We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bowie's iconic L.A recorded album Station To Station with a full blown live performance by Dublin based 7 piece PLAYBACK. The band have treated the Festival goers to performances of Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs and Young Americans in full over the last few years and this year will be their biggest challenge yet as they recreate the magical soundscapes of the 1976 classic. The band will also treat us to a collection of funky choice cuts from Young Americans and other albums. The perfect Festival curtain closer. 

Bowie's Books: David Bowie's Top 100 Books included A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, Inside The Whale and Other Essays by George Orwell, Viz Comic and Puckoon by Spike Milligan. A voracious reader, Bowie drew heavily on his vast reading to inform many of his song lyrics. Professor Eoin Devereux (co-editor of David Bowie: Critical Perspectives and author of numerous articles on Bowie's relationship with Ireland) is convening a Panel Discussion on Bowie's Books at the Dublin David Bowie Festival. The Panellists include Roisin Ingle (The Irish Times); Dr. Leah Kardos (author of Blackstar Theory); Peter Quinn (author and vocalist with Rebel, Rebel) and Helena Mulkerns (editor, writer and arts journalist). Each panel member will select one of Bowie's Top 100 Books and discuss its impact on Bowie's creativity. 

Professor Eoin Devereux Bio:  Professor Eoin Devereux is a long time Dublin Bowie Festival Stalwart.  A cultural sociologist, creative writer and experimental musician (with Dopamine Fix), he is the co-editor of David Bowie: Critical Perspectives (Routledge, New York) as well as numerous essays on Bowie's relationship with Ireland. He has published essays on Fan Responses to David Bowie's death,  Bowie's interest in Samuel Beckett and Jack B. Yeats as well as a detailed analysis (with Aileen Dillane and Martin Power) of Bowie's  videos for Ashes to Ashes and Love Is Lost.  He is the co-director for the Centre for the Study of Popular Music and Popular Culture at UL. 

*TICKETHOLDERS FOR MIKE GARSONS MASTERCLASS HAVE FREE ENTRY TO THIS EVENT

Welcome our deep dive with Bowie's legendary pianist Mike Garson where he will explain in detail how he embellished Bowie's amazing songs with his stunning piano work. Classics like Lady Grinning Soul and Aladdin Sane will be picked apart to examine how Mike's avant garde jazz roots locked in with Bowie's 70's rock to create some of the most iconic moments in popular music. 

* IN ASSOCIATION WITH CANCER TRIALS IRELAND *

Irish Times columnist Roisin Ingle hosts a panel on how Bowie used the album to turn his impending death into art, focusing on his legacy and the human struggle to articulate. She will be joined by Bowie’s musical director/guitarist/co-writer Gerry Leonard, Dr Leah Kardos, author of Blackstar Theory - The Last Works of David Bowie, (Doctor of Philosophy at Queensland University and also senior lecturer in music and director of the Tony Visconti Studio, both at Kingston University, England) and other special guests. 

*TICKETHOLDERS FOR MIKE GARSONS MASTERCLASS HAVE FREE ENTRY TO THIS EVENT*

ART CRIME INC. PERFORM THE ALBUM “1.OUTSIDE” IN ITS ENTIRETY

The incredible Art Crime Inc return to perform Bowie's mid 90s masterpiece 1. OUTSIDE and other 90's Bowie bangers at our Saturday Gala Ball. This 5 piece blew us all away when they debuted for the Festival in 2019, with the noted Bowie author Nicholas Pegg saying "Truly exceptional @dublinbowiefest gig last night, as Art-Crime Inc brought to life Bowie's 1.Outside, spoken segues and all. A superb performance of a great album packed with banging tunes. Hallo Spaceboy, Oxford Town, No Control, Heart's Filthy Lesson... The place was on fire" 

Four of David Bowie’s legendary collaborators, Gerry Leonard. Mike Garson, Mark Plati and Earl Slick will headline the Dublin Bowie Festival 2026 with an intimate live performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s iconic album Station to Station, along with other timeless classics.

This marks the festival debut of Earl Slick, the legendary New York guitarist first hired by Bowie to replace Mick Ronson on the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour. Slick went on to record with Bowie on David Live, Young Americans, and the masterpiece he’s most associated with—1976’s Station to Station.

The foursome will be joined by special festival guests for what promises to be an unforgettable night.

The London Boys are the ultimate Bowie 60s tribute act return to perform the brilliant set of the songs that introduced the young David Jones to the music world in 1960s London. From 'You've Got A Habit Of Leaving Me' to 'Rubber Band', from 'There Is A Happy Land' to Take My Tip', the 6 piece London Boys faithfully reproduce these marvellous tunes that reveal Bowie's mod, R&B and music hall influences. 

The legendary New York City guitarist Earl Slick makes his Dublin Bowie Festival debut and today he discusses his amazing time with David Bowie in America in the mid 1970s when he recorded on Young Americans and then, in 1976, his most famous contributions to the Bowie canon, his imperious guitar work on Station To Station and lots more. Conductor for the journey is the esteemed journalist Pat Carty, who is on record that Station To Station is his favourite Bowie album so settle in, drink to the men who protect you and I and enjoy this magical moment. 

Four of David Bowie’s legendary collaborators, Gerry Leonard. Mike Garson, Mark Plati and Earl Slick will headline the Dublin Bowie Festival 2026 with an intimate live performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s iconic album Station to Station, along with other timeless classics.

This marks the festival debut of Earl Slick, the legendary New York guitarist first hired by Bowie to replace Mick Ronson on the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour. Slick went on to record with Bowie on David Live, Young Americans, and the masterpiece he’s most associated with—1976’s Station to Station.

The foursome will be joined by special festival guests for what promises to be an unforgettable night.

Listen to Station to Station for the 5000th time and fall in love with it all over again. The listening will be followed by panel discussion and Questions. A great while to away the hours.

Rebel Rebel are the ultimate Bowie Tribute band performing Bowie’s greatest hits from Space Oddity all the way through to Lazarus. The charismatic front man Peter Quinn has a voice that is so close to Bowie’s that when you close your eyes you can feel Bowie in the room. Rebel Rebel are a 6 piece (8 for larger gigs), faithfully recreating the most popular songs from Bowie’s extensive back catalogue. 

Four of Bowie's greatest collaborators - Earl Slick, Mike Garson, Mark Plati & Gerry Leonard- talk about their life and times with David Bowie and how he choose them. The tours, the venues, the hotels, the travel and, of course, the phenomenal live performances that made Bowie the ultimate showman and rock icon.

Chaired by Irish Times journalist Tony Clayton Lea

DOORS AT 5.30PM

TALK BEGINS 6.00PM

So… Think you know everything about David Bowie? Well Then put your knowledge to the test with the “Under Pressure” Bowie Quiz

Teams can be made up of a min. of 2 people or a max. of 6 people and everything in between !

So grab a pal or two, test yourselves and see how you do "Under Pressure".

The noted Dublin historian Donal Fallon hosts his Three Castles Burning Podcast live on stage to dissects and discuss the time when David Bowie lived in Dublin, rehearsing in The Factory, clubbing in Andrews Lane and The Globe and that infamous gig in The Factory where he unveiled his new Drum & Bass sound. Joining him is Ray O'Donoghue, aka Razor, a drum & bass promoter in Dublin during this time.