‘Dublin by Dusk’ to further re-energise Dublin City centre

An initiative to further re-energise Dublin City centre in the evenings has been launched with the support of businesses and cultural institutions.

‘Dublin by Dusk’, is a new night-time economy drive, launched to bring a co-ordinated programme to Dublin City centre on the last Thursday of each month, beginning on May 28.

Selected cultural venues, visitor attractions, retail and hospitality businesses will extend opening hours with new events, experiences, and added-value offers.

It will encourage more people to experience the city in the early evening, while showcasing the breadth of what Dublin has to offer across culture, hospitality and retail.

Participating venues will include major national cultural institutions, smaller museums, visitor experiences, music venues and other cultural spaces, alongside retail and hospitality.

Dublin by Dusk is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Dublin City Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Dublin Town, the businesses collective for Dublin City centre.

“Dublin by Dusk reflects our ambition to support a more vibrant, accessible and inclusive night-time economy, building stronger connections between culture, community and the city centre,” said Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan.

“It also fulfils a government commitment to promote later openings in our museums and galleries and is in line with the Dublin City Taskforce ambitions for the city.

“I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to go out and explore the cultural offerings available.”

According to Ray O’Donoghue, Night-time Economy Advisor, Dublin City Council, Dublin by Dusk is about encouraging more people to engage with the city earlier in the evening, while recognising Dublin is a 24-hour, seven day-a-week city with a huge amount to offer.

“By bringing together culture, hospitality and retail in a more joined-up way, the initiative helps showcase the breadth of the city’s evening and night-time offering, while continuing to support clubs, venues and promoters central to Dublin’s nightlife,” he said.

There is a growing platform to deliver a wonderful experience for all in the city, day and night, according to Dublin Town CEO, Richard Guiney.

“Locals and visitors to the City centre will be met by a relaxed and pleasant evening atmosphere to shop, visit galleries and museums, or just stroll and browse,” he said.

Dublin Town drives the city’s retention of the Purple Flag – presented to areas with consistently vibrant, family friendly nightlife.  Dublin has held a purple flag since 2013 and is one of 40 European cities to have one.

And the business group is one of the joint organisers of ‘Dublin by Night Fest’.

In 2025, a record crowd of over 80,000 attended the third annual event across three city centre venues in November.

“Dublin Town is taking onboard creative ideas so businesses can collaborate together for Dublin by Dusk,” Mr Guiney added.

Liz Halpin, Head of Dublin, Fáilte Ireland, said the initiative would build on Dublin’s strong reputation as a cultural capital by showcasing the city’s creativity, energy and diversity of visitor experiences in the evening.

“By bringing together retail, culture, food and visitor attractions through shared after-hours programming, Dublin by Dusk creates new reasons for people to visit the capital and experience it in new and engaging ways,” she said.

“Extending activity later into the evening will also drive footfall for local businesses, strengthen the city centre economy and help ensure Dublin continues to thrive as a place to live, work and visit.”

The initiative builds on wider work to support Dublin’s night-time economy, including expanded cultural programming, improved transport options and ongoing safety initiatives.

For more information visit: DublinbyDusk.ie

Micromedia is one of Dublin by Dusk’s official media partners, providing promotional support across the city through its large-format digital networks.