Events at Expo 2025
Ireland’s programme involves collaborative, creative events to celebrate connection.
Ireland’s theme for Expo is 'Creativity Connects People'.
This theme emphasises the nexus between human creativity, wellbeing and the role of creative imagining in shaping our future.
It articulates the combined proposition that creative imagining and creative action are defining characteristics of our species that provide the shared ground for all human progress.
Ireland’s programme for Expo brings this proposition to life with collaborative, human-centric events aimed at fostering new connections and celebrating existing connections.
Events and collaborations
Discover some of the events and collaborations that will be taking place over the course of Expo, at the Ireland Pavilion and beyond.
St Patrick’s Festival, 14 June
Ireland’s National Day at Expo took place on 14 June. Inspired by celebrations of St Patrick’s Day globally, our National Day brought a full day of Irish festivities to Expo 2025, including cultural performances by Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann in Japan and our own Expo Players.
Mr Martin Heydon, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, participated in Ireland’s National Day Event at Expo, as the official guest of the Government of Japan.
>> Read his speech
Claddagh Choral
11th to 13th July
Claddagh School of Music presents a series of inclusive workshops and performances, with concerts each day celebrating both Irish and Japanese music.
The programme will culminate in performances with professional musicians, concluding with a grand finale uniting all groups for an inclusive celebration of collaboration and cultural exchange.
Young Scientists
26 July - 27 July
As part of the wider Ireland Japan 2025 programme, Ireland is bringing five projects from the 2025 Young Scientist competition to Expo Osaka for special science and technology related events – creating connections between young Irish and Japanese scientists.
Clara Kumagai
Mid-August
Clara Kumagai, an Irish-Japanese-Canadian author based in Ireland, will present a series of workshops, readings and cultural performances at the Ireland Pavilion.
Clara draws inspiration from Japanese and Irish folklore in her writing, is a recipient of a We Need Diverse Books Mentorship, and was a finalist for the 2020 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award.
TG4 Gradam Ceoil
8 September
TG4 Gradam Ceoil will present a special Gala Concert at Expo 2025, celebrating the best of traditional Irish music.
Halloween Season
6 - 11 October
Ireland will present a specially curated, flagship Halloween Season at Expo 2025 in October. Although Halloween is a major festival in Japan, the Irish origins of Halloween are largely unknown. The Season will feature a parade, performances and craft workshops.
The Halloween Season has been created in partnership with Dublin City Council, the Bram Stoker Festival, and Macnas.
Past events
EU Day at Expo
9 May
EU Day at Expo was a lively day of programming, at the EU Pavilion and across the Member States' Pavilions.
The European Animation Film Festival event included an Irish work in a line-up of stunning European animated short films. Curated screenings took place at the Expo site. The Fairy Tales from Europe event involved a Irish folklore in a series of storytelling sessions and workshops at the Jellyfish Pavilion. Ireland was also a proud participant in the EU Stamp Rally.
Harp Ireland
30 April - 4 May
Harp Ireland performed at the Ireland Pavilion and a number of other locations across the Expo site.
An Irish and Japanese harper concert took place on 3 May in the Expo Hall, along with a collaboration with the Jellyfish Pavilion.
Achill Island, Basking Shark Fishermen
6 May
The Achill Sound present the story of Achill Island’s basking shark fishing industry in an audio-visual and live musical performance, capturing an important historical chapter of Achill Island’s and Ireland’s marine heritage.