National Heritage Week 15th – 23rd August 2026

Heritage Week 2026 will take place this year from the 15^th – 23^rd August. The theme is ‘Heritage at Risk’. 

This theme hopes to explore the tangible and intangible risks to heritage, and to showcase how communities and organisations throughout Ireland are preserving this heritage for the future. 

Some topics for exploration include:

• The loss of traditional skills and expertise.
• Risks to biodiversity and natural habitats.
• Items at risk of destruction (How archives can be used to preserve what is at risk of being lost).
• Elements of history and culture at risk of being forgotten.
• The Irish Language.

Throughout the week, several ‘Themed Days’ will also take place:

• Saturday 15^th August – ‘Heritage Open Doors’

Making new and interesting sites accessible to visitors, such as 

– Courthouses 

– Civic Buildings 

– Historic properties

– Club Rooms, etc.

• Saturday 22^nd August – ‘Wild Child Day’

Encouraging children and families to explore their local natural heritage, such as the flora and fauna of their locality. Any aspect which involves interactions with the environment, such as insect collecting, exploring habitats, walks and more.

• Sunday 23^rd August – ‘Water Heritage Day’ 

Celebrating water and our connections with it. Encouraging groups to think about 

– Local water heritage 

– The types of water heritage (Industrial or pleasure)

– How we interact with waterways 

– What water heritage is at risk 

The Heritage Week website will open on the 1^st May. Training days will be announced on the Heritage Week website within the coming few weeks, and will likely take place in mid May.

There is no deadline for registering an event, however, early registration leads to better event promotion.