Europe’s largest Halloween festival marks its 40th anniversary this year with an illuminated trail, a carnival parade, a fireworks finale over the River Foyle and a new late-night programme. Here is what visitors need to know.
Derry Halloween returns for its landmark 40th anniversary with a five-day programme running from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. Centred on the historic Walled City, the festival combines large-scale spectacle, family events and a Halloween-night parade expected to draw crowds from across Ireland and beyond.
Awakening the Walled City Trail
The headline event - other than the carnival parade and fireworks finale - is the Awakening the Walled City Trail, an illuminated journey through Derry’s streets and historic walls running from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 October, 6pm to 9pm each evening.
The trail features large-scale performances, light installations, music and interactive experiences. Highlights include a ‘Witchy Wonderland’ circus spectacle on the Grand Parade, an aerial and fire performance at The Diamond, a New Orleans-style jazz funeral procession on Bishop Street and an immersive visual experience on the City Walls.
At The Diamond, In Your Space Circus and Fidget Feet Aerial Dance will bring the night sky to life with luminous skeletal figures and soaring spirits, while characters inspired by local mythology—including the Spectral Sea Captain, a Ghostly Barmaid and Abhartach, the legendary Derry vampire—will appear around St Columb’s Court.
Most of the trail is free to enjoy, but free tickets are required for the enhanced City Walls section. These can be booked online, with a further 2,500 tickets released at noon on each day of the event.
Parade and fireworks
The grand finale takes place on Halloween night, Saturday 31 October. The carnival parade begins at approximately 7pm, with hundreds of costumed performers, giant puppets and dancers winding through the city centre.
The festival closes with a fireworks display over the River Foyle at around 8:15pm. Organisers say the best viewing spots are along the Peace Bridge, the quay and the Waterside.
After Dark: late-night entertainment
A new After Dark programme will keep the celebrations going into the evening, with ticketed events at Sandinos, the Tower Museum, CCA Artillery Street, Lizzie O’Farrell’s and the Guildhall. Derry City and Strabane District Council says the programme is designed to let visitors enjoy the city’s nightlife alongside the street events.
“We want to give people the opportunity to enjoy the city’s unique atmosphere well into the evening,” said Aisling McCallion, Festivals and Events Manager at Council. She noted that the Derry Halloween story began when a fancy-dress party spilled onto the streets in the 1980s, adding that it remains important to continue the tradition of events in city centre bars and venues.
The After Hours event at the Centre for Contemporary Art on Artillery Street will run from 28 to 31 October, 9pm to 11pm, offering contemporary art, artist-curated playlists, relaxed lounge seating and a donation bar for over-18s. Live music will also feature at the Craft Village courtyard, Bennigan’s Bar’s Coffin Ship sessions and other venues. Organisers advise booking early, as tickets are selling well and some indoor events have limited capacity.
Family and accessible events
The programme includes a strong family and accessibility focus. Sensory-friendly ‘SEN-sational Derry Halloween’ sessions will be held at the Guildhall on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October, from 10:30am to 11:30am, with tickets priced at £5 and carers admitted free.
The Little Horrors Family Fun Zone at Waterloo Place will offer arts, crafts, storytelling and face painting from 28 October to 1 November. There will also be relaxed performances, a Tiny Glow Walk on 30 October, a Monsters and Munchkins Family Fun Run on 31 October and a Halloween Park Run.
Other highlights include live music and street theatre at the Heart of Samhain hubs in Guildhall Square, Waterloo Place and Harbour Square, a Samhain Sounds stage for local artists, and Luke Jerram’s Gaia installation at the Guildhall.
Getting there and parking
Visitors are advised to plan travel carefully, particularly on Halloween night. City centre car parks include Foyleside and the Richmond Centre, but organisers generally encourage park-and-ride or park-and-stride options, typically around Fort George or North West Regional College. Large parts of the city centre close to traffic on major event nights, and road closures are expected during festival evenings, so visitors should arrive early.
Designated overnight motorhome parking is available at Fort George (BT48 7TG) at £28 plus booking fee per night, and must be booked online in advance.
Translink and Bus Éireann run regular services to Derry, and additional services and park-and-ride options are often in place during the festival. City of Derry Airport is about 15 minutes from the city centre, with Belfast International and Dublin Airport also serving as onward connection points.
Accessibility
The festival provides accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities, an accessible viewing area for the carnival parade allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and safety wristbands for children and vulnerable visitors. A dedicated quiet and sensory space will be available at the Guildhall, with a quiet-space cabin at the Monster Halloween Funfair in Ebrington Square.
Plan your visit
- Festival dates: Wednesday October 28 to Sunday November 1
- Awakening the Walled City Trail: 28–30 October, 6pm–9pm.
- Carnival parade: Saturday 31 October, from about 7pm.
- Fireworks: Saturday 31 October, about 8:15pm over the River Foyle.
- After Dark events: ticketed late-night events at city centre venues; advance booking recommended.
- Book early: Ticketed events and motorhome parking should be booked in advance.
- Dress for the weather: Late October evenings can be cold; warm layers and costumes advised.
- Check official updates: Full programme details, including After Dark tickets, are available at derryhalloween.com.
