Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival
Friday 09 to Sunday 18 October 2026
“In Solidarity: An International Celebration of Arts and Human Rights”
The Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival is an annual, international festival organised by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based international organisation working to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders at risk. It is held in partnership with a range of other Irish organisations working on human rights and social justice. This year’s festival runs from 09 – 18 October, with the theme ‘In Solidarity: An International Celebration of Arts and Human Rights’.
The festival aims to promote human rights and justice for all, and the vision of a world where all people are treated equally, with dignity and respect – linking the arts to civil society, active citizenship and politics. The extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and the role of the arts in promoting human rights will be showcased and highlighted at the festival, aiming to celebrate and unite community connections, artists, human rights organisations and human rights defenders.
The festival will showcase world-class and diverse acts, artists and speakers, including up-and-coming performers. It brings arts and human rights together through interdisciplinary events which include workshops, theatre performances, musical performances, visual arts, exhibitions, film screenings, panel discussions, poetry and literature events, historical memory performances, live art, digital installations, and more.
Front Line Defenders is hosting and co-sponsoring multiple events during this year's festival - please see details below. See the full festival programme here.
Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part 2 by Mary Moynihan
10 October 2026- 3:00 pm, at The Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 2. The performance will begin by the waterfall
Memorial Monologues, The Path of Memory Part II by Mary Moynihan, presented by Smashing times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders, performed by Ciara Hayes, and directed by Dr Eric Weitz. The monologue to be performed tells the story of Woman Human Rights Defender Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023), a woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender from Mexico, accompanied by poetry readings and a workshop talk on stories of peaceful human rights defenders, encouraging discussion on active citizenship, social inclusion, and equality. The sessions empower participants to consider how they can make positive social change and build connections across Dublin.
Find out more and register here
The Art of Changemakers Multidisciplinary Exhibition with artists Mary Moynihan and Aisha Hamdulay
16 September 2025 - 11:00 until 25 October 2026 - 16:00, at dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum
The Art of Changemakers multidisciplinary exhibition by artists Mary Moynihan and Aisha Hamdulay features photography, poetry, and storytelling and is a visual and poetical reflection on the stories of Human Rights Defenders today. The Art of Changemakers highlights the stories of the five inspirational Human Rights Defenders honoured in 2025 with the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.
Artists Mary Moynihan and Aisha Hamdulay have created a series of artworks to accompany the stories of the five human rights defenders. Artworks by Mary Moynihan consist of photography, poetry and text and a series of artworks inspired by statements from the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. Artworks by Aisha Hamdulay consist of photography and poetry. The artistic work and stories are a celebration of the work of human rights defenders and a reflection on peace, equality and human rights.
The exhibition runs from Tuesday 16 September to Saturday 25 October 2025 at the dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum, (Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 4pm, closed for lunch 1.30-2.30pm daily). The exhibition is a collaboration between Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders with the dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum, for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival.
Human Rights Open Mic
Friday 16 October 2026- 19:00 - 22:00 at Curveball, Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar Dublin, D02 RD26
Join us for a night of poetry and music related to themes of solidarity, human rights and social justice. We will have special guests featuring curated poetry and music for the night, which will be announced closer the event, and the floor is also open for anyone who would like to sign up to perform. If you are interested in performing, please email with subject line ‘’open mic sign up’’ to events@frontlinedefenders.org.
Find out more and register here
We Are Still Here (2026) Film Screening
Wednesday 14 October 2026 - 8:30 pm, at Pearse Centre, 27 Pearse Street Dublin, D02 K037
The cost of resistance unfolds through the stories of brave Sahrawi human rights defenders. The cost of resistance unfolds through the stories of brave Sahrawi human rights defenders, targeted for their peaceful activism by Moroccan authorities in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. Their stories, gone untold for far too long, are filmed in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, and interwoven with visual evidence revealing the high price of dissent.
Find out more and register here
