- Nocturnal Beats celebrates Dublin nightlife during Fringe Festival 2026
- Programme includes outdoor stages, live music, club culture and cabaret
- BIG FAT SLUT street party takes over Parliament Street on Culture Night
- Supported by Department of Culture, Communications and Sport
- Events run throughout September across city venues
Dublin City Council’s Night-Time Economy Advisor and Dublin Fringe Festival have come together for Nocturnal Beats, a celebration of the artists, venues, promoters and audiences who bring Dublin to life after dark. Supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Nocturnal Beats spotlights a trail of night-time events, performances and cultural experiences taking place across Dublin Fringe Festival 2026.
From outdoor stages and live music to club culture, cabaret, drag, dance floors and immersive performance, the programme celebrates the energy, creativity and diversity of Dublin at night and recognises nightlife as an important part of the city’s cultural life. Club culture forms an important part of Dublin’s cultural life but sometimes gets pushed to the side or simply does not receive the recognition it deserves.
A major highlight of Nocturnal Beats comes on Culture Night, Friday 18 September, when BIG FAT SLUT takes over Parliament Street for a free outdoor street party from 7pm to 11pm as part of Culture Night Late. Across September, Nocturnal Beats will take audiences through venues and spaces across the city, with everything from outdoor parties and late-night club events to drag, cabaret, live music, wrestling and immersive performance.
Ray O’Donoghue shared “Sometimes what it needs is the support, space and respect to allow it to flourish. That’s what we’re trying to do here – support the artists, promoters and venues who make Dublin such an interesting city after dark.”
