A special Made in Galway showcase will be the city and county’s contribution to Cultúr 2026, the official cultural programme of Ireland’s current Presidency of the European Union.
One of the highlights will see Baboró International Arts Festival for Children present a special three-day Made in Galway showcase from October 12, putting some of the exceptional work being created for children and young people in Galway and across Ireland in front of visiting European programmers, presenters and cultural partners.
The showcase comes as Baboró celebrates its 30th edition from October 9 to 18, marking three decades as Ireland’s flagship arts festival devoted to children, families and schools.
For the special Made in Galway Showcase, visiting European programmers will attend public performances alongside a curated programme of presentations, showcases and networking opportunities designed to introduce them to Irish artists and companies and encourage future international collaboration.
Participating artists will include Galway-based makers and artists whose work has been developed through Galway-based artist development initiatives including Baboró’s GROW programmes.
By bringing artists, presenters and cultural leaders from across Europe to Galway, the showcase will celebrate the strength of work being created locally while building relationships that can help Irish artists and companies bring that work to new audiences internationally.
The Baboró showcase leads a busy autumn of Cultúr 2026 activity across Galway City and County, connecting local communities with European artists, stories, histories and traditions.
From 10–13 September, Féile na gCloch 2026 on Inis Oírr will celebrate 20 years of preserving and sharing Ireland’s traditional stone-building skills, bringing the island’s rich heritage of stonework into a wider European cultural exchange.
This year, Féile na gCloch will also welcome international partners from Croatia, Greece and Austria through the ECHOES: Enhancing Cultural Heritage Skills Across Europe project, creating opportunities for craftspeople and communities to exchange knowledge, learn from one another and explore the shared heritage traditions that connect Ireland with communities across Europe.
On Culture Night, September 18, Galway City Museum will host Around the EU in Song, with Helen Hancock and Ramin Haghjoo celebrating the EU through song, opera and operetta. Music from Austria, Germany, Czechia, France, Italy, Ireland and Hungary will explore themes including mythical creatures, travel, memory and love.
From September 27 to 30, Galway will also welcome representatives from UNESCO-designated Cities of Film around the world for the UNESCO Creative Cities Film Subnetwork Meeting. The four-day international gathering will provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
Galway’s centuries-old connections with continental Europe will be explored throughout the Presidency at Galway City Museum. Each month until December, its European Object of the Month will highlight a different object from the Museum’s collection connected to the histories and cultures of mainland Europe, ranging from a Dominican chasuble featuring Spanish block printing, to First World War medals, demonstrating Galway’s enduring links to the continent.
From October to December, Galway City Museum will also present The Tribes in Hungary: Walter Lynch and Ferenc Martyn, sharing the stories of two remarkable men, Bishop Walter Lynch and Ferenc Martyn, ancestors of the ‘Tribes of Galway’ who had a lasting cultural impact in Hungary centuries apart.
Irish music will also form part of the programme as Lisa Murray tours her debut bilingual Gaeilge/English album Abhaile, with Galway among the stops on her nationwide tour.
On November 1, the focus moves east to Ballinasloe Library for Connections: Echoes Across Europe, a collaboration between Galway Public Libraries, Europe Direct Centre Ballinasloe and Estonian Public Libraries.
Leading Estonian poet Kristiina Ehin will be commissioned to create new work on the theme of connection, which will be interpreted musically by Galway composer Matthew Berrill and visually by West of Ireland-based artists Maeve Clancy, Kathleen Furey and Joyce Little.
