The August Bank Holiday, held on the first Monday of August, is one of the most anticipated long weekends of the summer in Ireland. While it forms part of Ireland’s modern bank holiday calendar, its timing closely aligns with the ancient Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh, which traditionally marked the beginning of the harvest season and was a time for community gatherings, markets, and celebration.
Today, the weekend carries that same social and festive spirit. Dublin buzzes with activity as locals and visitors make the most of the final stretch of summer. Outdoor concerts, cultural festivals, sporting events, and food markets often fill the city’s calendar. Parks such as Phoenix Park are lively with picnics and walkers, while coastal spots along Dublin Bay attract those looking for sea air and scenic views.
The city’s pubs, restaurants, and neighbourhoods are especially vibrant over the long weekend, with live music and a relaxed holiday atmosphere throughout. Many people also take the opportunity for a short getaway or a day trip to nearby seaside towns.
The October Bank Holiday, falling on the last Monday of October, is one of the most atmospheric weekends of the year in Ireland. As autumn settles in and the evenings grow darker, Dublin takes on a cosy, festive energy that blends seasonal beauty with Halloween excitement.
Rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, this long weekend carries deep cultural significance. Today, that heritage lives on through vibrant Halloween celebrations across the city. Expect themed events, ghost tours, family friendly activities, and plenty of creative costumes lighting up the streets.
Dublin’s autumn charm is on full display. Parks such as Phoenix Park glow with fall colours, museums and galleries offer a warm escape from the crisp air, and the city’s pubs and restaurants buzz with seasonal menus and live music, making the long weekend lively and memorable.
Swedish progressive metal legends Opeth bring their acclaimed live show to Dublin, continuing a career that has made them one of the most respected and innovative bands in heavy music. Renowned for blending crushing death metal, progressive rock, and atmospheric acoustic passages, Opeth have carved out a unique sound that rewards both longtime metal fans and lovers of complex, immersive songwriting.
Led by Mikael Åkerfeldt, the band are celebrated for their exceptional musicianship and dynamic live performances, effortlessly shifting from delicate, haunting melodies to thunderous riffs and intricate instrumental passages. Their shows are known for showcasing the full breadth of their catalogue, with every performance taking audiences on a journey through the band’s evolving sound.
Fans in Dublin can expect an unforgettable evening of progressive metal at its finest, featuring epic compositions, world class musicianship, and the unmistakable atmosphere that has made Opeth one of the genre’s most enduring and influential live acts.
Australian metalcore innovators Northlane return to Dublin with a show at The Academy, bringing their unmistakable blend of crushing heaviness, soaring atmosphere, and futuristic soundscapes. Over the past decade, the band have become one of the defining names in modern metal, earning praise for pushing beyond the boundaries of traditional metalcore with electronic textures, progressive songwriting, and an ever evolving sound.
Their Academy show offers the chance to experience that intensity in one of Dublin’s best intimate venues, where every breakdown, soaring chorus, and atmospheric build hits with full force. Expect a career spanning set featuring fan favourites alongside newer material, showcasing why Northlane continue to lead the way in modern heavy music.
Brazilian metal legends Sepultura bring their powerful live show to Dublin as part of their farewell tour, celebrating a career that has helped shape the sound of heavy music for nearly four decades. Formed in Belo Horizonte in 1984, the band became known for combining thrash metal aggression with Brazilian rhythms, tribal percussion, and influences from across the world, creating a sound that was unlike anything else in the genre.
This tour marks the final chapter of a band that helped take extreme metal to a global audience, with a setlist spanning their influential catalogue. From the raw intensity of Arise and Beneath the Remains to the groove driven power of Roots, Sepultura’s music has left a lasting impact on generations of metal fans.
Their Dublin show promises to be a celebration of that legacy, bringing together decades of crushing riffs, unforgettable rhythms, and the uncompromising energy that made Sepultura one of metal’s most respected and distinctive bands. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to experience a piece of heavy music history live before the final note is played.
Singer songwriter and producer Joji brings his SOLARIS tour to Dublin, showcasing his signature blend of alternative R&B, lo-fi, and atmospheric pop. Known for his deeply introspective songwriting and cinematic production style, Joji has built a devoted global following with music that explores themes of love, loneliness, and personal reflection through a uniquely understated approach.
Following his rise from internet creator to acclaimed recording artist, Joji has developed a sound that feels both intimate and expansive, combining haunting melodies with minimalist production and emotionally charged performances. His live shows are known for their moody visuals, immersive atmosphere, and the strong connection he creates with audiences.
The SOLARIS tour brings his latest era to the stage with a carefully crafted production that matches the emotional depth of his music. Dublin fans can expect a night of atmospheric moments, powerful vocals, and standout tracks from across his catalogue, delivered in the distinctive style that has made Joji one of the most unique voices in modern alternative R&B.
Electronic music pioneer Moby brings his acclaimed live show to Dublin, celebrating a career that has helped shape electronic music for more than three decades. Known for blending house, techno, ambient, and alternative influences, Moby became one of the most recognisable figures in electronic music, with a sound that has crossed underground clubs, major festivals, and mainstream audiences around the world.
With a catalogue featuring iconic tracks such as Porcelain, Natural Blues, and Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?, Moby’s music has become known for its emotional depth as much as its electronic foundations. His live performances combine atmospheric visuals, powerful arrangements, and a unique ability to transform familiar songs into something fresh and immersive on stage.
This Dublin show offers a chance to experience the full range of Moby’s career, from his groundbreaking 1990s and early 2000s work to more recent material, in a setting that brings together electronic energy, nostalgia, and the unmistakable atmosphere that has defined his performances for decades.
Born out of Belfast’s punk explosion in the late 1970s, Stiff Little Fingers return to Dublin with the same energy and attitude that made them one of the defining bands of the era. Formed during a turbulent period in Northern Ireland, the band turned frustration, politics, and everyday reality into fast, powerful punk songs that connected far beyond their hometown.
Tracks like Alternative Ulster, Suspect Device, and Tin Soldiers became anthems for a generation, combining sharp songwriting with the urgency and rawness of punk at its best. Nearly five decades later, Stiff Little Fingers remain a vital live act, with their songs still carrying the same energy and meaning that made them stand out in the first place.
This Dublin show is a chance to experience a true piece of Irish punk history, with a set built around furious guitars, huge choruses, and the unmistakable spirit that has kept the band going since 1977.
Global superstar The Weeknd brings his record breaking After Hours Til Dawn Tour to Dublin, delivering a huge stadium production built around one of the biggest catalogues in modern pop and R&B. Since the release of After Hours and Dawn FM, The Weeknd has continued to push the boundaries of mainstream music, blending dark synth pop, R&B, and cinematic storytelling into a sound that has become instantly recognisable around the world.
The tour brings together the worlds of After Hours, Dawn FM, and his greatest hits, with a production known for its incredible scale, striking visuals, and immersive atmosphere. From global anthems like Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears, and Starboy to fan favourites from across his career, the show is designed as a full sensory experience rather than just a concert.
Dublin’s stadium setting provides the perfect backdrop for one of the biggest live productions on the planet, with The Weeknd delivering a night of huge vocals, unforgettable moments, and the kind of spectacle that has made the After Hours Til Dawn Tour one of the most talked about tours of recent years.
Alternative metal pioneers Deftones bring their unmistakable sound to Dublin as part of their 2026 tour, continuing a career built on atmosphere, experimentation, and a refusal to be boxed into one genre. Formed in Sacramento in 1988, the band helped redefine heavy music by combining crushing guitar work with dreamy textures, hypnotic melodies, and the emotional intensity of frontman Chino Moreno’s distinctive vocals.
Albums such as Around the Fur, White Pony, and Diamond Eyes cemented Deftones as one of the most influential bands in alternative music, creating a sound that sits somewhere between metal, shoegaze, and dreamlike electronic atmospheres. Their songs can feel both brutally heavy and strangely beautiful, often shifting from moments of pure aggression to haunting, cinematic calm.
Few bands have created such a recognisable world of their own, and that contrast is what makes Deftones live shows so captivating. Their Dublin date is a chance to experience the wall of sound, emotion, and intensity that has kept the band’s music feeling fresh and relevant for more than three decades.
Global Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh brings his Aura World Tour to Dublin, celebrating the sound, culture, and energy that have made him one of the biggest names in Indian music today. Known for his powerful vocals, charismatic stage presence, and ability to blend traditional Punjabi influences with contemporary pop and hip hop, Diljit has built a worldwide following that continues to grow.
His concerts are known for their scale and celebration of Punjabi culture, combining music, dance, and striking production with the warmth and humour that have become a huge part of his appeal. From chart topping Punjabi anthems to more emotional tracks, his performances showcase the range that has helped him connect with audiences across the world.
The Aura World Tour represents another major step in Diljit’s international journey, bringing Punjabi music to one of Dublin’s biggest stages and highlighting why he has become such a significant figure in global entertainment.
Rock icons Bon Jovi bring their legendary catalogue to Dublin as part of their latest tour, celebrating a career that has made them one of the biggest names in rock history. Since forming in New Jersey in 1983, the band have become known for their unmistakable mix of arena rock, huge melodies, and lyrics that have connected with generations of fans around the world.
With timeless anthems including Livin’ on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive, and It’s My Life, Bon Jovi’s music has become part of the soundtrack to countless lives. Their ability to combine powerful rock arrangements with unforgettable choruses helped define the sound of stadium rock and cemented their place among the genre’s most enduring acts.
A Bon Jovi show is built around songs made to be heard by thousands of voices at once, bringing decades of hits together in one celebration of rock and roll. Dublin fans can look forward to experiencing the energy, nostalgia, and anthems that have kept the band at the heart of popular music for more than 40 years.
July 2026
📅 11–12 July 2026
📍 Croke Park
📅 26 July 2026
📍 Croke Park
📅 4–5 July 2026
📍 Croke Park
📅 19 July 2026
📍 Croke Park
August 2026
American FootballThe Aer Lingus College Football Classic brings the excitement of American college football to Dublin, with top NCAA teams travelling to Ireland for a unique season-opening showdown at the Aviva Stadium. The 2026 edition will see the TCU Horned Frogs football take on the North Carolina Tar Heels football on 29 August, continuing Dublin’s tradition of hosting major college football matchups. The game offers fans a chance to experience the passion of American football alongside the atmosphere and hospitality of Ireland’s capital city.
