September Festivals and Events
Coffee House Lates | Cork City | 5 September
On Sept 5th, some of Cork’s finest independent cafés open their doors after hours for Coffee House Lates which is a free evening of talks, workshops & music.
- In Conversation: Spaces × Debhial | PLUGD Records | 5:00–6:00 PM
PLUGD Records will be hosting an intimate artist talk exploring visuals, sound & creative spaces
- DJ Workshop: Big Up The Beours| SOMA Coffee | 6:15–7:15 PM
Beginner-friendly, inclusive & welcoming. Female, trans & non-binary artists and allies invited to learn the basics of DJing in a safe, supportive space.
- Producer Jam and Blaskets Live | 5 Points Café | 5:00–9:00 PM
- Producer Jam (5–8 PM)
Drop-in beatmaking session for all levels. Bring your gear or just your ideas.
- Blaskets Live (8–9 PM)
Emotive live electronica as part of his acclaimed Drifting series.
Coffee House Lates with Electronic Music Council Tickets, Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite
Night Market | Cornmarket Street | 5, 12 & 19 September
Join us for a few special nights market on Cornmarket Street with entertainment and stalls galore on as part of Cork's night-time initiative.
The markets will feature a variety of stalls, including craft vendors and food stalls. Live entertainment will round out the evening.
There will also be a circus performance by Updown Circus Festival at the Night Market taking place on September 5.
- 5 September from 4 - 8:30 pm
- 12 September from 4 – 8:30 pm
- 19 September from 4 – 8:00 pm
Open Streets | Cork City | 7,19 & 21 September
The Open Streets concept involves opening up of roadways as spaces for social & community events. This encourages a culture where streets are seen as shared spaces for health and well-being and recreation. Through an integrated approach with the local businesses, business representative organisations, public transport bodies and community groups, Cork City Council, with its partners, is organising a two-year campaign to devise a series of Open Street events, both in the city centre and in the larger suburbs of Cork City. Its forms part of a net zero city pilot project. There are nine Open Streets event this year with three happening in September.
- Sunday, September 7 – Douglas Street Autumnfest
Led by Douglas Street Business Association, this stretch of road goes car free for its annual festival from 12 noon to 5p.m. The event has grown in success year on year and is jam packed of activities.
- Friday, September 19 – Culture Night
Series of city centre activities that celebrate play and creativity on the street. These include a night market on Cornmarket Street and children’s games on North Main Street.
- Sunday, September 21– Ballincollig Open Streets Event
Ballincollig’s main street will be transformed with free games, play and activities for all ages from 2pm to 4p.m. This is led by Ballincollig Business Association and Ballincollig Sustainable Transport Group in conjunction with Cork City Council.
Sounds from a Safe Harbour | Cork City | 11 – 14 September
Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH) celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary edition, taking place across multiple venues in Cork City from 11–14 September 2025.
Renowned for its bold and multidisciplinary programming, the festival invites audiences into an immersive world of music, language, art, and ritual. This year’s edition is curated by Festival Director Mary Hickson, alongside actor Cillian Murphy, composer Bryce Dessner (The National), author Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhloinn.
At the heart of this year’s programme is the influence of the 37d03d residency, a space where artists gather behind the scenes to make work together, often leading to the unrepeatable moments that audiences have come to expect from SFSH. Multi-genre performances span the intimate and the epic, from quiet interventions in unexpected spaces to large-scale concerts at Cork Opera House and beyond. Alongside a diverse line-up of ticketed events, audiences can explore a free citywide music trail, a vibrant visual art offering, artist talks, culinary experiences, and a newly expanded film programme that includes three premieres and a series of music-focused documentaries and conversations.
As always, SFSH blends the unexpected with the unforgettable. With many events already close to selling out, early booking is strongly recommended.
Full programme information and tickets can be found at soundsfromasafeharbour.com
Culture Night | Cork City | 19 September
A hugely anticipated, annual, all-Ireland event, the 20th edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday, September 19th. Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir celebrates culture, creativity, and the arts, and seeks to actively promote the belief that our rich and varied culture is alive, treasured, and nurtured in people’s lives, on the day and every day. On September 19th across Cork City, doors will open late with a vibrant programme of special events and one-of-a-kind experiences - all completely free.
From music to visual arts, with literature, dance and more, Culture Night is an unmissable event. Highlights this year include:
- Cian Sweeney - As If I Always Knew Presents: A Piano Meditation: Join Irish musician Cian Sweeney for a unique semi-improvised piano experience that blends mindful presence with live music
- Kaught at the Karpark: A celebration of Cork’s influential late ’70s/early ’80s punk and post-punk scene at North Main Street carpark.
- Community hubs across Cork will be alive with activity, from Blackpool’s cultural talks, global food tastings and céilí, to Togher and Ballyphehane’s music, dance and craft demos.
- My First Confession Frank O’Connor: Pupils of Scoil Oilibhéir, Dublin Hill, perform a specially written musical adaptation of O’Connor’s famous short story, that was initially created for the school’s 40th anniversary celebrations
- Cork City Library will host a wide-ranging programme featuring exhibitions, live music, theatre, readings, children’s storytelling and creative workshops. Highlights include the Rory Gallagher-inspired Kickback City exhibition, a performance of The Ancient Mariner, music from Áine O’Gorman, and fun, interactive events for families.
The public will also be able to enjoy Irish language activities, in association with an tOireachtas, including joining award-winning sean-nós singer and highly regarded teacher Sorcha de Róiste for a unique workshop celebrating traditional Irish song, and Amhrán an Mara (Songs of the Sea), a celebration of maritime songs in both Irish and English.
Some events on Culture Night require booking, please check the website for details. Full programme details at: www.CorkCity.ie/CultureNight
Beneath Our Feet | North Main Street | September 20 – October 8
Discover what lies beneath North Main Street.
Get ready to step back in time at North Main Street, Cork! Thanks to a groundbreaking excavation led by Avril Purcell and her team, an extraordinary window into the lives of medieval Corkonians has been uncovered beneath the city’s busy streets. Twelve remarkable buildings dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries, including stake-built timber houses and intricate post and wattle constructions were uncovered, shedding light on daily life, crafts, and the vibrant community that once thrived here.
Now, with the support of Creative Ireland Funding, archaeologist Ciara Brett and artist John Sunderland are bringing these discoveries to life through an imaginative exhibition running from September 20th to October 4th. Visitors can explore a stunning altarpiece inspired by medieval iconography, striking glass sculptures, evocative photographs, pressed flora, and even oral histories from the excavation’s specialists. This unique fusion of art and archaeology promises to ignite curiosity, celebrate Cork’s rich heritage, and offer a fresh appreciation for the city’s fascinating medieval past!
Cork Rocks for Rory - June - Dec
The Rory Gallagher estate, in collaboration with Cork City Council and Cork City Libraries has put on a massive citywide tribute to the guitar legend, ‘Cork Rocks for Rory’.
This includes simultaneous photographic and original memorabilia exhibitions at Cork City Hall, Central Library and Public Museum which will coincide with a city-wide walking trail commemorating the life and legacy of the blues and rock icon.
Cork will rock like never before for Rory Gallagher's 30th anniversary - Cork City Council