The Dublin Theatre Festival is returning in 2026, with a bold programme of world premieres, international trailblazers and major Irish productions. Taking over the city from September 24 to October 11, the event is due to draw back the curtain on extraordinary stories from across the globe.
The theatre has played an important role for LGBTQ+ people for centuries. From traditions of onstage gender play to providing a safe space for self-expression and exploration, it has offered artists and audiences alike the chance to bask in the joy of belonging.
And the 2026 Dublin Theatre Festival will be no different. Over 18 days and nights, the diverse range of productions will showcase an array of queer talent and themes. There will be works that challenge assumptions, provoke conversations, and celebrate the power of theatre to connect, inspire and expand understanding. What’s more, audiences will have the chance to see exciting talents like Florentina Holzinger, Carolina Bianchi, Rébecca Chaillon, amongst others.
Speaking about the 2026 programme, the festival’s Artistic Director and CEO Róise Goan said, “I’ve spent the last year travelling to theatres around the world, always imagining how audiences in Dublin might experience the work I was seeing. That thought shaped every decision in this year’s programme.
“Alongside remarkable new Irish productions, we’re bringing together some of the most exciting artists working in theatre internationally, artists who are taking creative risks, asking urgent questions and finding bold new ways to tell stories.”
The festival is shaped around four thematic pathways: The Troublemakers; Irish Icons; The Matriarchy; and It’s Complicated.
One of the standout offerings for this year is the world premiere of RADIO BETTE, taking place in The Gaiety Theatre. Presented by one of New York’s most exciting interdisciplinary performance companies, The Goat Exchange, the show is inspired by a rare 1951 radio recording of All About Eve, starring Bette Davis.
Directed by Chloe Claudel and Mitchell Polonsky, the show features an acclaimed ensemble channelling the voices, glamour and glorious theatricality of Hollywood legends, including Bette herself, as well as Marilyn Monroe, Anne Baxter and Thelma Ritter. RADIO BETTE promises a smart, mischievous and fun night at the theatre, with a show that plays with performance, gender, celebrity and transformation.
Get ready to witness actor Marcus Amaglo become Bette Davis becoming Margo Channing in a show that asks the question: what happens when another body takes possession of one of Hollywood’s most recognisable voices? Theatre fans can also particularly look forward to seeing Roberta Colindrez live on stage, known for her roles in queer favourites like Fun Home, A League of Their Own and Cassandro.
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Elsewhere, choreographer, director and performance artist Florentina Holzinger makes her Dublin debut with TANZ, French theatre-maker Rébecca Chaillon returns with La Parabole du Seum, and groundbreaking Brazilian theatre-maker Carolina Bianchi presents The Brotherhood, which was awarded the Silver Lion at the 2025 Venice Biennale.
Among the LGBTQ+ highlights is Lourdes! The Musical by Xnthony. The gloriously irreverent production, filled with holy bangers and emotional belters, will achieve its world premiere at the festival. It’s the makings of a perfect queer night out!
Additionally, Company Philip Connaughton and Once Off Productions will present Rebellious Hope, bringing together seven internationally acclaimed dancers aged 46 to 86 for a live performance charged with urgency and defiance. The Irish National Opera will also stage Testament, a haunting new opera by Tarik O’Regan with a libretto by Colm Tóibín, adapted from his novella The Testament of Mary.
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Alongside the shows themselves, there are a range of initiatives in place at the 2026 Dublin Theatre Festival to enhance the audience’s experiences.
Festival Forum is a new format, offering thematic talks, post-show discussions and tours, supported by Cultúr2026, the Cultural Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It gives audiences a chance to engage directly with artists and delve deeper into the ideas, stories and themes behind the productions.
The festival’s Fair Play commitment is once again in place with the support of Clinch Wealth Management, supporting Irish Sign Language interpreted, captioned, audio-described, relaxed and adapted performances. The 10FOR10 initiative has also been expanded this year thanks to a new partnership with Smurfit Westrock, making thousands of tickets available for €10 to people under 30, those who are unwaged, and freelance artists and arts workers.
“There is no single way through this Festival,” Goan shared. “Some productions will make you laugh, some will challenge you, some will stay with you long after you’ve left the theatre.
“Whether you’re discovering Dublin Theatre Festival for the first time or you’ve been coming for decades, I hope you’ll trust your instincts, take a chance on something unexpected and leave having found a new favourite. That’s the magic of a festival. There’s no single path through it, only the one you choose.”
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Don’t miss the Dublin Theatre Festival, running from September 24 to October 11. For more information and to book tickets, click here.
© 2026 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
This post is sponsored by Dublin Theatre Festival
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