
Because Culture Night runs across venues countywide rather than from one site, getting there depends on which venue is chosen on the night. Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Ballinamore and Drumshanbo have historically hosted some of the larger participating venues, all connected by the county’s main regional roads, so a car remains the most flexible way to move between towns if visiting more than one event.
Carrick-on-Shannon is Leitrim’s county town and home to The Dock, one of the arts venues that has taken part in past Culture Nights. It is a natural base for a Culture Night evening if travelling from outside the county. There is more to see in Carrick-on-Shannon and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Venues across Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Carrick-on-Shannon area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.