11–19 April 2026
Five Lamps
Arts Festival
International
Centre for
the Image
Five Lamps Arts Festival 2026
The International Centre for the Image, in collaboration with the Five Lamps Arts Festival, presents a busy schedule of exhibitions and events for all audiences running 11–19 April. With a mix of exhibitions, screenings, dance, and spoken word, the programme offers everyone something to discover. Explore the Five Lamps Arts Festival event schedule below and plan your visit.
Battle of Zen returns to the Five Lamps Arts Festival for its fourth edition with electrifying dance battles. It showcases Ireland’s top street dancers, alongside international competitors, battling for the winning title and prize.
The Tsundoku Art Book Fair presents a large selection of the latest publications by publishers and individuals from Ireland and around the world.
REIC is a multilingual spoken word night featuring poetry, rap, music, and storytelling. Host Ciara Ní É founded REIC in 2015 to celebrate our oral poetry tradition and to create a welcoming space for performances in Gaeilge.
The Scannán Glas Screening is a screening of experimental films by Margaret Tait, Miles McKane, Francien Van Everdingen, Claudio Caldini, Rose Lowder, Jennifer Reeves, Marie Menken, and Nathaniel Dorsky, presented on 16mm projection, alongside super8 films made in a series of collaborative workshops at the Mud Island Community Garden, building on its important social and environmental role within our neighbourhood.
In Physical Universe, John Scott and five technically stunning dancers from Irish Modern Dance Theatre create a ‘physical universe,’ woven into the Scannán Glas exhibition by Irish artists Sarah Browne and Laura McMorrow, and Mexican artist Elena Pardo.
Five Lamps
Arts Festival 2026
Launch
6pm Thursday 16 April 2026
Book your free ticket →
Run
11–19 April 2026
Entry
Free
Opening hours
Tue–Sun
11am–5.30pm
Five Lamps Arts Festival Programme at
The International Centre for the Image
SUN 12 APRIL
3–7pm — Battle of Zen
Presented in partnership with Five Lamps Arts Festival, enjoy electrifying live Hip Hop and Street Dance battles in Dublin’s North Wall, at the International Centre for the Image in Dublin 3pm to 7pm, 12 April 2026. Battle of Zen returns to the Five Lamps Arts Festival for its fourth edition. Join us at the International Centre for the Image for a day of electrifying dance battles showcasing Ireland’s top street dancers, alongside international competitors, battling for the winning title and prize.
Expect high-energy performances, surprise appearances throughout the day, tracks spun by DJs, and pop-up shops, all coming together in a bold, family-friendly celebration of Irish street dance and battle culture. The event brings together the Irish dance community and local audiences. This event celebrates where Irish street dance culture stands today while inspiring the next generation. Come watch, support, and experience the energy!
Produced and curated by Jessie Thompson, and funded by The Five Lamps Arts Festival.
For participants
Dancers Registration: 12pm
Dancers prelims: 12.30 pm
For Visitors
Main Event open to the public: 3pm–7pm
Tickets from €15 + booking fee
Book your ticket →
THU 16 APRIL
6pm — OFFICIAL LAUNCH
Join us for the official launch of the Five Lamps Arts Festival at the International Centre for the Image. The event includes the unveiling of this year’s Tsundoku Art Book Fair, alongside a celebration of the Scannán Glas exhibition and screening programme, and Still Looking, showcasing work by last year’s RADAR artists, who will lead a guided tour of their exhibition.
FRI 17 APRIL
7–9.30pm — REIC
Join us for a multilingual spoken word night featuring poetry, rap, music, and storytelling!
Cloistear filíocht ó bhéal, rap, ceol agus scéalaíocht ag an oíche filíochta ilteangach REIC. Bunaíodh REIC in 2015 le hardán a thabhairt do thraidisiún ársa na filíochta béil mar atá sí sa lá atá inniu ann agus le baile a chruthú do thaispeántais de gach cineál i nGaeilge. Anocht cuirfidh MC Ciara Ní É fáilte roimh na haíonna speisialta Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Cara Park, Pádaí de Cléir, Joe Ó Fátharta agus Anna D agus beidh mic oscailte ann, tar luath le do spás a chinntiú!
REIC (pronounced ‘wreck’) is a multilingual spoken word night featuring poetry, rap, music, and storytelling. Host Ciara Ní É founded REIC in 2015 to celebrate our oral poetry tradition and to create a welcoming space for performances in Gaeilge.
Ciara will welcome special guests Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Cara Park, Pádaí de Cléir, and Joe Ó Fátharta, with open mic spaces too.
Doirse/Doors: 7pm
REIC: 7.30–9.30pm
BYOB: Attendees may bring their own drinks
Presented in association with Poetry Ireland
Ticket €15 + booking fee
Book your ticket →
SAT 18 APRIL
4–6pm — Scannán Glas screening
Join us for a screening of experimental films by Margaret Tait, Miles McKane, Francien Van Everdingen, Claudio Caldini, Rose Lowder, Jennifer Reeves, Marie Menken, and Nathaniel Dorsky, presented on 16mm projection, alongside super8 films made in a series of collaborative workshops at the Mud Island Community Garden, building on its important social and environmental role within our neighbourhood.
In partnership with Five Lamps Arts Festival and Fire Station Artists’ Studio’s newly launched DUBH Film Lab, the wider programme also features the Scannán Glas exhibition of works by Irish artists Sarah Browne and Laura McMorrow, and by Mexican artist Elena Pardo.
SUN 19 APRIL
6–7pm — Physical Universe by IMDT
Join us as John Scott and five technically stunning dancers from Irish Modern Dance Theatre create a ‘physical universe,’ woven into the Scannán Glas exhibition by Irish artists Sarah Browne and Laura McMorrow, and Mexican artist Elena Pardo.
Set at the International Centre for the Image, this thrilling and unique site-specific dance event features urgent physicality, sensuality, weighted duets, and frantic ensemble pieces. Responding to ecology and nature, the performance explores the themes of ‘the other’ and ‘the witness’ in a way that is both moving and life-affirming.
Presented by Dance Meets Arts
