Dublin events & things to do in October 2026
Start with Phoenix Park, Trinity College and Book of Kells, plus Guinness Storehouse. October in Dublin averages 14°C / 57°F highs, 7°C / 44°F nights, and about 12 rainy days.
Expect 14°C/57°F days and about 12 rainy ones in October. Start with these:
- Phoenix Park★ 4.7 · 41.6k reviewsThe 707-hectare park dates to the 1660s and holds Dublin Zoo, the Papal Cross, Wellington Monument, deer herds, and the Irish president's residence.
- Trinity College and Book of Kells★ 4.4 · 19.0k reviewsTrinity College was founded in 1592, and the Old Library holds the Book of Kells, Long Room, manuscripts, and university history.
- Matilda the Musical (Touring)Oct 1 – Oct 18Bord Gais Energy Theatre · Source: Ticketmaster
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Dublin in October 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
57°F / 44°F
13.7°C / 6.7°C
RainPrecipitation
12d
3.1in · 80mm
LightDaylight
10.2h
Sea
57°F
13.9°C
October turns wetter, with Bram Stoker Festival and pub-centered evenings fitting the darker weather.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Oct 1 – Oct 25
Dublin Theatre Festival 2026
An annual festival showcasing contemporary theatre performances from Ireland and around the world, held at various venues across Dublin.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Oct 2 – Oct 3
- Oct 2
Show all 39 events for October
- Oct 3
- Oct 3
- Oct 4
- Oct 4
- Oct 5
- Oct 5
- Oct 6
- Oct 6
- Oct 7
- Oct 7 – Oct 8
- Oct 8
- Oct 8
- Oct 9 – Oct 11
Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival
International Short Film and Music Festival.
Source: festival calendar
- Oct 9
- Oct 10
- Oct 11
- Oct 12 – Oct 20
- Oct 13 – Oct 17
- Oct 14 – Oct 16
- Oct 15 – Oct 20
Dublin International Film Festival (October Special Screenings) 2026
Special autumn screenings and events as part of the Dublin International Film Festival's extended programming.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Oct 16
- Oct 17
- Oct 18
- Oct 19
- Oct 20 – Oct 24
- Oct 21
- Oct 22
- Oct 23 – Oct 24
- Oct 24 – Oct 30
- Oct 25
- Oct 26 – Oct 31
- Oct 27
- Oct 28
- Oct 29 – Nov 1
- Oct 30
- Oct 31
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Oct 26October Bank HolidayPublic holiday
- Oct 24-Oct 26Long weekend
About Dublin
City overview
Dublin sits on the River Liffey where Georgian squares, Viking-medieval lanes, literary pubs, Trinity College, the Liberties, Temple Bar, Smithfield, and St Stephen's Green make a compact city-center route. The city works best on foot, with DART coastal trains and Luas trams extending the map to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, and the docklands.
Food & drink
Dublin food is pub, market, and coast-fed: a full Irish breakfast plates sausage, bacon, eggs, pudding, beans, and tomato, Irish stew slow-cooks lamb or mutton with potatoes, seafood chowder uses Atlantic shellfish, and boxty turns potato into pancakes. The Brazen Head, Moore Street, George's Street Arcade, Temple Bar Food Market, Capel Street, and Howth seafood stops add soda bread, fish and chips, oysters, and Guinness pours.
Top sights
Ranked for October suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Guinness Storehouse
- 2Dublin Castle
- 3Kilmainham Gaol
- 4National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Christ Church Cathedral
- 7St Patrick's Cathedral
- 8Temple Bar
1Guinness Storehouse
4.4★ · 24,803outdoorOpen dailyThe St James's Gate visitor experience opened in a former fermentation plant and explains brewing, advertising, cooperage, and Guinness history. The Gravity Bar gives rooftop views over the Liberties.
Wikipedia
2Dublin Castle
4.3★ · 37,139outdoorOpen dailyThe castle developed from a 13th-century Anglo-Norman fortress into British administrative buildings and Irish state rooms. It sits above the old Dubh Linn garden near Dame Street.
Wikipedia
3Kilmainham Gaol
4.7★ · 2,817indoorOpen dailyThe jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
WikipediaGuided tours sell out well ahead; book online as soon as dates open.
Show 3 more sights
- 4National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Christ Church Cathedral
Neighborhoods
1Temple Bar and College Green
Temple Bar and College Green are central and busy, with pubs, Trinity College, the Irish Whiskey Museum, cobbles, buskers, and river crossings.
2St Stephen's Green and Grafton Street
The southside shopping-and-park district has Grafton Street, Georgian doors, Iveagh Gardens, Little Museum of Dublin, and Merrion Square nearby.
3The Liberties
The Liberties is old and working-class, with Guinness, whiskey distilleries, St Patrick's Cathedral, Francis Street antiques, Thomas Street, and market streets.
Day trips
15km / 30-45min by DART from Tara Street or Connolly
Howth
The fishing village has cliff walks, seafood, harbor seals, Howth Castle grounds, and views back to Dublin Bay.
60km / 1.5h by bus tour or car from Dublin
Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains
The monastic valley has round towers, lakes, trails, and mountain scenery; public transport is limited, so tours are common.
15km / 25-30min by DART from Connolly
Malahide Castle
The castle, gardens, village streets, marina, and coastal walks make a light northside day.
Getting around
Dublin Bus, Luas trams, DART coastal rail, commuter rail, and Leap cards cover the useful visitor network. Walk the center, use Luas for Heuston-Smithfield-Docklands, and use DART for Howth, Malahide, and Dun Laoghaire.
Planning a Dublin trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in October.
Common questions about Dublin in October
- Best rainy-day things to do in Dublin in October
October averages 12 rainy days in Dublin, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Kilmainham Gaol — The jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
- National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology — The Kildare Street museum displays the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, bog bodies, Viking finds, goldwork, and medieval objects. It is beside Leinster House and Merrion Square.
- Christ Church Cathedral — The cathedral was founded around 1030 and rebuilt in stone under the Anglo-Normans, with a crypt, tiles, and medieval city history. It stands near Dublinia and Wood Quay.
- St Patrick's Cathedral — The Gothic cathedral is associated with a 5th-century baptism site and Jonathan Swift, who served as dean. It sits south of the Liberties beside its park.
- What to pack for Dublin in October
Pack for October's weather, not a generic Dublin checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 14°C / 57°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 7°C / 44°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 12 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Dublin
- 4 days covers the main Dublin highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Ready to plan Dublin?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Dublin plan for October 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.