First Fortnight Festival

First Fortnight Mental Health Arts & Culture Festival 2026
6–17 January 2026 | Various venues nationwide

First Fortnight returns this January with its 15th annual Mental Health Arts & Culture Festival – a warm, inclusive and energising cultural kick-start to the new year.

Across twelve days, more than 45 events invite audiences to pause, reflect and connect through music, theatre, poetry, film, visual art, talks, workshops, VR experiences and more. At its heart, First Fortnight uses the arts to open up honest, hopeful conversations about mental health and to tackle stigma in creative, accessible ways.

Curated by poet Stephen James Smith and Festival Director Maria Fleming, the 2026 programme brings together artists whose work holds courage, creativity and care in equal measure – from emerging voices to much-loved names.

Festival highlights:

In Good Company – Abbey Theatre, Dublin
A landmark First Fortnight event at Ireland’s National Theatre, featuring Declan O’Rourke and Deirdre O’Kane in candid conversation about craft, resilience and the realities of life on (and off) the stage, with live music from powerhouse soul-pop artist Toshín.

Nollaig na mBan Celebration – Whelan’s, Dublin
A special opening night of music and spoken word with Vona Groarke (Ireland’s Professor of Poetry), Tolü Makay and Jan Brierton, blending poetry, song and celebration of women’s voices.

Therapy Sessions – Nationwide Tour
The much-loved Therapy Sessions, hosted by Stephen James Smith, travels to more locations than ever before, including Dublin, Wexford, Belfast, Árainn Mhór (Donegal), Limerick and Kerry. Intimate nights of poetry, music and story featuring Inuit and First Nations artists Taqralik Partridge, Melissa Shaginoff, Leslie Kachena McCue, alongside Irish artists such as Emma Langford, RUÁ, David Costello, Rachel Grace, Nealo and more.

Virtual Reality Season – Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
A new VR strand featuring Soul Paint, Mammary Mountain and Ar Ais Arís – powerful immersive works exploring the body, identity, migration, illness and emotion through cutting-edge virtual reality.

ANTIDOTE 2 – WeAreGriot
A major new spoken word commission blending poetry, music and storytelling from Nigerian–Irish collective WeAreGriot (Dagogo Hart, Felicia Olusanya / FeliSpeaks, Samuel Yakura, Emmet O’Brien), with live music from Neubri.

Plus: film screenings with the Irish Film Institute, reflective tours and quiet hours at the National Museum of Ireland, dawn experiences at St Patrick’s Cathedral, exhibitions, workshops in Kildare and across the regions, and participatory projects centring real stories and lived experience.

A festival for everyone

First Fortnight aims to be a festival for all:

Almost 40% of events are free or Pay What You Can (PWYC)
A further 48% are priced at €15/€10 or less
Events take place in Dublin and across the country – including Donegal, Down, Kildare, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and beyond

Accessibility notes and venue information are available online

Whether you’re drawn to a gig, a panel, a quiet museum moment, a VR experience or a storytelling night, you’re invited to join in whatever way feels right for you.

Join the conversation

For full programme details, booking and accessibility information, visit:
firstfortnight.ie

Follow and share: #FirstFortnight26 | #TheArtOfMentalHealth

Fáilte. Come as you are, and help us start the first story of 2026 together.