Belfast's big free Halloween night — a costumed carnival on the historic Titanic Slipways with fire shows, spooky family fun, and the finale everyone comes for: the biggest fireworks display in the city, over the River Lagan.
What's on — the "Monster Mash" carnival: costumed street performers, fire and glow shows, a family activity zone (spooky crafts, games, fairground rides), a live-music stage and food stalls, building to the fireworks over the Lagan.
When — Halloween 2026, expected on or around Saturday 31 October at the Titanic Slipways. Belfast City Council confirms the exact date and time in the autumn — it's usually a few hours in the late afternoon/early evening, with the fireworks at the end.
Free — no ticket needed; just turn up. Tens of thousands do (over 21,000 came in 2024).
Come by Glider or train. There's no event car park at the Titanic Quarter — the Glider G2 runs from the city centre right to it, and Titanic Quarter train halt is a short walk. Leave the car in town.
Cute-spooky, not scary — it's pitched at families with young children as well as older kids, so think fun monsters and fancy dress rather than gore. Wear a costume and join in.
Wrap up warm — it's an exposed waterfront in late October, so warm waterproof layers, sturdy shoes and hats for the little ones make the night.
What's on
A carnival that builds to a bang
The whole night unfolds on the vast open Slipways where the Titanic was built. Here's the spread of it, from the daytime fun to the finale.
🎃The Monster Mash carnivalCostumed street performers and walkabout characters, spooky street theatre and a fancy-dress competition — the whole site dresses up, and so should you.
🔥Fire & glow showsAfter dark, fire performers and illuminated glow shows light up the Slipways — a real spectacle before the fireworks.
🎆The fireworks finaleThe showpiece: the biggest fireworks display in the city, fired over the River Lagan and best watched from the Slipways and the riverbanks.
🧟Family "monster" zoneCreepy crafts and "wicked" workshops, ghoulish story-telling, trick-or-treat games, jugglers and monster fairground rides — the bit for younger children.
🎵Live music stageA stage of live acts and DJs keeps the atmosphere going through the evening as the crowds gather for the fireworks.
🍔Food & treatsHot food, sweet treats and drinks from stalls around the site — plenty to keep everyone going on a cold night.
Plan your visit
Getting there and what to expect
It's free, so there's nothing to book — just come along. The one thing to plan is travel: there's no dedicated event parking at the Titanic Quarter, so come by public transport. The Glider G2 runs from the city centre straight into the Titanic Quarter, and Titanic Quarter train halt (on the Bangor line) is a short walk from the Slipways; in past years free "ghost shuttle" buses have also run from the city centre. Get there in good time for a spot for the fireworks, and wrap up — the Slipways is big, open and right on the water.
Check the confirmed 2026 date and time.
Belfast City Council usually publishes the Halloween programme in the autumn. Expect it on or near Halloween night (31 October 2026), running a few hours into a fireworks finale — but confirm the exact date, times and travel arrangements on belfastcity.gov.uk/halloween before you go.
Before you head in
What to wear and bring
🧥Warm waterproof layersThe Slipways is exposed and right on the water in late October — a proper coat, hat and gloves make all the difference.
👻A costumeHalf the fun is dressing up — a cute-spooky costume for the kids (and you) and you're part of the carnival.
🎧Ear defenders for little onesThe fireworks finale is big and loud — ear defenders help the youngest enjoy it without the fright.
💧Water & a snackThere's food on site, but a drink and a snack in the bag keep small people happy through the wait for the fireworks.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Date
Belfast's Halloween celebration is expected on or around Halloween night, 31 October 2026, at the Titanic Slipways. The council confirms the exact date and time in the autumn — check before you travel.
Cost
Free — no ticket needed. You only pay for food and any fairground rides.
Where
The Titanic Slipways, Titanic Quarter, Belfast (the historic dockside where the Titanic was launched), beside Titanic Belfast.
Getting there
No dedicated event parking. Come by the Glider G2 from the city centre, or the train to Titanic Quarter halt (Bangor line). Free "ghost shuttle" buses from the centre have run in past years — check for 2026.
Timing
Runs a few hours in the late afternoon/early evening, building to the fireworks finale near the end. Confirm the exact hours in the council programme.
Family
Pitched as cute-spooky and family-friendly — a monster zone with crafts, games and rides for younger children, and plenty for older kids and teens.
Weather
Late October on an open, exposed waterfront — expect cold and possibly wet and windy. Warm waterproof layers and sturdy footwear are essential.
Also on
Belfast has more Halloween on around the same time — Boo at the Zoo at Belfast Zoo and a city-centre monster trail and pumpkin patch. And Derry's famous Halloween festival, up the road, is worth the trip too.
Questions
Belfast Halloween, answered
When is Belfast Halloween 2026?
It's expected on or around Halloween night, 31 October 2026, at the Titanic Slipways. Belfast City Council confirms the exact date and time in the autumn, so check belfastcity.gov.uk/halloween nearer the day.
Is it free?
Yes — the Monster Mash carnival and the fireworks are free, with no ticket needed. You only pay for food and any fairground rides.
How do I get there?
By public transport — there's no event car park. The Glider G2 runs from the city centre right to the Titanic Quarter, and Titanic Quarter train halt is a short walk. Free "ghost shuttle" buses have run from the centre in past years.
Is it scary, or good for young children?
It's cute-spooky rather than gory — designed for families with young children as well as older kids. There's a monster zone with crafts, games and rides. Ear defenders help little ones enjoy the loud fireworks.
Where do I watch the fireworks?
From the Slipways and along the banks of the River Lagan — get there in good time on a busy night for a clear view over the water.
How does it compare to Derry Halloween?
Belfast's is a big single-night carnival and fireworks show on the Titanic Slipways; Derry's is a multi-day festival billed as Europe's largest Halloween celebration. They're about 90 minutes apart, and both are free and family — plenty of people do both.
Getting there
The Titanic Slipways, Queens Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast (BT3), beside Titanic Belfast. No event parking — come by the Glider G2 from the city centre or the train to Titanic Quarter halt, and leave the car in town.
Belfast has marked Halloween with a big council carnival for years — long known as the "Monster Mash" — and in the mid-2010s it found its perfect home on the Titanic Slipways. There's a fitting drama to it: the vast dockside where the Titanic and Olympic were built and launched now becomes an open-air canvas for the city's biggest fireworks, fired out over the River Lagan for tens of thousands of costumed onlookers.
Northern Ireland is a real heartland for Halloween — Derry, up the road, hosts what's billed as Europe's largest Halloween festival — and Belfast's Monster Mash is its big-city counterpart: one huge, free, family night of costumes, fire and fireworks. Get the costume on, hop the Glider, and go and enjoy it.