Cultúr 2026 to bring Donegal to life

Donegal will celebrate Cultúr 2026 with two major productions in Rossnowlagh and Letterkenny.

On Saturday, October 3 at 7 p m, ‘Women of the Waves’ will transform the beach with a spectacular large-scale outdoor production by LUXE Landscape Theatre celebrating the rich Irish legacy of women and the sea.

Drawing inspiration from the journeys of women who travelled across the Atlantic, from ancient voyages to more recent migrations, the production will explore the relationship between women, the ocean, travel and migration through LUXE’s distinctive form of landscape spectacle.

Fiery, processional and illuminated, the production combines light, movement, storytelling and imagery drawn from Irish and international traditions to create an immersive performance in which the landscape itself becomes part of the spectacle.

From October 12 to 14, UK-based theatre company Get Lost and Found will present six performances of ‘Mischief and Mystery in Moomin Valley’ at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, Buncrana Community Library and Central Library in Letterkenny.

Based on the much-loved Moomin stories by Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson, the gentle and heartwarming production tells the story of a year in Moomin Valley through puppetry, music and song. Designed for children aged four to seven, the show invites young audiences into a world where everyone is welcome, nature thrives, and adventures are plentiful.

Together, these events reflect the spirit of Cultúr 2026 in Donegal: celebrating the county’s distinctive landscape, cultural traditions and creative communities while creating opportunities to connect with stories, artists and traditions from beyond Ireland.

From the Atlantic shores of Rossnowlagh to community spaces in Letterkenny and beyond, the programme, in partnership with Donegal County Council, brings the European dimension of Ireland’s Presidency into local communities, using culture to create connections, share stories and celebrate the enduring links between Donegal, Ireland and Europe.

Supported by a €5 million investment from Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., and presented by Culture Ireland, Cultúr 2026 is bringing the work of Irish artists to audiences across all 27 EU Member States and beyond, while ensuring communities throughout Ireland can take part in the Presidency at home.

Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, said: “Cultúr 2026, Sharing Ireland’s Culture, is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the breadth of Irish culture, not only on stages across Europe, but in communities throughout Ireland.

“It was important to me that Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union should also be celebrated here at home, and that communities in every county have an opportunity to take part. Our culture is rooted in people and place, in our artists, our language, our heritage and our communities. Through Cultúr 2026, we are creating opportunities for people to come together, experience the arts and celebrate the culture we share.”

Working in partnership with Local Authorities across the country, Cultúr 2026 is bringing the Presidency directly into communities, with each Local Authority shaping a programme that reflects the artists, heritage and creative life of its area. The programme also creates opportunities for cultural exchange across Europe, with many counties developing collaborations with their twin European cities, strengthening long-standing relationships and forging new connections through arts and culture.

Spanning theatre, literature, music, visual art, architecture, dance, film and more, these local, national and international collaborations reflect a living Irish culture, rooted in tradition and place, shaped by contemporary creativity, and open to exchange and connection across Europe.