What’s on in Dublin: January 2026

Happy New Year from Twin! ✨

Forget the January Blues — it might be cold and dark, but Dublin is packed full of things to do in the new year. From relaxing in a wood-fire sauna right in the city to world-class art exhibitions and folk concerts, there’s something for every resolution this January. Here’s your guide to 2026:

☘️CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT: Irish Trad

Spend more than a minute in Temple Bar and you’ll see Irish trad plastered in gold lettering on every pub window — promising 24/7 FREE IRISH TRAD (with €12 Guinnesses, of course).This isn’t just some tourist trap, though.

Trad is short for traditional Irish music, and it goes back hundreds of years. While its roots lie in older Celtic musical traditions, Irish trad as we know it today can be traced back to at least the 17th century, with tunes passed down orally through generations.

Often played in pubs with fiddles, flutes, and bodhráns (Irish drums), Irish Trad is communal at heart: sometimes it’s part of a live show, and sometimes it’s just three people who happen to meet in a bar with the right instruments at hand. That’s the magic.

This January, TradFest celebrates Irish trad with performances across the city in some truly spectacular venues (a gig in Dublin’s largest cathedral? Yes please).

Check out the schedule and get involved.

🌆DUBLIN HIGHLIGHTS

• Turner as Inspiration at National Gallery of Ireland, January 1st to 31st – The National Gallery’s 31 watercolours by J.M.W Turner are back from Scotland and on display throughout January. Visit for soft, romantic landscapes and a quiet escape from the cold.
• First Fortnight, throughout January – This annual festival uses spoken word, music, and comedy to challenge stigma around mental health and homelessness. Events include sunrise climbs up St Patrick’s Cathedral (obligatory mug of tea included), live performances, and talks across the city.
• Finnish Sauna at Hot Box Sauna – Sweat out the Christmas stress in a wood-fired sauna just half an hour from the Twin English Centre.
• Burns Night Celebrations, January 25th– It might be a Scottish holiday, but there’s tonnes of events happening around Dublin to pay homage to Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns.

👉Find out more about Burns Night here

• New Year’s Festival Dublin, January 1st – The fun doesn’t have to stop after midnight. Dublin’s New Year Festival is hosting two free events on New Year’s Day, including a traditional Irish music concert at Meeting House Square and a mini festival at Dublin Castle. Two solid reasons to get out of bed before 1pm.

🎭MUSIC, THEATRE & LIVE SHOWS

• TradFest, January 21st to 25th – Lighting up January, TradFest brings traditional Irish music to churches, castles, and pubs across the city. Whether you’re a seasoned folk fan or simply curious, it’s a great way to experience Irish culture.
• Rock & Roll Museum – In anticipation of TradFest, explore the importance of music in Ireland at the Irish Rock & Roll Museum. Go behind the scenes of a working venue and recording studio in the heart of Temple Bar.
• Bewley’s Café Theatre – Bewley’s may be famous for afternoon tea and Irish breakfasts, but it’s also a theatre venue. For just 12 euros, you can enjoy lunchtime theatre framed by Bewley’s beautiful stained-glass windows.
• Prima Facie at The Gaiety Theatre, January 27th to 31st – One of the West End’s standout productions is coming to Dublin this month, with Jodie Comer returning as Tessa, a young barrister whose personal life becomes tangled in a deeply troubling case.
• Dublin Gothic at The Abbey Theatre, until January 31st – Dublin Gothic weaves together human stories to create an atmospheric portrait of the city. 
• Dara Ó’Briain– Catch comedy legend Dara Ó’Briain for a night of stand-up at Vicar Street.

🌍Study and Explore in Dublin with an English Course Abroad

Why choose just one resolution when you could achieve six? With Twin, you can:

1. Improve your English
2. Learn new skills
3. Expand your career
4. Meet new people
5. Grow confidence
6. Explore a new city

Study English in London, Eastbourne, or Dublin and turn your 2026 into the ultimate adventure.