Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
Catch the Saturday matinee in Grand Canal Dock — Tim Minchin's sharp, energetic musical staging is an ideal rainy afternoon escape for families and theatre lovers alike.
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For friend groupsThings to do in Dublin with friends this weekend (Oct 16–18)
This weekend in Dublin: Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026 · 7 dated events
What's on in Dublin, Ireland this week — the spots locals are packing, buzzy restaurants, and weekend plans worth texting the group chat about.
14 hand-picked things to do in Dublin, Ireland right now · 7 with confirmed dates
Photo: Gregory DALLEAU / Unsplash
How we pick spots for a group
- Buzzy, higher-energy rooms that take a crowd
- What's on right now over evergreen tourist stops
- Bookable tables and shared plates a group can split
✨ Happening Today
Events and things to do tonight
Arlo Parks: Desire Tour at The Academy
Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks brings poetic indie soul and warm brass melodies to Middle Abbey Street tonight.
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Declan O'Rourke Live at Vicar Street
One of Ireland's finest lyricists commands the legendary Liberties stage with intricate acoustic storytelling and full band arrangements.
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Plan a friends trip to Dublin, Ireland
Tell us who's going and WonderKit drafts three Dublin, Ireland trip ideas in about a minute — free, and you see them before creating an account.
🍷 Eat & Drink
Warm corners, seasonal bites, and buzz-worthy spots
Peruvian Wood-Fired Feasts at Cantina Valentina
Tucked inside The Hoxton on Exchequer Street, this lively picantería turns out citrus-cured sea bass ceviche, anticuchos, and pisco sours against cozy terracotta tiles.
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Northern Thai BBQ & Smoked Ribs at Achara
From the team behind Crudo, this riverside kitchen fires up Irish produce with northern Thai funk — think glazed Leinster lamb ribs, chargrilled squid, and natural wines.
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Special Ham & Cheese Toasties at Grogan's Castle Lounge
On a blustery 50-degree afternoon, pull up a stool next to local artists, order a creamy pint of stout, and ask the barman for the legendary cheddar toastie with English mustard.
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🍁 This Weekend in Dublin, Ireland · Oct 16–18
Weekend gigs, shows, and crisp autumn strolls
Melanie C at 3Olympia Theatre
Sporty Spice takes the ornate stage on Dame Street on Sunday evening, delivering solo pop anthems and nostalgic favorites.
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The Mountain Goats at Vicar Street
John Darnielle brings his verbose, impassioned cult-classic indie folk repertoire to Dublin 8 for a Sunday night showcase.
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Keith Barry: Unhinged at Gaiety Theatre
Mentalism, hypnosis, and sharp comedy collide at South King Street's historic Victorian theatre for his final tour run.
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Autumn Canopy Walk at St. Stephen's Green
Wrap up for a brisk mid-morning stroll past fiery copper beeches and the duck pond before warming up with flat whites across the road at Hatch & Sons.
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👀 New & Notable
Fresh exhibits and what to book ahead
Hilma af Klint: Artist and Visionary at National Gallery of Ireland
Opened this week in Rooms 6–10, Ireland's first major retrospective of the Swedish mystic and abstract trailblazer showcases large-scale spiritual canvases and rarely exhibited watercolours.
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Bram Stoker Festival 2026 Bookings Open
Dublin's annual celebration of its homegrown Gothic master returns October 23–26; reserve the popular torchlit walking tours and cathedral spectacles before they sell out.
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🚗 Quick Escape
Mini-trips within two hours of Dublin
Glendalough & The Sally Gap Autumn Drive
Drive 60 minutes south into County Wicklow where rusty bracken coats the hills. Walk the sheltered Lower Lake trail by the 6th-century monastic round tower, then thaw out by the fire at The Wicklow Heather in Laragh.
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Boyne Valley Ancient Trail to Medieval Carlingford
Head an hour north along the M1 into County Meath and Louth. Explore Newgrange's prehistoric stone passages before continuing to Carlingford Lough for coastal chowder and cobble-lined medieval lanes.
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Ready-made Dublin, Ireland itineraries
Ready-made plans for Dublin, Ireland, written out in full and built from real local spots — start from one instead of a blank page.
Frequently asked
What are the best things to do in Dublin, Ireland with friends?
Group-friendly highlights in Dublin, Ireland right now include Matilda The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Arlo Parks: Desire Tour at The Academy, and Declan O'Rourke Live at Vicar Street. WonderKit updates this guide daily so plans stay current.
Where do locals go out in Dublin, Ireland?
The "Eat & Drink" section above lists buzzy restaurants and bars in Dublin, Ireland — the spots locals are actually packing this week.
Where's the best nightlife in Dublin, Ireland?
Check the sections above for current events, buzzy bars, and weekend plans in Dublin, Ireland worth texting the group chat about.
Plan a friends trip to Dublin, Ireland
Tell us who's going and WonderKit drafts three Dublin, Ireland trip ideas in about a minute — free, and you see them before creating an account.
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