Programme 2026

Join author and historian Pat Liddy, or one of his expert guides, for a walking tour of the neighbourhood around the Festival Hub, taking in many key landmarks associated with a wide range of our famous historic writers and the early development of writing in Ireland. Starting outside the gates of the National Gallery on […]

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As the climate crisis remains one of our most pressing issues, join us for a morning with two authors whose books explore how protecting our seas and oceans is key in this ongoing battle. Michael Cronin’s Ireland: Why It Matters to Be an Island (Royal Irish Academy) considers how Ireland is shaped – culturally, politically […]

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What’s better than browsing for your next great read? Drop into the Dublin Book Festival bookshop, run by The Gutter Bookshop, and explore a brilliant selection of books from Ireland’s favourite writers, illustrators, poets and publishers. Discover old favourites, find something unexpected and pick up your next festival read to take home. 11am – 4:30pm

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Let your imagination run wild! Bring the whole family along to the DBF Creative Station, where you can get drawing, writing, making and crafting. Drop in, get creative and make something wonderful to take home with you! 11am – 3:30pm  

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Every small step makes a difference! Drop by our Create Your Own Pond station to meet our biodiversity expert, Collie Ennis, and learn how even the smallest space can become a welcoming home for wildlife. Discover what plants and creatures need to thrive, pick up tips for creating your own mini pond to attract new […]

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Join us for this fun-filled activity for all the family to work together as a team. Pick up your treasure trail handout from the Family Hub reception, then follow the clues and return for your prize! 11am – 3pm  

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Ready for a new story? Bring along a much-loved children’s book you’ve finished with and swap it for another at our DBF Book Swap. It’s a fun way to refresh your bookshelves, discover a new favourite and give an old book a new home! Let’s get swapping! 11am – 3:30pm

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Marian Keyes is one of Ireland’s most important fiction authors. Her novels are filled with charm, wit, and pathos, yet her girly packaging and light-hearted marketing resulted in far too little critical attention and celebration. Join authors Marian Keyes, Vicki Notaro and author of Marian Keyes and the Politics of Commercial Fiction (UCD Press), Maria Butler, […]

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