Organized by the council's night-time economy advisor in partnership with AIM Ireland, the conference takes place at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday, 22 September.
The day-long event will bring together leading figures from hospitality, music, culture, major events, and night-time policy in Ireland and internationally for a day-long conversation about Dublin after dark and where the city goes next.
Discussions across the day will explore the future of the Dublin pub, the journey from grassroots venues to arenas, international night-time policy, club culture and safety, and the impact major events can have on the city.
Speakers include Willie Aherne of The Palace Bar; Trevor O’Shea of Bodytonic; Edel Curtin of the Live Music Collective; Shane Dunne of MCD; Julie Ryan of Izakaya Yamamori; Freek Wallagh, Night Mayor of Amsterdam; Michael Kill, CEO of the UK Night Time Industries Association; Carly Heath, Bristol’s first Night-Time Economy Advisor; Joaquim Boadas, CEO of Spain Nightlife; Tony Smithers, Head of Events at Dublin City Council; Richard Tierney, CEO of St Patrick’s Festival; and Michael Stewart, Belfast Night Czar.
One of the headline discussions, The Future of the Dublin Pub, comes at an important time for an institution that remains central to the social and cultural life of the capital.
While around a quarter of pubs across Ireland have closed over the past two decades, the decline in Dublin has been dramatically lower, at around 1%.
The discussion will be moderated by historian and author of The Dublin Pub, Donal Fallon, and will feature Willie Aherne of The Palace Bar, Trevor O’Shea of Bodytonic, and Siobhan Conmy of Street 66.
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“The Dublin pub remains one of the great institutions of the city, but there’s no question that it’s changing — because Dublin is changing and the way people socialize is changing too," said Ray O'Donoghue, Dublin city night-time economy advisory.
"What does the Dublin pub of the next 10 or 20 years look like? What do younger generations want from it, and how does it adapt while holding on to what makes it special? That’s the conversation we want to have.”
The future of Ireland’s grassroots music sector will also be firmly on the agenda, with Grassroots to Arenas examining the importance of the smaller venues where artists develop their careers.
"Look at the meteoric rise of Fontaines DC, who are set to play to 160,000 people next summer. They started out playing to fewer than 200 people in The Workman’s Club," said Colm Hanley, CEO of AIM Ireland.
"Grassroots venues are the lifeblood of the music business. They are where artists develop, audiences discover new music, and the next generation gets its start. There are no arenas without grassroots venues.”
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The international program will bring experience from Amsterdam, Bristol, Belfast and the UK, while the closing Big Nights, Big Cities conversation will look at what major events such as UEFA Euro 2028, Fleadh, Dublin Pride and the St Patrick's Festival can do for Dublin.
“We’re really excited about this conference. A dedicated conversation about Dublin after dark is long overdue for a capital city with such a thriving night-time economy and an extraordinary pool of music, cultural, and creative talent," said O'Donoghue.
"We’re bringing together people who run pubs and clubs, grassroots venues and major events, alongside some of the leading voices shaping night-time policy internationally. We want a real conversation about what’s working, what isn’t, and where Dublin needs to go next.”
Further speakers and program details will be announced ahead of the conference.
* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.
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