Open House Dublin 2026 – Dublin Is Living
Dublin is a city and county of unmatched energy, rich history, and deep-rooted community spirit. But Dublin is not only defined by its red bricks and mortar, its iconic landmarks, its parks, or its infrastructural ambitions. If Dublin is living, then people are its life support. The true pulse of our capital resides in the collective care we show for one another, the networks we maintain and the shared vitality of every local neighbourhood.
This year’s Open House Dublin festival of architecture is a celebration of that living exchange and relationship between people and place. As our city and county evolve, we face critical questions about urban renewal, housing, sustainable transport, and preserving our unique cultural fabric. From behind the scenes tours, to youth-led debates, to a town hall discussion on the future of Dublin, this festival of architecture is your place to explore, to connect, and to feel the pulse of this city and county.
Open House Dublin is part of the Open House Worldwide international network of 50 organisations hosting festivals and conversations about architecture, design and cities across the globe from Lagos to Taipei, and New York to Santiago. We are uniquely positioned to take the lead on public engagement, discourse and debate in architecture and city-making in Dublin.
Open House Dublin 2026 is an Associated Presidency Event as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
Learn more about the work we do at Irish Architecture Foundation.
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 at the 2026 festival will open 23 September.
PLEASE NOTE tickets must be booked online. Bookings should not be made through email or phone unless advised. Booking requests by email will not be processed unless previously agreed.
If you have a query about an existing booking, you are having technical difficulties or need further assistance, you can contact at [email protected] or at +353 1 874 7200 or 089 477 9153.
Please note our booking opening hours are strictly Monday to Friday, opening 23 September 2026:
10:00am – 1:00pm
2:00pm – 4:00pm
During Festival week, 10 October to 18 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 difficulties, please contact [email protected] / +353 1 874 7200 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.
Open House Dublin 2026 is made possible through the generous support of our funders, partners, sponsors, supporters and media partners.
Our deepest thanks go to the Arts Council of Ireland, our principal funder, whose long-term investment in the Irish Architecture Foundation sustains our independence and enables us to deliver an ambitious programme of architecture and public engagement. We are grateful to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Office of Public Works, Open House Europe and Open House Worldwide for their continued partnership.
The support of Dublin’s four local authorities — Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council — remains central to Open House Dublin. Their commitment reflects a shared belief in architecture as a public good and in the importance of making the city’s buildings, spaces and places accessible to all.
We are also grateful to our OHD2026 sponsors Bloomberg, Grangegorman Development Agency and Walls Construction, whose support contributes to the delivery of this year’s programme.
Our thanks extend to our Corporate Circle supporters — Cairn Homes, Dublin Port, Henry J Lyons, Land Development Agency, O’Mahony Pike Architects and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) — for their ongoing support of the Irish Architecture Foundation and Open House Dublin.
We are grateful too to our media partners, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, JCDecaux and Totally Dublin, for helping us share the programme with audiences across the city and beyond.
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.
To sign up to volunteer for Open House Dublin 2026, visit the Volunteer page and register using Better Impact software, which we use to manage volunteer applications and scheduling for the festival.
We are part of Open House Europe, an exciting collaboration between 16 cities in Europe. Open House Europe is network connecting Open House festival organisers across Europe and enabling 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.
Learn more about the Open House Dublin architecture festival and our impact in 2025:
