Culture Night 2026 takes place on Friday 18th September from 4pm – late.
Sligo County Council Arts Service is now inviting applications from artists, groups, organisations and communities to take part in this year’s programme.
Please see here for further information: Culture Night Funding – Sligo Arts
Deadline for 2026 applications: Friday 12 June 2026, 4pm.
Late applications will not be accepted.
Further information: ggannon@sligococo.ie
Oíche Chultúir / Culture Night is a vibrant, annual, all-island celebration of arts, culture and creativity, taking place on the third Friday in September. This much-loved national moment invites everyone, everywhere to come together for one joyful evening to discover, experience and celebrate the richness and diversity of culture in Ireland today. From rural villages to town centres, and through in-person, broadcast and online events from 4pm until late, Culture Night connects people with cultural experiences locally and nationally while opening pathways for ongoing engagement throughout the year.
In Sligo, the programme is delivered by Sligo County Council’s Arts Service Department, with the support of the Arts Council, and is curated by a network of both experienced and first-time professional and community/local arts and cultural programmers across the county. Spanning sectors such as arts, heritage, education, tourism, hospitality and community life, the programme reflects the many ways culture is created and shared, offering something for everyone.
Culture Night Sligo seeks to present a dynamic, multi-disciplinary programme that includes larger-scale flagship and featured events, alongside a rich variety of smaller, community-led activities. These take place in cultural venues, public places, spaces, and communities throughout both urban and rural Sligo, transforming the county into a welcoming and creative hub for the evening. All events are free, inclusive and accessible, encouraging participation, discovery and connection.
The celebration continues into the night with Culture Night Late, extending events from 9pm onwards and creating even more opportunities to experience culture in unique and engaging ways. Delivered in partnership with the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Sligo BID, this strand adds further energy and vibrancy to the night-time programme.
Artists, creatives, organisations and community groups across Sligo are warmly invited to be part of this special occasion. Funding support is available through the Culture Night Sligo Fund, which opens annually in April, supporting a wide range of creative activities—from performances and exhibitions to workshops, talks, screenings and interactive events.
CULTURE NIGHT SLIGO FUNDING
Sligo County Council will seek to present an inclusive multi-disciplinary programme. Applications are sought through an open call under 3 distinct strands:
- FLAGSHIP EVENTS (Up to 3 events, max €2,500)
- FEATURED EVENTS (Up to 5 events, max €1,000)
- CULTURE-WIDE EVENTS (Max €700)
CULTURE NIGHT LATE SLIGO FUNDING
The Sligo Culture Night Late programme is funded by The Department of Culture, Communications & Sport & Sligo BID. A separate Culture Night Late Fund may be advertised for this, or funding may be allocated via the existing 3 funding strands.
Sligo’s Culture Night Programme Fund is circa €20,000