The Mother Tongues Festival 2026
programme is live!
Tallaght, 20-21 February 2026
The air is thick with anticipation as we officially pull back the curtain on the Mother Tongues Festival 2026. This year, we invite you to join us under the banner of “The Power of Story”, a theme that celebrates the magical ways narratives weave through our lives, shaping our identities and building bridges between our diverse cultures. From the quiet whisper of a bedtime tale in your mother tongue to the shared energy of a multilingual performance, we are exploring how every voice adds a unique colour to the portrait of our community.
The journey begins here and we can’t wait for you to find your place in the story!
To ensure that everyone has the space to express themselves and truly enjoy the experience, our events have a limited capacity. We recommend moving quickly, as our workshops in particular tend to sell out fast! While some events are free to attend, others carry a small fee; you will find all the specific details and booking links on our website.
About the Festival
Celebrating Ireland’s cultural and linguistic diversity, the Festival uses the arts to foster dialogue and inclusion in a joyful atmosphere. It also marks UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day, celebrated on February 21st. This day emphasises the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingual education in fostering intergenerational learning and cultural preservation.
This year’s programme of performances, workshops and exhibitions is designed for families with children aged 3 to 10 years old. It will place a special focus on the ways artists tell stories for bilingual early years children, their families, and carers. Through play, creativity and shared experiences, the Festival will celebrate the stories that unite us and remind us that within each of us lies a storyteller ready to be heard. Moreover, we are particularly proud to partner with AsIAm to provide a sensory safe space on Saturday, 21 February.
This quiet, supportive corner is designed for neurodivergent young people who may need a gentle break from the festival buzz, with trained volunteers on hand to ensure a calm and inclusive experience for all.
“Through play and creativity, the Festival celebrates the stories that connect us across cultures, reminding us that everyone carries a story waiting to be told. By nurturing linguistic diversity through the arts, we empower bilingual children to grow confident in who they are, and we use the gift of multilingualism to unite our communities”
Fernanda Ferrari, Mother Tongues Director
Before our family day kicks off, we are proud to open the festival with a debate entitled “There’s a Story Here.” As Ireland becomes increasingly diverse, this session invites artists, parents and educators to reflect on the impact of Mother Tongues’ Language Explorers programme. Together, we will explore how multilingual arts practices in early childhood foster a deep sense of belonging and help build a more connected, empathetic society from the very beginning.
Friday’s professional and community programme continues with an unmissable Masterclass led by the acclaimed Danish company Theatre Madame Bach. Designed for artists and educators, this hands-on session explores the art of visual storytelling and its connection to the natural world. It offers a professional deep-dive into the creative process behind the work of Pernille Bach and Christian Schrøder, such as BLOOM, the enchanting production that our artists-in-residence will perform for families on Saturday. Blending live music, movement and play, the performance creates an intimate, immersive world inspired by nature, inviting audiences to explore, imagine and discover together.
To close our opening day, we invite you to the launch of our community exhibition, “Our family, our stories”, a collection of self-portraits created by our Language Explorers families, celebrating the many languages and faces that make up our festival family.
Festival highlights
Joining the programme from the UK, artist Zannie Fraser (aka Luminous Tales) presents The stars in the sky, an enchanting shadow puppet performance based on a traditional folktale. Using a 19th-century “Crankie” moving panorama – a hand-drawn illustrated scroll revealed through the turning of a handle – the piece combines light, shadow and storytelling to transport families on a magical journey to the land of Elsewhere.
This bilingual workshop invites families to explore the surprising links between Indian rangoli and Celtic shapes. This session introduces the art of rangoli, a traditional Indian folk art where colourful patterns are created on floors to welcome guests using materials like rice flour, coloured sand or flower petals. Participants will get hands-on with the materials.
Set sail on a musical adventure where the sounds and stories of Portugal come to life!
This workshop invites children and their families to discover a world of catchy songs, fun rhythms and playful Portuguese words. From dancing freely to making silly sounds, little explorers will find out how music can help us express ourselves and understand the world around us. Following the old Portuguese saying that “singing scares away troubles,” we invite parents and children to sing out loud together, building happy memories and strong bonds through the magic of play.
Little Storymakers is a playful, interactive workshop for young children that celebrates the power of story through music, rhythm and imagination. The session invites families to explore how stories begin, using simple English and Irish phrases. Together, we create a lively “fill-in-the-blank” musical story, guided by movement, rhythm and the children’s own ideas. No Irish is needed, everyone can join in and enjoy learning through sound and creativity.
From kamishibai and lino printing to music workshops in Irish, Spanish and Portuguese, the 2026 programme is packed with multilingual adventures for every taste! What are you waiting for? Browse the programme and plan your mid-term break! Tickets are limited, so do not risk missing out on this year’s Festival!
Did you know?
Every year, we are delighted to collaborate with incredible local talent to bring the spirit of the Mother Tongues Festival to life through art. Supporting artists is at the heart of what we do, and we feel so lucky to be surrounded by such creativity and passion. This year’s adorable artwork was created by Brian Fitzgerald. Check out his work here.
How to get there
Rua Red Arts Centre and The Civic are located in Belgard Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24, only seconds from the Luas stop. Both venues are also located within walking distance so you can enjoy as many events as you like!
Buses 49, 49A, 54A, 65, 65B, 27, 77A, 75, 76, 76A
Red Luas, stop at Tallaght/Tamhlaght
If you would like to support our work further, please consider making a donation to help us keep our programme accessible to everyone.
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