9th October 2026
Celebrating youth work in our communities
Youth Night 2026 is here – a celebration of youth work led by young people nationwide.
Youth Night 2026 is coming! A nationwide celebration of young people, youth work and the communities that make it all possible.
Taking place on Friday, 13 November, Oíche na hÓige / Youth Night is an opportunity for Foróige young people to open the doors of their Clubs and UBU Projects and show what youth work looks and feels like in their communities.
Following the success of the first Youth Night in 2025, which saw more than 450 groups take part nationwide, this year’s celebration will once again shine a spotlight on the creativity, confidence, connection and community spirit that thrive in youth work spaces across Ireland.
Put your Youth Night event on the map! Tell us what you’re organising through our short online form and we’ll showcase your celebration on our national Foróige Youth Night map.
Foróige Clubs and UBU Projects are encouraged to host their own events, welcoming parents, neighbours, supporters and the wider community to experience youth work first-hand and see the difference it makes.
This year’s Youth Night also takes place during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with Clubs and Projects encouraged to consider including a European theme as part of their celebrations.
Oíche na hÓige is an initiative of the Department of Education and Youth, delivered in partnership with Education and Training Boards (ETBs), the National Youth Council of Ireland and the youth work sector.
Learn more about Óiche na hÓige on the Department of Education and Youth here.
How to Get Involved
• Plan your event on Friday, 13 November, but events can also take place on nearby evenings.
• Put your event on the map! We want to showcase Youth Night celebrations happening right across Ireland! Complete our short form to tell us what you’re planning and we’ll feature your event on our national Youth Night map. You can also request your Youth Night balloons through the same form.
• Apply for your ETB Youth Night Grant (details available from your Youth Officer / Club Development Officer)
• Host your event and share it online using @foroige and #YouthNight.
Together, we’ll celebrate the power of youth work – and the difference Foróige young people make every day in communities right across Ireland.
Plan Your Youth Night
To help you organise and promote your event, we’ve created a set of downloadable materials:
• Printable poster – to advertise your event locally
• Social media graphics – to post on social to promote your event
• Printable bunting – design, cut, and hang in your space
• Sample press release – ready to adapt for local media
Need Balloons? Of course you do.
And before anyone asks, yes, there are balloons. We’ve got special Youth Night sets available for Foróige Clubs and Projects to decorate their event spaces!
If you haven’t already, complete our short online form to put your event on the national Youth Night map and request your balloons at the same time!
Promote Your Event
Youth Night is about celebrating youth work in our communities – and sharing the story of what happens in Foróige spaces across Ireland.
Capture the atmosphere of your event through photos and short videos, and share them online to show the impact of youth work in action. Tag @foroige and use #YouthNight so your club’s celebration can be seen and shared nationally.
Grant funding can also cover promotional costs such as photography, video, or printed materials, so plan for this early.
Before posting, let guests know that photos or videos will be taken so anyone who’d prefer not to be included can opt out.
After the event, post a short thank-you message to everyone who came along – including your volunteers and supporters. Send a press release to your local media along with some high quality photographs of your event. Every post, reel, and story helps to highlight the creativity and leadership that young people bring to their communities.
