Christmas in Dublin: 23 Festive Things to do in 2026

There are endless things to do in Dublin at Christmas, from the long-standing Christmas Eve busk and festive pantos to newer arrivals like Wonderlights and Elf Town.

The capital also boasts a packed festive show schedule, from Christmas at the Movies in the National Concert Hall to countless carol services, many held in unforgettable settings like St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In an ideal world, there would be a mix of great markets on during Christmas in Dublin but, as you’ll discover below, that isn’t the case.

The best things to do in Dublin at Christmas

Christmas in Ireland is hard to beat – many towns, villages and cities are lit up with fairy lights and there’s an added layer of buzz about the place.

Below, you’ll find a clatter of Christmassy things to do in Dublin, from carols and unique Christmas attractions to pantos and more.

1. The Dublin Christmas Markets

Although there aren’t many Christmas markets in Dublin, there are several that have taken place consistently in recent years.

Arguably the best is the Dublin Castle Christmas Market, but it’s cancelled until 2027. In 2026, we also have the return of the Smithfield Christmas Market to look forward to along with Dublin Loves Christmas in the RDS.

In years past, Dublin was set to get ‘Ireland’s biggest Christmas festival’. Annoyingly, Mistletown Dublin has been announced and then cancelled for several years.

2. Luggwoods Enchanted Forest

Celebrating 11 years of festive magic, Luggwoods Enchanted Forest returns for Christmas 2026 with a new adventure through its enchanted woodland in Saggart.

Families will meet Elder Oak, the guardian of the forest, before following the twinkling trail, using an enchanted magic key to unlock surprises and meeting Luggwoods’ Christmas characters along the way.

You can post your letter to Santa, climb aboard the Luggwoods Express through the forest and visit Mrs. Claus’ cosy cabin before arriving at Santa Claus Village, which overlooks the lights of Dublin City.

The experience finishes with a visit to Santa himself in his woodland lodge, with new surprises and storytelling promised for 2026.

3. Festive pints in cosy pubs

There are endless pubs in Dublin but not all of them are equal when Christmas comes around.

Arguably the most impressive pub in Dublin at Christmas time is the Hole in the Wall on Blackhorse Ave.

Europe’s longest pub, these lads go all-in with their Christmas decorations. Some other Christmassy pubs in Dublin from our man above are the Ginger Man, the Strawberry Hall and the Stag’s Head.

Related read: See our guide to 7 of the best Christmas markets in Ireland in 2026

4. Christmas shows

There’s a great line-up of shows taking place this December in Dublin.

Some of the most notable Christmas shows in Dublin this year are:

• Christmas at the Movies (National Concert Hall)
• It’s a Wonderful Life (The Gate)
• This Way to Christmas (National Concert Hall)

5. Christmas at Farmleigh House

Farmleigh Estate will likely host three festive weekends over the first three weekends of the month.

Expect horse and carriage rides, puppet shows, carol singing, a festive food and craft market, Victorian dress-up, and twinkling grounds perfect for a winter stroll in the Phoenix Park.

6. Dublin Loves Christmas

Dublin Loves Christmas will likely transform the RDS in Ballsbridge into a festive wonderland from mid-November.

Entry is free, with markets, rides, food stalls and bars open daily (closed Mondays).

Expect a full-size undercover ice rink (€13 child / €18 adult), a towering Observation Wheel, and thrill rides like the 80m Drop Tower and 50m Starflyer.

Younger visitors can enjoy family rides, while Bavarian-style bars and artisan market stalls add to the festive buzz. The Spiegeltent will host live entertainment throughout the season.

7. Christmas movie nights and drive-ins

One of the handier things to do in Dublin at Christmas is to book into one of the showings at Retro Drive In.

You’ll find Ireland’s biggest drive-in movie venue over in Leopardstown Racecourse and they have a jam-packed line-up every Christmas in Dublin.

Kick back in your car, tune in to the frequency and watch some classic Christmas movies like Home Alone, the Polar Express and plenty more.

8. Wonderlights

Wonderlights is another handy option for those of you looking for things to do in Dublin at Christmas with kids.

At Malahide Castle, expect over one million lights across the estate, projection mapping on the castle walls, the popular 30-metre Portal of Light tunnel, and the Symphony of Light pond show.

Marlay Park’s grounds are transformed into a winter wonderland with illuminated arctic animals, glowing flower meadows, and a frozen forest. Highlights include a 30-metre hydro-screen show projected over the lake and the 5-metre-high, 30-metre-long Cathedral Tunnel.

Both locations feature an Alpine Food & Drink Village open nightly, with picnic areas and festive stalls. All trails are wheelchair and buggy accessible.

9. Christmas tea on the Vintage Bus

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Dublin at Christmas time, give Christmas tea on the Vintage Bus a bash!

At Christmas, the popular Vintage Tea Trips bus transforms into a festive wonderland.

You’ll munch away on afternoon tea (with festive favourites), listen to Christmas carols and spin around the city.

Even if you don’t do this at Christmas, it’s worth sticking in your back pocket for the next time you fancy a day-out with a difference.

10. Carol services

Countless carol services take place during Christmas in Dublin, ranging from free to paid and big to small.

Two of the stand-out carol services are the one in Christ Church Cathedral and the one in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Here are several others worth a look:

• A Dublin Gospel Christmas (Draíocht)
• Christmas by Candlelight (St. Patrick’s Cathedral)
• Christmas with the Snowman (National Concert Hall)

11. The Dublin Christmas lights

The Dublin Christmas lights switch-on became a farce a few years back. Traditionally, there would be a big event to mark the ‘switching-on’.

However, the organisers were unable to set it up in a manner that was safe for spectators, so there has been a gradual turning on of lights in recent years.

In 2026, we have Winter Lights, which runs from December 1st until the end of December and now covers:

• GPO: Animated projections
• O’Connell Street: Colour-changing trees and a new lighting installation at the Daniel O’Connell statue
• Dublin Castle: A light-and-music show in the Courtyard
• Wolfe Tone Square: Interactive LED wall
• River Liffey Light Boat: A floating installation with 180 beams of light
• Grand Canal Dock: A 40-metre water-screen performance
• George’s Dock: A 100-beam sky installation
• Meeting House Square: A 3,000-ball immersive light structure
• Ha’penny Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Samuel Beckett Bridge: Full colour-changing installations
• Merrion Square Park: The only ticketed experience (€2 per adult, two kids free)

12. Elf Town

One of the newest Christmas events in Dublin is Elf Town, a 75-minute experience that’s running at the RDS for its third year in 2026.

The Immersive Experience (November 14th to December 23rd) takes families through Elf Town, where you’ll meet Santa’s real reindeer, write a letter to Santa, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus and get up to mischief with the elves.

You’ll also journey through the Enchanted Forest and enter Jack Frost’s Ice Cave, made from real ice, before having a private family visit with Santa.

There’s also a new, shorter 30-minute Magical Santa Visit for families that don’t want to do the full experience.

13. Pantos

Pantomimes (or ‘Pantos’) are stage performances that take place from late November to early January each year.

They take place in everywhere from the Liberty Hall Theatre and the Gaeity to the National Show Centre and more.

Keep in mind that pantos are one of the more popular things to do in Dublin at Christmas time, so you may need to book in advance.

Here are the main ones for 2026:

• The Gaiety Panto: Robin Hood
• The Helix Panto: Neverland
• The National Stadium Panto: Aladdin
• The Civic Theatre Panto: Tickles and Dottie are Freezin’

14. The famous Christmas Eve busk

One of Dublin’s best-loved Christmas traditions is the Christmas Eve charity busk on Grafton Street. The annual event was started by Glen Hansard, who brought together some of Ireland’s best-known musicians each Christmas Eve to raise money for Dublin Simon Community.

Last year’s busk marked its 15th anniversary and featured more than 30 performers. Christmas Eve 2026 is likely to be particularly poignant following Glen’s passing in July.

He was the driving force behind the tradition and had become synonymous with the event. If the busk returns this year, I’d expect interest to be enormous, with many people likely to attend not just for the music but to remember the man who started it.

Over the years, the likes of Bono, Imelda May, Hozier, Dermot Kennedy and The Coronas have taken part.

One word of warning: this has always attracted big crowds, but I’d expect Christmas Eve 2026 to be considerably busier than usual if the event goes ahead.

15. The moving crib

Christmas in Dublin wouldn’t be the same without the now-iconic Moving Crib, which is entering its 69th year.

It first opened in 1956 and, since then, generations of families have made it one of their Christmas traditions.

It takes place in Parnell Square West usually from around 28th November – 7th January from 11am – 5.30pm.

If you’re looking for nostalgic things to do in Dublin at Christmas, this is well worth dropping by!

16. Christmassy afternoon teas

While plenty of places offer afternoon tea in Dublin, some do it a fair bit better come Christmas time!

If you’re after a very festive experience, the likes of The Shelbourne (pictured above), The Merrion and The Westbury are worth considering.

Each of these hotels goes all-out come Christmas time, providing a very festive setting in the heart of the city for a bite-to-eat.

17. The traditional Christmas dip

The Christmas morning swim is one of the more traditional things to do in Dublin at Christmas.

Although it takes place on many beaches in Dublin, two of the more famous Christmas swim spots are the Vico Baths and the Forty Foot.

Come hail, rain or snow you’ll find locals and tourists alike hopping into the chilly Irish sea. Some wear costumes while others head in bare-skinned!

You’ll catch footage from the swims on the likes of RTE with many Christmas morning dippers raising funds for local charities.

18. Gifted at the RDS

Next in our guide to festive things to do in Dublin at Christmas is Gifted – The Contemporary Craft & Design Fair. Gifted returns to the RDS from Wednesday, December 2nd to Sunday, December 6th, 2026.

It’s Ireland’s largest celebration of craft, design and artisan food, bringing together over 400 makers and producers under one roof. You’ll find thousands of gift ideas from independent designers and craftspeople, along with the Christmas Food Emporium, which showcases a huge range of artisan food and drink.

19. Creative Christmas Events in Dublin

For those of you looking for artsy things to do in Dublin at Christmas, there’s plenty to choose from, but they only tend to get announced in November.

Here’s a taste of some of last years events:

• Creative Christmas at Dublinia:  Get hands-on with bauble-decorating and card-making workshops
• Enamel a Christmas Decoration at Silver Works: Learn the art of enamelling in this small-group workshop on South Great George’s Street
• Watercolour Christmas Cards: Head to Chester Beatty on November 30th for a festive watercolour workshop exploring wintry scenes and cheerful card designs

20. Festive head-clearers

Christmas in Dublin can get a bit chaotic, with many people overindulging in food, drink and social gatherings.

If you feel like you need a bit of a head clearer, there are plenty of walks in Dublin that’ll bash away the cobwebs.

Some of our favourites are the Howth Cliff Walk, the Ticknock hike and the Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk.

21. The Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival

Home to the largest ice rink in Ireland, the Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival runs from around the second week in November (date TBC).

The festivities take place across Dun Laoghaire Harbour, The National Maritime Museum, the Harbour Plaza and the new Myrtle Square.

Arguably the main attraction is Ireland’s largest ice rink (at Dún Laoghaire Harbour). However, you can also visit Santa at the National Maritime Museum.

If you’re looking for unique things to do in Dublin at Christmas, climb aboard the Ferris Wheel from the movie Grease!

22. Christmas at the Guinness Storehouse

There’s usually plenty going on during Christmas at the Guinness Storehouse, and the 2026 programme is much more substantial than in previous years.

The Storehouse will be transformed into a seven-floor festive wonderland, with Christmas décor, lights, festive food and live entertainment from local choirs and trad bands.

There’s also Snug N0.0llaig, a cosy Guinness 0.0 vinyl lounge, along with the These Walls – Landmarks installation and, of course, the chance to finish your visit in the Gravity Bar overlooking Dublin.

For adults, there are separate Christmas Nights at Gravity, with DJs curated by Love Tempo, festive cocktails and food from BIGFAN.

23. Christmas concerts

• Christmas with the Dublin Gospel Choir on December 4th at the Pavilion Theatre
• Hallelujah Christmas on December 13th in Howth
• Christmas at the Movies on December 14th at the National Concert Hall
• This Way to Christmas! Featuring The Snowman from December 18th–20th at the NCH
• Christmas Classics on December 20th at The Grand Hall
• Christmas by Candlelight on December 21st at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Explore beyond Dublin during Christmas

Now you’ve an idea of what’s taking place in Dublin during Christmas, it’s time to explore beyond the capital:

• Christmas markets in Ireland
• The best day trips from Dublin