The National Concert Hall in Dublin has announced a new programme of concerts running from September 2026 through to March 2027
The announcements cover its Perspectives contemporary music series, the Tradition Now festival, and a handful of distinctive one-off events.
There’s a lot here worth paying attention to.
Tradition Now Festival – September 24th to 26th 2026
The NCH’s annual festival dedicated to contemporary approaches to Irish traditional music opens on Thursday September 24th with Ispíní na hÉireann making their mainstage debut, alongside Neil Ó Lochlainn presenting Immram – a new work inspired by the poetry of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill – in The Studio.
Friday September 25th is the standout day of the festival. Ye Vagabonds join the National Symphony Orchestra for a major collaborative performance on the main stage – one of the more genuinely exciting crossover events in the programme. The same evening, pedal steel innovator David Murphy performs with Ether Ensemble in The Studio, Donegal fiddler Nia Byrne plays the Kevin Barry Recital Room, and Aoife Ní Bhriain and pianist Cormac McCarthy close the evening in The Studio at 9:30pm.
Saturday September 26th closes the festival with SIRENS – a specially curated concert hosted by Lisa Hannigan, bringing together Amanda Bergman, Anna Mieke, Theodora Byrne and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha on the Main Stage at 7:30pm. The day also features Amano, Ceol Ársa Cláirsí, The Weaving (Meabh Ní Bheaglaoich, Owen Spafford and Cáit Ní Riain), and Shovel Dance Collective closing the evening in The Studio at 9:30pm.
Perspectives Series – September 2026 to March 2027
The Perspectives series opens on Friday September 4th with Black Country, New Road performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by André de Ridder – the band’s first appearance at the NCH, following their latest album Forever Howlong. Main Stage, 8pm. Tickets from €15.
Sunday November 8th brings Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto together with American composer and songwriter Gabriel Kahane (Council) for a genre-fluid evening blending chamber music, song and electronics in The Studio at 8:30pm.
Thursday March 4th 2027 sees jazz take the Main Stage with TRANSLINEAR LIGHT – The Music of Alice Coltrane, featuring Ravi Coltrane with special guest Brandee Younger and an international ensemble. A significant booking.
The series concludes on Saturday March 27th 2027 with the Irish debut of Perfume Genius, presenting The Lesson – a multidisciplinary performance created with choreographer Kate Wallich and rooted in literary work. Main Stage, 8pm.
One-Off Events
Saturday September 12th brings Paul Noonan and Brian Crosby together for Pilgrims – a live performance celebrating their debut collaborative album, alongside material from their earlier work together in Bell X1. Main Stage, 8pm. Tickets from €25.
Tuesday October 6th sees the NCH host Muldoon’s Picnic for the first time – an evening curated by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, blending music and literature with Paul Brady, Anne Enright, Neil Jordan and Iarla Ó Lionáird, accompanied by house band Aldoc. Main Stage, 8pm.
Full listings at nch.ie. Tickets on sale Thursday May 7th at 10am.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
