National Heritage Week 2026 now open for event submissions

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, marked the opening of event registration for National Heritage Week 2026, inviting community organisations, volunteers and heritage groups across Ireland to contribute to the festival programme running from 15th – 23rd August 2026. The launch of this year's event registration was hosted at The National Print Museum, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of its opening.

Now in its 26th year, National Heritage Week is Ireland’s largest celebration of built, cultural, and natural heritage, with over 2,500 events taking place annually, attended by almost half a million people. This week-long festival is an all-island initiative, with the majority of events free to attend.

This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, invites individuals and communities to consider the elements of our heritage that are vulnerable or under threat – from historic buildings and archaeological sites to natural habitats, traditional skills, folklore, language and ways of life. Through guided walks, hands on workshops, talks, performances and heritage trails, events will highlight not only the richness of local heritage, but the importance of protecting and sustaining it for future generations.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: “National Heritage Week is driven by the passion, creativity and commitment of volunteers, community groups and heritage champions right across Ireland. Their dedication is what makes the week such a success year after year, bringing our shared heritage to life in towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

“Collective community action serves as the most effective safeguard for vulnerable heritage assets, ensuring that built heritage landmarks, ecological habitats and heritage stories and traditions are preserved for future generations.

“I encourage communities to register their events for this year’s programme. It’s a wonderful opportunity to welcome new people into your community and to shine a light on what makes your area unique.”

Speaking about the importance of National Heritage Week, Heritage Council Chief Executive Officer, Viriginia Teehan, said, “National Heritage Week is a true highlight in our calendar and a special time to connect with the places, traditions and stories that shape our sense of identity and belonging. This year’s theme, Heritage at Risk, invites us to look more closely at the aspects of our built, natural and cultural heritage that are most precious and, in some cases, most vulnerable.“

With the continued support of the Heritage Council, the programme has grown year on year, with more than 2,000 events now taking place nationwide - a testament to the dedication and imagination of communities across Ireland.

“From historic buildings and landscapes to language, folklore, skills and local knowledge, heritage lives within our communities. Through the events created by communities across the country, National Heritage Week fosters pride and creativity, supports economic vitality at a local level, and highlights the importance of protecting and sustaining our heritage for future generations. It is always inspiring to see the range of events and projects that come to life each year, and the passion of the people who make them possible.”

Carla Marrinan Funder, CEO of The National Print Museum, added: “As we mark 30-years of The National Print Museum this year, we are delighted to host the opening of event registration for National Heritage Week 2026. Print traditions have long helped shape how heritage is recorded, communicated and understood, yet many of these skills are increasingly under threat. The Heritage at Risk theme encourages vital conversations about safeguarding heritage in all its forms, and the role communities play in keeping it alive”

You can register your event now for National Heritage Week 2026 at www.heritageweek.ie