Welcome to the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival 2026

Friday 9 – Sunday 18 October 2026

In Solidarity: An International Celebration of Arts and Human Rights

“In a world where human rights continue to be under attack, Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival sets out to celebrate the people who have stood up for them around the world and throughout history and highlight the role artists can play in promoting a more just society.”
– Kevin Courtney, Irish Times

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, and a range of partners, present the eighth annual Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival from the 9 to 18 October 2026. The festival features exciting and innovative events that promote equality, human rights and diversity throughout Ireland, Northern Ireland and internationally.  The aim of the festival is to showcase and highlight the extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and the role of the arts and artists in promoting human rights today.

The aim is to have the Irish Arts and Human Rights festival take place in every county in Ireland and to have international events and partners. The festival has sought to be as inclusive as possible; opening up to all artists across Ireland and internationally and to all communities including those experiencing marginalization and disadvantage, to ensure that artistic voices are championed, and that the scale of the festival can grow to broaden a wide range of arts participation, playing a vital role in the fabric of Ireland’s cultural, social and political landscape.

The festival promotes human rights and justice for all, and the vision of a world where all people are treated equally, with dignity and respect – linking the arts to civil society, active citizenship and politics, aiming to celebrate and unite community connections, artists, human rights organisations and human rights defenders.

The festival showcases world-class and diverse acts, artists and speakers, including up and coming performers. It brings arts and human rights together through interdisciplinary events which include workshops, theatre performances, musical performances, visual arts, exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions, poetry and literature events, historical memory performances, live art, digital installations, and more.

Join us to illuminate stories of courage and inspiration and to share stories of ordinary people who stand up for human rights. We bear witness to, and remember the past, explore the present and celebrate the future linked to equality, human rights and diversity for all.


Festival Events


Events

Today

List of events in Photo View

View the 2025 programme here