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 Parts I and II
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 Parts I and II by Mary Moynihan were commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders and feature a series of powerful monologues adapted from the words and stories of brave and inspirational human rights defenders from around the world who were murdered because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others. Each year since 2024, Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders have presented a variation of the show at the physical Memorial to Human Rights Defenders in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, designed by Grafton Architects.
Our presentation for 2026 feature a live monologue performance from 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 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.
This unique event is presented for two performances only. The first is a live indoor performance on Friday 9 October 2026, 7pm, at the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Centre, 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin, for the launch of the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival. The second performance and talk takes place on Saturday 10 October, 3pm, outdoors at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin, weather permitting.
The show was commissioned by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders and scripted by Mary Moynihan to pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
Iveagh Gardens are located on Clonmel Street, off Harcourt Street in Dublin 2. Access is by Clonmel Street, Hatch Street, and to the rear of the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace. Please note that there is no wheelchair access through the Concert Hall gate entrance. Iveagh Gardens was awarded a Green Flag 2022-2023 which is an international bench marking standard for parks and green spaces. Come and join us as we pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.
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
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
