Dublin · Talks
Dublin Book Festival
Five days of author talks, poetry, walking tours, and workshops, with a free weekend of family events.
Dublin Book Festival is 20 years old this year, and it marks the occasion with more than 100 events across five days. Over 200 writers and artists take part in author conversations, panel discussions, poetry readings, book launches, and literary walking tours around the city.
The festival hub is at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where you can drop in to browse the festival bookshop, join arts and crafts, or follow a family treasure hunt. Writing workshops run during the week, and the weekend has a full programme of free family events.
Why we picked it
Dublin Book Festival turns 20 this year, and the programme feels like a celebration: more than 100 events across five days, with headline names including Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, Jodi Picoult, and Marian Keyes. Many events are free, from the literary walking tours to the family weekend, and the After Dark evenings at the Grafton Hotel add comedy, karaoke, and a table quiz to the mix.
The specifics
- When
- Wed 4 Nov – Sun 8 Nov
- Where
- Royal Irish Academy of Music and venues across the city, Dublin
- Price
- See the official website
- Booking
- Booking recommended
- Who it suits
- All ages
- Getting there
- The festival hub is on Westland Row beside Pearse Station. Other events take place in venues across the city centre.
What you should know
- Check the full programme on the official website because each event has its own venue and time.
- Book ahead for workshops and walking tours which have limited places.
- The free family events are on the weekend so plan around those if you are bringing children.
Going on your own?
Book festivals are one of the easiest places to go on your own because many people come to see a writer. The free literary walking tours are a good place to start. You spend the time with a small group and the books give everyone something to talk about.