Museums, galleries and venues to open late for new Dublin by Dusk initiative
A major new initiative aimed at transforming Dublin’s evening economy has been unveiled.
Dublin by Dusk is set to re-energise the city centre by offering a coordinated program of late-night retail, culture, and hospitality on the last Thursday of every month, officially starting on May 28.
Bringing together culture, hospitality and retail, Dublin by Dusk is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Dublin City Council , Fáilte Ireland, and Dublin Town. The goal is to encourage locals and visitors alike to engage with the city’s offerings during the early evening, bridging the gap between the workday and the late-night scene.
Under the new program, a diverse array of participating venues will extend their opening hours, offering exclusive events and added-value experiences. These include museums and galleries, music venues, and creative spaces staying open late, as well as extended shopping hours.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, highlighted that the initiative fulfils a government commitment to promote later openings. "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 he said.
Ray O’Donoghue, Night-time Economy Advisor for Dublin City Council , emphasised that the initiative helps push Dublin toward their goal of becoming a 24-hour city . “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.
By joining up retail and culture, the program aims to support the clubs and promoters who are the backbone of Dublin’s nightlife while creating a more "relaxed and pleasant evening atmosphere," according to Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney.
Dublin’s night-time reputation is already on the rise. The city has held the Purple Flag as a mark of a vibrant and safe night-time environment since 2013. The launch of Dublin by Dusk also follows the massive success of the Dublin by Night Fest, which saw a record-breaking crowd of over 80,000 people in November 2025.
Liz Halpin, Head of Dublin at Fáilte Ireland, pointed out the economic importance of the move: "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 is supported by expanded cultural programming and ongoing improvements to transport and safety. Promotional support is being spearheaded by Micromedia, the official media partner, across its digital network.
For more information and a full list of participating venues, visit DublinbyDusk.ie .
This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme