- 26th Shackleton Autumn School takes place 16-18 October 2026 in Athy, County Kildare
- Special guests include Katherine MacInnes, Dr Dylan Colbert, Neil Pepper and Craig Mathieson
- The programme features talks, films and cultural events celebrating Shackleton’s legacy
- Ticket holders receive free access to the Shackleton Experience throughout the weekend
- Early Bird Tickets are on sale until 31 August 2026
World leading Shackleton experts, polar historians, explorers and adventure enthusiasts will gather in Athy this October as the much-loved Shackleton Autumn School returns for its 26th year. Taking place from Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October, the internationally recognised festival transforms the town into a vibrant hub of exploration, history and discovery. Hosted by The Shackleton Autumn School Committee in partnership with The Shackleton Experience, Athy, the only institution in the world dedicated to the life of Kildare-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, the weekend brings together an extraordinary line-up of world-renowned speakers alongside visitors travelling from across Ireland and overseas.
Over three days, attendees experience fascinating talks, films and cultural events celebrating Shackleton’s remarkable legacy while exploring the wider stories of Antarctic exploration, leadership, endurance and human resilience, as well as the science and environmental challenges shaping our understanding of the polar regions today. From acclaimed authors uncovering untold stories of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration to behavioural scientists examining the leadership lessons that continue to influence businesses today, the programme offers something for lifelong Shackleton fans and first-time visitors alike. The programme of events takes place in locations across Athy and Shackleton Autumn School ticket holders also receive free access to visit the Shackleton Experience throughout the weekend.
The 26th Shackleton Autumn School features expert talks from special guests including Dr Dylan Colbert, performance psychologist, behavioural scientist and lecturer; Ali Gellatly, Ship and Facilities Director at Dundee Heritage Trust, the charity responsible for the care and conservation of Captain Scott’s Royal Research Ship Discovery; Katherine MacInnes, award-winning author and exploration historian, best known for Snow Widows, which tells the story of Captain Scott’s final Antarctic expedition through the experiences of the women left behind; Steven Marston, grandson of George Marston, the artist and expedition member who accompanied Shackleton on both the Nimrod and Endurance expeditions; Craig Mathieson, Scottish polar explorer, expedition leader, youth mentor and Founder of the Polar Academy; Neil Pepper, polar historian and researcher; Allegra Rosenberg, New York-based writer and editor with a particular interest in exploration history; Fabiënne Tetteroo, historian from The Hague, Netherlands; and Hugh Turner, nephew of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Captain Scott’s expedition member and author of The Worst Journey in the World.
Aline FitzGerald, General Manager of the Shackleton Experience, shared “there’s a really special atmosphere in Athy during the Shackleton Autumn School. For one weekend every year, our town becomes a meeting place for some of the world’s leading experts on polar exploration, alongside visitors who simply share a fascination with Ernest Shackleton’s incredible story.”
