Panto season in Ireland reaches from late autumn into January. A single title can have many performances, including matinées, weekday school shows and evening dates. The best choice is usually the one that works for your journey and the people coming with you. Our panto listings show confirmed runs and send you to the official booking route for each one.
Dublin
Robin Hood at the Gaiety Theatre opens on 22 November 2026 and runs to 3 January 2027. The Gaiety's own page lists special effects, booking information and the venue's rules. It is a practical choice for a city-centre trip, but do check your way home after the performance. Popular weekend dates can sell differently from school-day dates.
Cinderella: Olly and the Glass Slipper at 3Olympia runs from 19 December to 3 January. Its theatre page includes advice for families about children's tickets, buggy space and the approximate running time. It also says there are no performances on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Read the schedule before picking a date rather than assuming a daily performance.
NEVERLAND at The Helix runs from 20 November to 10 January. The Helix is at DCU in Glasnevin rather than in the city centre. Its official page is the place to confirm performance times and any sensory-friendly dates. If you are travelling from outside Dublin, compare the total journey with the Gaiety or 3Olympia, not simply the ticket price.
Cork
Beauty and the Beast at Cork Opera House begins 25 November 2026 and continues through 17 January 2027. The official event page lists ticket bands, family pricing information and access performances. Availability differs by performance. The page also notes effects such as flashing lights and haze, which may matter when choosing a date for a child.
Jack and the Beanstalk at The Everyman runs from 3 December to 10 January. The Everyman's page lists previews, standard tickets and a family offer, along with signed, audio described and relaxed performance information. Some access performances need a phone or email booking. Check the instructions for the particular performance you want.
Limerick, Waterford and Belfast
Jack and the Beanstalk at University Concert Hall runs from 17 December into January. The hall is on the University of Limerick campus, so leave enough time for the journey to Castletroy. Sleeping Beauty at Theatre Royal is Waterford Panto Society's December production. Its venue limits online sales to eight tickets per person. Check the official listing if you are arranging a larger group.
In Belfast, The Little Mermaid at the Grand Opera House runs from late November into January. The venue recommends ages three and above and describes sensory effects that may matter for a younger child. It publishes signed, captioned, audio described and relaxed dates separately from the general run. The Northern Ireland hub also covers musicals across the region.
More county productions will be added as their venues publish dates and booking pages. A local society panto can be a great night out, but we only put a run in the live list once its venue and booking route have been checked. If you know about one that is missing, send us the details.
Booking without surprises
Check age rules first. A family label does not mean babies can enter without a ticket or that a child can attend unaccompanied. Read the venue policy and check whether booster seats, buggy storage or a quiet performance are available. If anyone needs wheelchair access or a companion seat, use the venue's official access route rather than assuming a standard online seat will meet that need.
Then look at the final checkout price. Booking fees and restoration levies may be included or added, depending on the seller. Preview, midweek and group performances can be cheaper, but offers change. Keep a record of the exact date and time you book, particularly when a show has several performances on one day. Our site helps you find the show; the ticket seller's confirmation is the record of your purchase.
If the trip involves public transport, check the timetable for the day of the show, not a normal weekday. Holiday services can differ, and a long panto can finish later than expected. For younger children, allow time for a snack, the interval and the journey home. If weather or illness changes your plans, the seller's own terms explain whether any exchange is possible. The theatre can also tell you what to do if an access need changes after you have booked.