It’s said that Dublin is the biggest village in the world.
It’s a city of writers and poets – of people who take pride in their history, but increasingly look to their future. Its cobbled streets and historic sites jostle alongside cutting-edge modern architecture, and it has a vibrancy and confidence that comes with a young population who know they can be themselves and make their own way in the world.
With a compact, walkable city centre and low-cost public transport, it’s a city that begs to be explored and discovered, a place which enchants and inspires almost seven million visitors every year.
Our Venues
While our plans won’t be finalised until we are confirmed as the host city for 2029, we’re already in discussions with venues and other important partners to lay the groundwork for an unforgettable Worldcon.
As our main venue, we plan to return to the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), an award-winning events facility with a 2,000-capacity main auditorium. It also offers 30 other spaces, from intimate meeting rooms up to a 1,000 capacity hall and a massive exhibition space, giving us the flexibility to host a huge variety of events and programme items.
We’re also speaking with the neighbouring National College of Ireland (NCI), Mayor Square, giving us access to even more space less than five minutes from the CCD.
Accommodation
Dublin routinely hosts major international conferences and large-scale events, and the city has more than 22,000 hotel rooms available, from the budget-friendly to the luxurious. There are five hotels within 500m of the CCD, and the closest, The Spencer, is just 260m from our front door.
Accessibility
Crucially, the CCD’s design incorporates a broad range of accessibility requirements, ensuring that all of our members will be equally able to enjoy the convention.
Irish hotels are generally subject to the Disabilities Act 2005, as well as building regulations which set requirements for accessibility in businesses and public spaces.
We’re also committed to embedding accessibility at the core of our plans for the convention, including in our web design and communications. We’ll listen to the needs of our fan community and work to ensure that no one faces barriers to attending or taking part online.
Public transport in Ireland is becoming increasingly accessible, with accessibility features built into new infrastructure, and adaptations being introduced where possible in older facilities. Transport for Ireland has extensive information on public transport accessibility across the country.
Dublin also has multiple companies offering mobility device hire, often including free delivery to your accommodation.
Getting to Dublin
As an international transport hub, Dublin is easily reachable from anywhere in the world. Multiple operators offer direct flights from cities in Europe and North America, with other regions served by connecting flights. Dublin Airport is just 15km from the city centre, with frequent bus services and taxis making for easy access to the venue. If you’re coming from Great Britain, you also have the option of travelling by ferry, with direct crossings from England and Wales, and an easy connection from Scotland taking the ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast, where you can complete your journey by train or bus. Dublin also has extensive road and rail connections to towns and cities across the island of Ireland, ensuring easy travel for Irish fans.
Local Transport
Dublin is well-served by public transport, including bus services, commuter rail and the Luas tram system. Fares in the city are inexpensive, and you may wish to consider using a pre-paid Leap travel card, which can be used on bus, train and tram services across the Transport For Ireland network as well as on many commercial bus services.
If you prefer active travel, the dublinbikes cycle hire scheme offers affordable access to bikes in the city.
Attractions
On top of the hundreds of events, programme items, performances and activities on offer, one of the best things about attending Worldcon is the opportunity to explore an exciting host city. Dublin is known around the world as a welcoming destination with fascinating history, must-see attractions and legendary hospitality.
If you’d like to immerse yourself in Irish history, the National Museum of Ireland’s multiple sites in the city make for a great day out, and entry is free of charge. The award-winning EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum is packed with interactive exhibits telling the story of the worldwide Irish diaspora and its contributions to fields including science, medicine, sport, art, music, literature. The GPO Museum focuses on pivotal moments from Ireland’s turbulent past, from the Easter Rising of 1916 to the peace process in Northern Ireland and signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, while Kilmainham Gaol, one of the largest unoccupied prisons in Europe, reveals the emotional history of those detained and executed within its walls during the struggle for Irish independence.
While you’re in town, you’ll also have the chance to sample Dublin’s thriving artistic and cultural scene. The National Gallery of Ireland is the home of the national collection of Irish and European art, while the Irish Museum of Modern Art showcases contemporary works with a diverse programme of exhibitions. Then there’s the city’s abundance of theatres, comedy clubs, restaurants and live music venues, with performances ranging from global touring artists to traditional Irish music pub sessions.
Speaking of pubs, they form an integral part of Irish culture, and you’ll find hundreds of bars across the city ranging from the traditional to the modern. You can discover the history of Ireland’s most famous export with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, or learn about Irish whiskey with a trip to the Jameson or Teeling distilleries.
If you’re looking to get active in Dublin, the city and its surrounding area has some gorgeous walking and cycling routes. And if you’d like to venture further afield, Ireland is fortunate to have some truly stunning natural landscapes, and endless opportunities for outdoor activities.
Irish Fandom
Irish conventions are renowned for being friendly and relaxing – a place where you could find yourself sitting across the table from a world-famous author or artist just as easily as from a new fan at their first con. The fandom has managed to balance this informality with a proven record of running large events, and that feeling will be at the heart of Dublin 2029.
Octocon is the National SFFH convention, and has been held every year since 1990. Ireland is also home to multiple gaming conventions including Leprecon, Warpcon and Gaelcon, as well as anime and comic cons, and the biannual Irish Discworld Convention. With a thriving home-grown convention scene, there is already massive excitement about bringing Worldcon to Dublin in 2029.
Zines have also long held a special place in Irish fandom, including the zines from author Sarah Maria Griffin, the bilingual zine Zín Dátheangach, as well as Hugo Award winners Journey Planet and Slant, among others. At Dublin 2029, we plan to embrace and celebrate fan-made media of all kinds, from DIY print zines to podcasts.