Our Picks For Dublin Gallery Weekend 2026
Words: Hannah Lemass
Images: Dublin Gallery Weekend
Dublin Gallery Weekend, in association with Addleshaw Goddard is making its grand return. Running from November 5 to 8 it’s four days loaded with exhibitions, events, talks and screenings showcasing the work of over 140 of Ireland’s leading artists across 20 galleries.
Presented by the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA) and produced by SoSimpatico, the programme is made of over 70, mostly free exhibitions and events that welcome everyone, from serious art collectors and aficionados to curious newcomers exploring Dublin’s gallery culture for the first time.
We’ve been browsing the lineup, and here are a few of our top picks for Dublin Gallery Weekend 2026.
Island Portrait
Where: So Fine Art Editions, Powerscourt Townhouse
When: Thursday- Sunday
Cost: Free
Presented by SO Fine Art Editions, one of Dublin’s leading contemporary galleries, and Island Photographers, an artist-led initiative supporting photographic practice in Ireland, the exhibition features the work of eighteen leading Irish and international photographers. Exploring identity and presence through portraiture, the showing features work from acclaimed photographers including Eamonn Doyle, Linda Brownlee and Rich Gilligan. Expect to see powerful moments of intimacy and vulnerability as the artists showcase the magic of that visceral exchange between artist and subject, captured through the lens.
Image: Scott Nokia, People. Courtesy of the artist and SO Fine Art Editions.
Tales of Human Follies
Where: Olivier Cornet Gallery, 3 Denmark Street Great
When: Thursday – Sunday
Cost: Free
Curated by Olivier Cornet and his team this exhibition is launching to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift‘s legendary work, Gulliver’s Travels. The group exhibition features work from artists including Conrad Frankel, Eoin Mac Lochlainn and Mary A. Fitzgerald, responding to philosophical tales that use narratives and fantasy to explore complex ideas about human nature, society and politics.
Image: Mary A. Fitzgerald, The Stretch. Courtesy of the artist and Olivier Cornet Gallery.
John Kindness: Mythologies
Where: The Molesworth Gallery, 16 Molesworth St
When: Thursday – Sunday
Cost: Free
Celebrated artist John Kindness is bringing ancient legends into modern Ireland in his second solo exhibition at the Molesworth Gallery. Kindness continues to push the boundaries surrounding the idea of fine art, using traditional methods such as mosaic and fresco painting to explore contemporary themes. In this exhibition he reimagines mythological legends with a modern slant. Poseidon advertises designer watches while harps and lyres are replaced with electric guitars, as Kindness reminds us that these ancient stories still reflect humanity, thousands of years on.
Image: John Kindness, Herakles and the Kerkopes. Courtesy of Molesworth Gallery.
Damien Flood: Veil
Where: Green On Red Gallery, Pakenham House
When: Thursday – Sunday
Cost: Free
This new exhibition from Dubliner Damien Flood features paintings and ceramics inspired by the artist’s fascination with Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Far from offering literal depictions of the necropolis, Flood’s approach is experiential, exploring the cemetery as a place of contemplation through colourful, dreamlike reinterpretations of its weathered monuments, encroaching flora and storied history.
Image: Damien Flood, Avenza Dream. Courtesy of the artist and Green On Red Gallery.
In Conversation: Oliver Sears and Virginia Teehan
Where: Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Sq
When: 08 November 11:00
Cost: Free
Gallery Director Oliver Sears will be joined by Virginia Teehan, CEO of The Heritage Council for a special talk at the Irish Architectural Archive on November 8. The pair will explore the relationship between two and three dimensional works of art, drawing on the exhibition Object and Image: A Dialogue Between Dimensions, curated by Sears himself. To see their insights come to life be sure to head over to Oliver Sears Gallery on Fitzwilliam Square where the exhibition brings together ten pairs of objects and images that invite visitors to ask how different works of art can influence one another.
Image: Sasha Sykes, Blackbird Nest. Courtesy of the artist and Oliver Sears Gallery.
Dublin Gallery Weekend, in association with Addleshaw Goddard, is set to be a weekend full of outstanding art and culture citywide.
To explore the full programme of events and to book tickets where required head to their website.
