Dublin by Dusk: The City Stays Open Late on the Last Thursday of Every Month

Quick answer: Dublin by Dusk is the city’s new late night. On the last Thursday of every month, museums, galleries, attractions, shops, restaurants and bars across Dublin city centre stay open later, with talks, live music, workshops and special offers from around 5pm. The next ones are Thursday 29 October and Thursday 26 November 2026.

Ever wanted to see the Long Room, the National Library’s Reading Room or the Viking streets of Dublinia after work, without the daytime crowds? That’s exactly the idea. Here’s what Dublin by Dusk is, what’s on, where to eat and shop, and how to get home.

What is Dublin by Dusk?

Dublin by Dusk is a citywide late-opening night on the last Thursday of each month. Venues push back their closing time and put on something extra: exhibitions, live music, talks, workshops, tastings and deals. It’s led by Dublin City Council and its Night-Time Economy Advisor, Ray O’Donoghue, with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Fáilte Ireland and DublinTown.

The first night was Thursday 28 May 2026, when 12 museums and galleries opened late, most of them for the first time ever. It’s a pilot running for at least 10 months, so it continues into spring 2027. The national cultural institutions lead the programme, with events starting from 5pm, and many shops, bars and restaurants join in from 6pm. You’ll spot the posters at bus shelters around the city: “The city is open later, last Thursday of every month.”

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Dublin by Dusk Dates

• Thursday 29 October 2026
• Thursday 26 November 2026
• 2027 (if the pilot continues as planned): Thursday 28 January, Thursday 25 February and Thursday 25 March

The last Thursday of December falls on New Year’s Eve, so check dublin.ie closer to the time to see whether a December night goes ahead.

Museums and Galleries Open Late

This is the heart of Dublin by Dusk, and a lot of it is free. Programmes change each month, but these are regulars:

• National Museum of Ireland: Kildare Street (Archaeology) and Collins Barracks (Decorative Arts and History) open until 8pm, with late-evening discovery tours. At Collins Barracks, the free drop-in “A Fair Exchange” writing workshops run on the last Thursday of each month until March 2027, 5pm to 6.40pm. See our National Archaeology Museum guide.
• National Library of Ireland: visit the famous Main Reading Room on Kildare Street, normally reserved for researchers with a reader’s ticket, from 5pm to 8.30pm (last admission 8.15pm). The Live Aid exhibition at the National Photographic Archive in Temple Bar keeps the same hours.
• Dublinia: open 5pm to 9pm, so you can explore Viking and medieval Dublin after dark. More in our Dublinia guide.
• EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum: late openings in the Docklands. See our EPIC guide.
• Book of Kells Experience: late nights at Trinity College, including the Long Room. Read our Trinity College guide.
• Galleries: city galleries such as the Kerlin, Molesworth, Taylor Galleries, Gormleys, Green on Red and Solomon Fine Art have hosted free artist talks and late viewings.

On 29 October, the James Joyce Centre hosts its final Dublin by Dusk evening with The Write Stuff, an evening of storytelling, poetry and music (7pm to 9pm, €12.50, limited tickets), and the Little Museum of Dublin stages its immersive Georgian House Party at 7pm (€30, including a glass of wine).

Experiences and Tours

Beyond the museums, the programme includes evening tours, tastings and hands-on workshops, several with Dublin by Dusk discounts. Recent listings include:

• Ghostbus Tour: the spooky comedy bus tour, with 20% off using the code on the Dublin by Dusk page. Perfect for late October.
• Windmill Lane Backstage Studio Tour: 7pm, €26, with 10% off for Dublin by Dusk.
• Whiskey and cocktails: the Roe & Co Flavours Experience (6pm to 8pm, €25) and the cocktail class at Pearse Lyons Distillery.
• Make something: forge a silver Claddagh ring at Silver Works, paint pottery, or try a create-and-sip art session.
• Escape Boats: a late-night escape room on a boat in Grand Canal Dock, 6pm to 11pm, €30 per person.
• Storytelling and myths: Darkland at the National Leprechaun Museum, or a Storytelling Trail through three pubs (€85, 15% off on the night).

Where to Eat and Drink on Dublin by Dusk

Lots of restaurants and bars run Dublin by Dusk deals. A few from the official listings:

• Peaches Brasserie: Friends Night, two tear-and-share dishes and a glass of wine for €19 (7pm to 9pm).
• Aperitivo Cicchetti on Nassau Street: carbonara and a glass of Chianti for €25.
• Cinnamood on O’Connell Street: open late, with a cinnamon roll and hot drink deal.
• The Church Café, Bar & Restaurant: 10% off food on Thursday evenings when you show a theatre, museum or attraction ticket, plus live trad music and dancing from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.
• Live music: blues and jazz at The Blind Pig Speakeasy, acoustic sets at Idlewild on Fade Street, and a late DJ at Café en Seine.

Fancy a proper session instead? See our top trad music pubs and best traditional pubs in Dublin.

Late-Night Shopping

Thursday is already Dublin’s late shopping night, and Dublin by Dusk adds a few extras:

• Ilac Shopping Centre (and the Central Library inside it) and Jervis Shopping Centre: open until 9pm every Thursday.
• Henry Street and Grafton Street areas: stores including Penneys, M&S, H&M, Zara, JD Sports and Dubray Books stay open until 9pm on Thursdays.
• Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre: open until 8pm Monday to Thursday.
• Point Square in the Docklands: open until 11.30pm every Thursday, with a cinema and restaurants.

More ideas in our shopping in Dublin guide.

Staying Over

Several city hotels run Dublin by Dusk discounts, such as 10% off at The Address Connolly and Travelodge Plus Dublin City Centre (codes are on the official page). Making a night of it? Browse our places to stay in Dublin, or book Molloy’s Apartments, a short walk from O’Connell Street and the Ilac and Jervis centres.

Getting There and Home

• Public transport: Dublin has 15 24-hour bus routes and 12 Nitelink routes. Our getting around Dublin guide covers Leap cards, Luas and DART.
• Taxi discount: FreeNow gives 20% off rides (up to €10) between 6pm and midnight on 29 October and 26 November 2026, with a code on the Dublin by Dusk page.
• Driving: see our guide to parking in Dublin city centre.

Tips for Making the Most of It

• Check the monthly programme on dublin.ie before you go. Events and offers change every month, and some museum events are one-offs.
• Book the ticketed events early. Many have small capacities and sell out.
• Start early. Museum late openings mostly run 5pm to 8pm or 8.30pm, so do those first, then dinner, then music.
• Stay in one area. Kildare Street (National Museum, National Library, Trinity) and the Liberties (Dublinia, Roe & Co, Pearse Lyons) make easy walking clusters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dublin by Dusk?

Dublin by Dusk is a monthly late-opening night in Dublin city centre. On the last Thursday of every month, museums, galleries, attractions, shops, restaurants and bars stay open later and put on special events and offers. It’s run by Dublin City Council with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Fáilte Ireland and DublinTown.

When is the next Dublin by Dusk?

The next Dublin by Dusk nights are Thursday 29 October and Thursday 26 November 2026. It runs on the last Thursday of every month, from about 5pm or 6pm into the late evening.

Is Dublin by Dusk free?

Many Dublin by Dusk events are free, including late openings at the National Library and several gallery talks. Some events are ticketed, such as theatre, tours and workshops, and many restaurants, hotels and shops run special offers on the night.

How long is Dublin by Dusk running?

Dublin by Dusk started on Thursday 28 May 2026 as a pilot that runs for at least 10 months, which takes it into spring 2027.

How do I get home after Dublin by Dusk?

Dublin has 15 24-hour bus routes and 12 Nitelink routes. On selected Dublin by Dusk nights, including 29 October and 26 November 2026, FreeNow offers 20% off taxi rides (up to €10) between 6pm and midnight with a code listed on dublin.ie.

See Dublin in a Different Light

Dublin by Dusk is a great excuse to see the city after hours, whether you live here or you’re visiting. For more ideas, browse our Dublin events calendar or tours and activities. Details checked 20 October 2026; programmes change monthly, so confirm with each venue.

Photo: sunset over the Liffey from Grattan Bridge by Ridiculopathy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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