Aaron Rowe Headlines the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle
Dublin’s New Year’s Eve plans have just got a serious live music upgrade.
Aaron Rowe will headline the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle on December 31st, leading the celebrations as New Year’s Festival Dublin gets ready to welcome 2027.
And he won’t be doing it alone.
Joining Rowe at Dublin Castle will be The Academic, THEATRE, KK Lewis and DJ Shelly Gray, setting up a massive night of Irish music right in the heart of the capital.
With one of Dublin’s most iconic venues as the backdrop and the Midnight Moment waiting at the other end of the night, this one has all the ingredients for a memorable New Year’s Eve.
Aaron Rowe Takes Centre Stage at NYF Dublin
If Aaron Rowe’s rise over the last few years has felt rapid, that’s because it has been.
The Irish singer-songwriter has gone from gigging five nights a week to finding himself on stages alongside some seriously heavyweight names.
Rowe has shared stages with Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, Sam Fender and David Gray, while appearances at major festivals including Glastonbury and Electric Picnic have introduced his music to increasingly big crowds.
Now comes another milestone: headlining the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle.
It’s a pretty fitting way to finish what has been a remarkable chapter in Rowe’s career - and an even better way to start 2027.
Who Is Playing the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle?
Aaron Rowe tops a bill packed with Irish talent.
The Academic will bring their festival-ready indie sound to Dublin Castle, while THEATRE and KK Lewis add two more exciting names to the New Year’s Eve lineup.
DJ Shelly Gray completes the bill and will help keep the party moving as Dublin counts down the final hours of 2026.
Then comes the big one.
The concert will culminate in NYF Dublin’s Midnight Moment, with the historic Dublin Castle providing the backdrop as the city officially welcomes 2027.
Countdown Concert Tickets: When Do They Go on Sale?
Early bird tickets for the NYF Dublin Countdown Concert are priced at €44.90 and go on sale on Wednesday, September 30th at 10am via Ticketmaster.
Additional Ticketmaster charges apply, including a service charge of 12.5% per ticket, capped at €10.50.
The Countdown Concert is strictly over-18s and the event is subject to licence.
New Year’s Festival Dublin Returns for Three Days
The Countdown Concert is only part of a much bigger celebration.
New Year’s Festival Dublin returns from December 30th, 2026 to January 1st, 2027, with three days of music, entertainment and festivities planned across the capital.
Developed by Fáilte Ireland in association with the Office of Public Works, this year’s festival will take over Dublin Castle and Meeting House Square, alongside venues and streets across Dublin city.
The programme includes the Echoes of Ireland Concerts, NYF Dublin Music Trail, Countdown Concert Matinee, the main Countdown Concert and Midnight Moment, the Ignite and Excite Procession and a series of New Year’s Day concerts.
What’s Happening at NYF Dublin 2026?
The celebrations begin on December 30th with the Echoes of Ireland Concerts at Dublin Castle, showcasing Irish musical talent before the New Year’s Eve festivities get properly underway.
Also taking place on December 30th is the NYF Dublin Music Trail, which will send audiences around Dublin to discover emerging Irish artists playing everything from trad and indie to rock and punk.
On December 31st, Dublin Castle will host a special Countdown Concert Matinee, complete with its own early Midnight Moment for anyone who wants to get the celebrations started ahead of schedule.
That evening, attention turns to the main event as Aaron Rowe, The Academic, THEATRE, KK Lewis and DJ Shelly Gray take over Dublin Castle for the Countdown Concert and the official countdown to 2027.
New Year’s Day in Dublin
The party doesn’t stop at midnight.
On January 1st, the NYF Dublin Ignite and Excite Procession will make its way through the city, bringing together music, marching bands, street performers and plenty of New Year spectacle.
There will also be free New Year’s Day concerts at Dublin Castle and Meeting House Square, with live music and street entertainment at Dublin Castle and traditional Irish musicians taking over Meeting House Square.
Further details about the full programme and individual events are expected to be announced soon.
Aaron Rowe at Dublin Castle: Ticket Details at a Glance
Event: NYF Dublin Countdown Concert
Date: December 31st, 2026
Venue: Dublin Castle
Headliner: Aaron Rowe
Special guests: The Academic, THEATRE, KK Lewis and DJ Shelly Gray
Early bird tickets: €44.90 plus applicable charges
On sale: Wednesday, September 30th at 10am
Age restriction: Strictly over 18s
New Year’s Festival Dublin has become one of the biggest dates on the capital’s winter calendar, and putting Aaron Rowe at the top of this year’s Countdown Concert bill gives the 2026 edition a distinctly homegrown feel.
From five-night-a-week gigs to Glastonbury, Electric Picnic and now a headline New Year’s Eve show at Dublin Castle, Rowe’s journey keeps getting bigger.
New Year’s Festival Dublin runs from December 30th, 2026 to January 1st, 2027 and forms part of Fáilte Ireland’s Winter in Dublin programme. The festival is produced and promoted by MCD Productions.
Further programme announcements and ticket information are available through NYF Dublin and Visit Dublin. Fans can also follow #NYFDublin and @NYFDublin for updates.
