All Open House events are free of charge. Our programme is a mix of guided tours and events that need to be pre-booked on the website and guided tours and events which are open for you to join at dedicated times over the weekend. Booking for pre-book tours opens 10am 24 September.

If you have a query or need assistance with booking you can contact at bookings@architecturefoundation.ie or at +353 01 874 7200 / 089 405 5950

Please note our booking office opening hours are Monday to Friday :

10:00am – 1:00pm

2:00pm – 4:00pm

During Festival week, 11 October to 19 October our booking office remains open at weekends. Opening hours:

09:30am – 4:30pm

For tours with very limited places you may be asked to pay a ‘no show’ fee when booking. We introduced this fee as the majority of Open House events are hosted by people and organisations voluntarily and there is high demand for places. We want to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend our events. You will not be charged this fee once you cancel your places at least 48hrs in advance of your tour/event.

We realise however that providing payment details is not always possible so if you have any issues with this whatsoever please contact bookings@architecturefoundation.ie/ +353 01 874 7200 / 089 405 5950 and we will assist with your booking.

Please be respectful and kind to all Open House Dublin staff and volunteers. Remember this is a free festival which depends on the incredible generosity, passion and experience of all our volunteer stewards, guides, architects, building owners and visitors.

As the IAF celebrates 20 years of Open House Dublin, we are reminded of the meaningful momentum that can build when people, organisations, and institutions come together to imagine a better future for our built environment. Last year, 83% of people who responded to our post-festival survey, told us that attending an event as part of Open House made them feel “more proud” of Dublin city and county. That civic pride is made possible through continued collaboration and the generous support of those who believe in the cultural and societal value of architecture.

This October, Open House Dublin returns with more than 200 free events across the city and county. From homes and parks to ports and public buildings, we are inviting people into the spaces that shape their everyday lives. Our festival theme, Future Heritage, is a call to rethink how we care for what we’ve built and what we’re building for future generations.
Thanks to McGarrell Reilly, we’re also returning to our festival hub, IAF House in Charlemont Square—offering a dedicated space for conversation, connection, and creativity.

Making It All Possible
Our deepest thanks go to the Arts Council, our principal funder, whose long-term investment in the IAF sustains our creative independence, ambition, and cultural leadership. We are also grateful to our partners in government – the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Education, and Creative Ireland.
The support of all four Dublin local authorities—Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin, and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown—continues to be essential, reflecting a shared commitment to design as a public good.

In 2025, we are also supported by a dedicated group of corporate partners: Cairn Homes, Conack Construction, Dublin Port Company, Grangegorman Development Agency, Henry J Lyons, Kilsaran, KPMG, the Land Development Agency, O’Mahony Pike Architects, the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland, and William Fry. Their support allows us to grow the festival and expand access across the city.

Honouring Our IAF Friends
We are especially grateful for the continued partnership of our IAF Friends—a community of architectural practices and consultancies who share our commitment to design, culture, and civic life.

Choose the IAF Friends Plan that suits you and enjoy the benefits of being part of one of Ireland’s most exciting and original cultural organisations. Or spread the love and give the gift of IAF Friendship, and inspire your friends and family with the gift of a whole year of unique IAF experiences. As a Friend, you’re not just supporting our work you’re joining a movement that values imagination, heritage, and the power of people coming together.

If you are interested in supporting the IAF and the work that we do we would love to hear from you.

Volunteer applications open!

Each year more than two hundred people volunteer their time and skills to help us bring Open House Dublin to thousands of people across the city and county. Many volunteers have been with us since the beginning and have an abundance of knowledge and expertise about the city, its architecture and the stories and histories that make Dublin unique. Volunteering with Open House offers new experiences and skills, as well as providing a great opportunity to learn more about architecture, the built environment and to share your knowledge and interests with others. Volunteering with Open House Dublin also qualifies for CPD points and qualifies you to be able to apply to take part in an international volunteer exchange programme.

We are now recruiting volunteers for OHD25. You are invited to register using Better Impact software which we use to manage volunteer applications and scheduling for the festival. If you would like to chat more to the team about volunteering opportunities please call Katie at +353 (01) 874 7200 or email volunteers@architecturefoundation.ie

If you have volunteered in previous years you may also apply to our European Volunteer Exchange Programme which takes place annually as part of the Open House Europe project. Volunteers will have the opportunity to apply to visit and take part in other Open House festivals around Europe and represent Open House Dublin. All expensive are covered by Open House Europe. The next round of applications for the programme will be open early 2026. Sign up to the IAF newsletter to be the first to hear all about it!

We are part of an exciting collaboration project co-funded by the European Union. Open House Europe is a cooperation project that connects different Open House festival organisers across Europe and enables their collaboration and knowledge exchange. By encouraging and promoting an interest in architecture among various audiences, Open House Europe helps residents gain new perspectives on their local surroundings and invites them to envision the shared future of European architecture.

Annual Theme

Throughout the year, different local Open House events across Europe respond to a common Annual Theme that highlights the challenges faced by society. For 2025 this theme is Future Heritage

Annual Summit

Once a year, the Open House community, architecture enthusiasts and professionals gather at the Annual Summit to reflect on the Annual Theme and yearly achievements. In 2025 the IAF was proud to host the second Annual Summit at Dublin Castle in January of this year. The next Annual Summit will be hosted in Athens in January 2026.

Volunteer Exchange Programme

Open House Europe enables volunteers to travel between partner organisations and build their experience by helping to implement different local Open House events. Information about future Volunteer Exchange opportunities will be available in October.

Visual Stories Competition

Each year, visitors and participants to Open House Dublin are encourage to capture their experiences of the festival and to enter the Visual Stories competition. Information about the Visual Stories competition and how to apply will be available on the website 24 September.

Learn more about the Open House Dublin architecture festival and our impact in 2024

Open House Dublin 2024 Impact Report