This exhibition marks a new partnership between the Royal Dublin Society and the National Museum of Ireland.

Curated by Dee Morgan of the RDS, the exhibition presents work by the 12 shortlisted makers from the 2026 RDS Craft Awards, unveiled today, offering visitors an opportunity to experience some of the most exciting contemporary craft being produced in Ireland.

The shortlist features six emerging makers: Jack Ó Meara (Kenmare Needlepoint Lace), Camilla Hanney (Ceramics), Muck Murphy (Woodturning and Vernacular Furniture), Luke E. Holden (Glass), Sam Gleeson (Metalsmith and Knife Making) and Kate O'Neill (Sculpture, Ceramics and Textiles).

They are joined by six established makers: Emma Bourke (Glass), Pierce Healy (Jewellery and Objects), Zsiri Melinda Dempsey (Ceramics), Andrea Spencer (Glass), Frances Crowe (Tapestry Weaving) and Róisín Pierce (Textile Design and Craft).

Selected following a competitive call for applications from Ireland and internationally, the shortlist spans disciplines including ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, metal, jewellery, weaving and lace, reflecting the breadth of contemporary craft practice today.

By placing contemporary makers alongside Ireland’s material heritage, the show highlights craft as a living, evolving practice, rooted in tradition and engaging with modern life. It also reconnects two institutions with shared roots, with the National Museum of Ireland originating from collections transferred from the RDS in 1877.

Now in the second year of their reimagined format, the RDS Craft Awards support makers at different stages of their careers through significant financial investment and opportunities to bring their work to new audiences.

The 2026 RDS Craft Awards Exhibition in Partnership with the National Museum of Ireland will open to the public at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks from 1 October 2026 until April 2027. Admission is free.

The winners will be announced at the 2026 RDS Craft Awards ceremony at the RDS on 19 November 2026.