FORUM 2026 at Rua Red: free intercultural arts festival in Tallaght, 25–26 September

FORUM Intercultural Arts Festival takes place at Rua Red in Tallaght on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September 2026. The two-day programme is free and brings together artists from South Dublin County’s intercultural network for panels, film, visual art, workshops, poetry, family activities, live performance and a Saturday-night DJ set. Many sessions require separate advance booking, and at least one family workshop is already sold out.

For international residents in Dublin, FORUM is one of the strongest newcomer-friendly cultural events this week because it is built around intercultural creative work rather than simply adding a few international acts to a general festival.

FORUM 2026: dates, venue and price

Rua Red says all FORUM events are free, but visitors should check the individual booking links before travelling because capacity differs by session. Rua Red’s current programme page has the latest event details.

What is FORUM?

FORUM is the public festival of the South Dublin County Intercultural Artists’ Network, an initiative of South Dublin County Council Arts Office hosted and developed by Rua Red. The network connects artists and creatives from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds across the county.

The festival is designed as a meeting point between those artists and the wider public. The programme moves between discussion, making, performance and social events, so it works both for people interested in the arts professionally and for residents who simply want to discover new voices and meet people.

What is happening on Friday 25 September?

Friday begins at 11:30 with a welcome and keynote, followed by the panel Arts in Precarious Spaces at 12:10 and film screenings from 13:15.

At 15:00, two workshops run in parallel: mandala painting with Pankti Amin and organic paint making with Roxana Manouchehri. Both require separate booking. The day closes with the Access: Beyond Pathways open-mic poetry evening, produced in collaboration with Rough Draft, from 18:00 to 19:30.

The visual-art exhibition on the café wall is available across both festival days.

What is happening on Saturday 26 September?

Saturday starts at 10:30 with a keynote by Zoë O’Reilly and Leon Diop. A panel titled Migrant Artscapes, developed in collaboration with the Irish Museum of Modern Art, follows at 11:45.

At 13:00, the conversation Food, Culture & Collective Connection explores food as memory, identity, belonging and social connection. Film screenings run from 13:15.

Family programming begins at 15:00. Fadi Zmorrod of Doulab Circus leads an introduction to circus for children aged seven to nine with a parent or caregiver. A separate LUPA storytelling and art workshop for children aged three to seven is also scheduled at 15:00, but Eventbrite currently lists the LUPA workshop as sold out.

The artist showcase runs from 18:00, bringing music, dance and theatre together, before DJ BLKCNVS closes the public programme from 19:00 to 22:00.

Do you need to book?

Entry to the festival is free, but FORUM is not entirely drop-in. Rua Red asks visitors to book a number of workshops, conversations and performance sessions separately. Availability can change quickly, so use the booking links on the official FORUM page rather than assuming a place will be available on arrival.

If one workshop is full, there are still panels, screenings, exhibitions and other parts of the programme to explore. The Saturday DJ night also gives the festival a more social finish than a typical daytime arts event.

Who is FORUM best for?

FORUM is particularly relevant for international residents, migrant artists and creatives, families interested in intercultural activities, and people who want a more local way into Dublin’s cultural scene. The programme is also useful for newcomers who would like to meet artists and community networks rather than attend a large commercial festival.

For more live culture in Dublin this week, Babylon also has guides to Tradition Now at the National Concert Hall and the Féile Frank Harte traditional singing festival.

Where is Rua Red?

Rua Red is at Plás Pharthalán, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 KV8N. The arts centre describes itself as an accessible, community-focused space and has an information desk at the main entrance for visitors who need assistance. Check Rua Red’s website before travelling for the latest venue information.

Frequently asked questions

Is FORUM 2026 free?

Yes. Rua Red lists all FORUM events as free, although separate booking is required for several sessions.

Can families attend?

Yes. The wider festival is listed as all welcome, and Saturday includes specific family workshops. Check age ranges before booking individual activities.

Is everything still available to book?

No. At the time of verification on 22 September, the LUPA children-and-families workshop on Saturday afternoon was sold out. Other sessions may also fill, so check the live booking pages.

Last verified: 22 September 2026. Event availability can change, so check Rua Red’s official programme before travelling.