Dublin’s diary does not sit still in October. The Theatre Festival runs into its final stretch, Rovers and Bohs have their last league derby of the season, Leinster are back at the RDS, the 3Arena has a run of big nights, Open House opens doors you normally walk past, and the bank holiday weekend brings the marathon and the Bram Stoker Festival. This page is our monthly pick of what’s worth planning around, not the full calendar. For the next few days, use our Thursday weekend guide.
Updated for October 2026 (1–31 Oct). We’ll refresh the picks in place as dates sell out or move.
Sport This Month
- Leinster v Cardiff: Leinster’s first league game at the refurbished RDS, now called the Laya Arena. Get there early and have a nose around.
When: Sat 10 Oct, 7.45pm · Where: RDS (Laya Arena), Ballsbridge · On Premier Sports
Source: irishtimes.com - Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians: the rescheduled Dublin derby on a Monday night under the Tallaght lights. It’s the last league meeting of the season between the two.
When: Mon 12 Oct, 8pm · Where: Tallaght Stadium
Source: rte.ie - Leinster v Munster: Leinster’s first interpro of the season, moved to the big stadium on the bank holiday Saturday.
When: Sat 24 Oct, 6pm · Where: Aviva Stadium
Source: irishtimes.com - Irish Life Dublin Marathon: the 45th edition, with 22,500 runners and every entry gone. If you’re not running, bring a bell and a few jellies and cheer from the footpath.
When: Sun 25 Oct · Where: across the city · Tickets: sold out to runners; free to watch. Live on TG4 from 8am.
Source: irishlifedublinmarathon.ie
Watching away from home: Ireland v Israel, UEFA Nations League, Sun 4 Oct, at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia (a neutral venue, behind closed doors). The FAI hasn’t confirmed a kick-off time yet, so it’s one for the pub. Source: https://www.fai.ie/latest/fai-confirms-venue-uefa-nations-league-fixture-against-israel/
Live Music and Comedy
Arena nights, Whelan’s back rooms and comedy almost every night. Here’s what we’d book.
Gigs
- The Blow Monkeys: eighties sophisti-pop in the Whelan’s main room. The gig has moved to Whelan’s and original tickets are still valid.
When: Fri 2 Oct, 7.30pm · Where: Whelan’s Main Venue, Wexford Street · Age: 18+
Source: whelanslive.com - The Amazons: big riffs, with Blood Donor in support. Stay on for Indie Club afterwards.
When: Sat 3 Oct, 7.30pm · Where: Whelan’s Main Venue, Wexford Street · Age: 18+
Source: whelanslive.com - The HU: Mongolian “Hunnu rock” with throat singing and horsehead fiddles, with Skáld in support.
When: Tue 6 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre, Dame Street · Tickets: standard tickets are sold out and VIP tickets are still on Ticketmaster.
Source: 3olympia.ie - Crash Test Dummies: the original line-up, Brad Roberts’ baritone and all. Yes, they’ll play that song.
When: Thu 8 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street, Thomas Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - Ibibio Sound Machine: West African rhythms, disco and post-punk. You’ll be dancing by the second song.
When: Fri 9 Oct, 7pm · Where: Button Factory, Temple Bar · Age: 18+
Source: buttonfactory.ie - Arab Strap: Falkirk’s finest bring the bleak, funny Scottish storytelling to Wexford Street.
When: Mon 12 Oct, 8pm · Where: Whelan’s Main Venue
Source: whelanslive.com - Melanie C: Sporty brings the club-ready Sweat era to Dame Street.
When: Sun 18 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre
Source: 3olympia.ie - J. Cole: The Fall-Off Tour, his first solo headline run in five years.
When: Thu 22 Oct, doors 6.30pm · Where: 3Arena · Age: under-16s must be with an adult; standing is over-14s only.
Source: 3arena.ie - Jazzy: the Dublin DJ plays her biggest headline show yet, on home turf, with Routh 94 and Kayleigh Glynn in support.
When: Sat 24 Oct, doors 6.30pm · Where: 3Arena · Age: over-18s
Source: 3arena.ie - Shed Seven: York’s Britpop survivors, and a proper Saturday-night singalong.
When: Sat 24 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - 2manydjs: the Dewaele brothers’ first Dublin city show in years, on the bank holiday Sunday, with Kormac’s live AV show in support.
When: Sun 25 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine: Macklemore and guests on the bank holiday Monday. All proceeds go to Palestinian aid and advocacy organisations.
When: Mon 26 Oct, doors 6.30pm · Where: 3Arena · SOLD OUT
Source: 3arena.ie - Gurriers: Dublin’s sharpest punk band step up to Vicar Street with the new record.
When: Thu 29 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - The Script: two home-town nights for The Man In The Arena Tour, with James Morrison in support. Halloween night is the Saturday.
When: Fri 30 and Sat 31 Oct, doors 6.30pm · Where: 3Arena
Source: 3arena.ie - Kerbdog: the Kilkenny band play On The Turn in full for its 30th birthday, one night only, with Meryl Streek and Aoife Destruction.
When: Sat 31 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre
Source: 3olympia.ie
Already sold out: Manic Street Preachers (3Olympia, 21–22 Oct) and Brandon Flowers (3Olympia, 27 Oct). Keep an eye on Ticketmaster for resale.
Comedy
- Sam Campbell: gloriously odd stand-up, two nights on Thomas Street.
When: Fri 2 and Sat 3 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - Adam Rowe: Fashionism: the Liverpool comic’s new show. Heads up: it has moved from 3Olympia to The Ambassador.
When: Sun 4 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: The Ambassador Theatre, O’Connell Street · Tickets: Ticketmaster is contacting existing ticket holders
Source: 3olympia.ie - Paul Smith: Happy: the crowd-work king goes full arena. Don’t sit in the front row unless you want to be in the show.
When: Thu 8 Oct, doors 6.30pm · Where: 3Arena · Age: over-16s
Source: 3arena.ie - Alan Davies: Think Ahead: his first tour in a decade, all about getting older and being eye-rolled at by his kids.
When: Wed 14 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre
Source: 3olympia.ie - Deirdre O’Kane: All The Rage: a brand-new show, from domestic disasters to historical wrongs.
When: Fri 23 and Sat 24 Oct (plus Sun 15 Nov), doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre
Source: 3olympia.ie - Richard Ayoade: Afterthoughts, which the venue bills as “over 500 of his colossal notions”. Expect the deadpan.
When: Tue 27 and Wed 28 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: Vicar Street
Source: vicarstreet.com - Mike Rice: Cruel Little Man: the Kilkenny comic and parenting podcaster brings his new show the night before Halloween.
When: Fri 30 Oct, doors 7pm · Where: 3Olympia Theatre
Source: 3olympia.ie
For pints and late ones after the show, see our Dublin nightlife guide.
Theatre
- Dublin Theatre Festival: A Moon for the Misbegotten: Druid and Garry Hynes take on O’Neill, with Marty Rea and Eileen Walsh. It’s the festival’s big ticket, and the festival itself runs to 11 Oct.
When: Thu 1–Sun 4 Oct (Sat 3 Oct 2pm is open-captioned) · Where: Gaiety Theatre, South King Street
Source: dublintheatrefestival.ie · Full festival programme: dublintheatrefestival.ie - Testament: Colm Tóibín and Tarik O’Regan’s chamber opera about Mary in her final years, with Sharon Carty as Mary. It runs 75 minutes, with no interval.
When: Thu 8–Sat 10 Oct, 7.30pm (post-show talk with Tóibín on 8 Oct) · Where: Gaiety Theatre
Source: dublintheatrefestival.ie - ANIMALS: Blindboy’s short stories on the national stage, with Pat Shortt, a fridge-freezer and a dogman. Expect it to be very strange.
When: to Sat 7 Nov; Mon–Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinees 2pm, plus a Wed 7 Oct matinee at 2pm · Where: Abbey Theatre, Abbey Stage · Age: 16+
Source: abbeytheatre.ie - Meredith: Erica Murray’s dark family comedy, set over one Sunday afternoon in Meath, with Dearbhla Molloy and Niall Buggy.
When: to Sun 1 Nov; evenings 7.30pm, matinees 2pm (ISL-interpreted Sat 10 Oct, 2pm) · Where: Gate Theatre, Parnell Square
Source: gatetheatre.ie - Matilda The Musical: the RSC’s Roald Dahl musical is in its last few weeks. A solid mid-term pick for the kids.
When: to Sun 18 Oct (captioned Sat 17 Oct, 2.30pm; chilled Sun 18 Oct, 2.30pm) · Where: Bord Gáis Energy Theatre · Age: 6+
Source: bordgaisenergytheatre.ie - Unreconciled: Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill’s award-winning solo play, performed by Sefton, about standing up to an institution and fighting for justice.
When: Wed 21 Oct, 8pm, followed by a post-show panel discussion with award-winning BBC investigative journalist Chris Moore (it also plays the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, on Tue 3 Nov) · Where: Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow · Tickets: via Mermaid Arts Centre · Our preview
Source: mermaidartscentre.ie
Food, Drink and Markets
- Oktoberfest at Quinn’s of Drumcondra: final weekend. Your ticket covers a stein and your first pint, plus polka trad, music bingo and DJs.
When: Fri 2 Oct (from 4pm), Sat 3 and Sun 4 Oct (from 1pm) · Where: Quinn’s, Drumcondra Road Lower
Source: quinnsofdrumcondra.ie - Bloody Stream Oktoberfest: steins by the sea, beside Howth DART, with oompah and a bratwurst BBQ in the heated beer garden.
When: Fri 2–Sun 4 Oct (Fri from 4pm), then back Fri 9–Sat 10 Oct · Where: The Bloody Stream, Howth
Source: bloodystream.ie - Eatyard Oktoberfest at The Bernard Shaw: the one that runs the longest, with stein-holding contests, Hasselhoff karaoke and currywurst.
When: to Sat 24 Oct · Where: The Bernard Shaw, Drumcondra · Age: 20+. Tables can’t be reserved, so arrive early.
Source: dublintown.ie - O’Briens Wine Fest: 80+ winemakers and 350+ wines in one hall. Pace yourself.
When: Fri 9 Oct, 6–9pm; Sat 10 Oct, 2–5pm and 6–9pm · Where: Hall 4, RDS, Ballsbridge · Age: 18+. A donation from every ticket goes to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Source: obrienswine.ie - Harvest Food Fair: growers, bakers, cheesemakers and florists in the courtyard of an arts centre in north County Dublin. It’s worth the spin out.
When: Sun 11 Oct, 11am–4pm · Where: The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul
Source: tseac.ie
For Saturday grazing, see our guide to Dublin’s best markets.
Family, Festivals and Free Things
- Dublin Festival of History: free talks with big-name historians all around the city, closing with a full day at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
When: to Sun 11 Oct · Where: venues citywide · Tickets: free
Source: dublinfestivalofhistory.ie - Open House Dublin: 200+ tours, talks and open studios in buildings you normally can’t get into, plus an Open House Junior strand for kids.
When: Sat 10–Sun 18 Oct · Where: citywide · Tickets: all events are free. Some tours must be booked online, and a few tours with very limited places charge a no-show fee.
Source: openhousedublin.com · Booking info: openhousedublin.com - Bram Stoker Festival: four days of gothic fun over the bank holiday weekend. Our picks:
When: Fri 23–Mon 26 Oct · Where: citywide
Source: bramstokerfestival.com- Stokerland, St Patrick’s Park, Sat 24–Mon 26 Oct: free, no booking (the family one)
- Macnas Parade: Fiáin, North East Inner City, Mon 26 Oct: free, no booking
- Petrified Live, Project Arts Centre, Fri 23 Oct
- Dracula (1958) 4K restoration, Light House Cinema, Sun 25 Oct
- Making Faces! family mask-making, National Museum of Ireland, Sun 25 Oct: free, drop in
For more days out that cost nothing, see 20 Free Things To Do in Dublin.
How to Use This Guide
This roundup picks the October dates worth planning around. For what’s on in the next few days, check our Weekend in Dublin guide, which goes live every Thursday. Every listing above links to its source, so check there before you travel, because prices and sold-out flags change fast.
Read more:
- 20 Free Things To Do in Dublin That Are Actually Worth Your Time
- The Ultimate Guide to Dublin Nightlife: Best Bars, Clubs & Live Music Venues
- Dublin’s Best Markets
- Best Things to Do in Dublin: Trinity, Guinness, Parks and Coast
- Macklemore Announces Free Palestine Tour with Dublin 3Arena Concert
Next refresh: early November, with new picks.
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