For four nights the whole walled city turns into a Halloween wonderland — an illuminated trail around the 400-year-old walls, a costumed carnival parade tens of thousands strong, and fireworks over the River Foyle. And the three big events are all free.
What's on — the Awakening the Walled City light trail wraps the historic walls and streets in colour and spectacle; the Carnival Parade fills the city on Halloween night; and the fireworks over the Foyle close the show. Around them: a daytime kids' programme, live music, street food and markets across the city.
When — Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October 2026, the festival's 40th year. The light trail runs the first three evenings (roughly 6–9pm), and the parade (about 7pm) and fireworks (about 8.15pm) land on Halloween night, the Saturday.
Cost — the trail, the parade and the fireworks are free. A few extra shows and experiences are ticketed, and they're marked as such when the full programme is published.
Come in by Park & Ride. The city centre closes to traffic on the big nights and well over 100,000 people come across the four days, so use the Waterside Park & Ride and leave the car out of the centre.
Dress up, and wrap up. Half the city wears a costume — join in — and it's the end of October in the north west, so warm layers and a coat make the evening.
Best for — the daytime is gentle and magical for little ones; the evening spectacle is a thrill for older children, teens and adults. Big crowds and loud fireworks, so ear defenders help the youngest enjoy it.
What's on
Four nights, and how they unfold
The exact programme and set-piece times are confirmed by the festival each October — but the shape is the same every year, so you can plan around it. Here's how the days tend to run.
Wed–Fri eveAwakening the Walled City — the light trailThe headline event: a walk-through trail of light installations, projections, characters and set-pieces around the 17th-century walls, Guildhall Square, Shipquay Street and the Cathedral Quarter. Runs roughly 6–9pm across the first three evenings. Free.
DaytimeLittle Horrors & the Heart of SamhainDaytime is for families — the Little Horrors children's programme of arts, crafts, storytelling and kids' shows in and around the Guildhall, plus music and food stalls at the Heart of Samhain hub in Guildhall Square and Waterloo Place.
Sat 31 ~7pmThe Carnival ParadeHalloween night's big one: hundreds of costumed performers, giant puppets, drummers and dancers wind through the city to tens of thousands of onlookers in fancy dress. Free to watch — get your spot early.
Sat 31 ~8.15pmFireworks over the FoyleThe finale — a full fireworks display fired over the river, best seen from the Peace Bridge, the quay and the Waterside. Weather-dependent, but it's the moment the whole night builds to. Free.
Plan your visit
Getting in, parking and the road closures
Derry is easy to reach by road, rail and bus, and Translink runs extra services around the festival — the train from Belfast comes right into the Waterside. On the big nights the city centre closes to traffic and the crowds are huge, so the smart move is the Waterside Park & Ride and a short walk in over the Peace Bridge. There's a spread of car parks on both sides of the river (Foyleside and Quayside on the cityside; Foyle Arena and Harper Quay on the Waterside), but they fill fast — arrive early or park and ride.
Train from Belfast to the WatersideWaterside Park & RideTrail nights ~6–9pmCity-centre roads close on event nights
Check the road-closure notice before you travel.
Exact road closures, Park & Ride locations and timings are confirmed by Derry City & Strabane District Council in the week or so before the festival — and they change year to year. As a guide, the city centre typically closes to traffic in the evenings, and the Peace Bridge closes for a spell around the fireworks. Always check the current-year details on derrystrabane.com or derryhalloween.com before you set off.
Before you head in
What to wear and bring
🧥Warm layers and a coatIt's the end of October in the north west, and you'll be outside for the evening — a proper coat and a hat turn a cold wait into a cosy one.
👻A costumeHalf the city dresses up, from toddlers to grandparents. Come in fancy dress and you're part of the show, not just watching it.
🎧Ear defenders for little onesThe parade drums and the fireworks are loud and brilliant — ear defenders let the youngest enjoy the spectacle in comfort.
💧Water and a snackThere's plenty of street food, but a drink and a snack in the bag keeps small people happy through a long, exciting evening.
The finale
Where to watch the fireworks
The fireworks are fired over the River Foyle, so anywhere with a clear view of the water works. The favourites are the Peace Bridge and Queen's Quay on the cityside, and Ebrington Square and the Waterside riverfront (out towards St Columb's Park) for a wider view across the river. Wherever you choose, get there in good time on Halloween night — the best riverside spots fill well before 8pm, and the Peace Bridge itself closes for a while around the display.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Dates
Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October 2026 — four days and nights, and the festival's 40th year. Dates land in the same late-October window every year; check the current year on derryhalloween.com.
Cost
The three headline events — the Awakening the Walled City trail, the Carnival Parade and the fireworks — are free. Some additional shows and immersive experiences are ticketed and are flagged when the full programme is released.
The programme
The illuminated walls trail runs the first three evenings (roughly 6–9pm); the parade (about 7pm) and fireworks (about 8.15pm) are on Halloween night. Daytimes bring the Little Horrors children's programme, the Heart of Samhain music-and-food hub, street theatre and markets. Exact times are confirmed each October.
Where
Across the historic walled city — Guildhall Square, Shipquay Street, the Diamond, the Cathedral Quarter and the 17th-century walls — with the parade and fireworks along the River Foyle and the Waterside.
Getting there
Reachable by road, rail and bus; Translink runs extra services during the festival, and the Belfast train comes into the Waterside. The Waterside Park & Ride is the easiest way in on busy nights.
Parking
Car parks on both sides of the river (cityside: Foyleside, Quayside; Waterside: Foyle Arena, Harper Quay, and others), but they fill quickly — arrive early or use Park & Ride. Motorhome parking is usually offered on Bishop Street, bookable via the festival website.
Road closures
The city centre closes to traffic in the evenings on event days, and the Peace Bridge closes for a spell around the fireworks. Exact closures are confirmed the week before — check derrystrabane.com before travelling.
Family & little ones
Daytime is gentle and welcoming for young children (Little Horrors); the evening is a bigger, louder spectacle better suited to older kids, teens and adults. The streets are stroller-friendly but very busy — a carrier can be easier in the crowds, and ear defenders help with the drums and fireworks.
Accessibility
The council works to keep the festival accessible, with step-free routes, accessible viewing areas and accessible parking published in the programme, plus a quiet space in the Guildhall on event days. Check the current-year accessibility guide on the festival website.
Weather
It's late October in the north west, so expect anything — that's part of the fun. Dress warm, bring a coat, and a bit of rain won't dim the lights or the fireworks. Only severe weather affects the display, so check the festival's channels on the day if it's wild.
Food
Street food and market stalls run across the city through the festival, and the walled city is packed with cafés, restaurants and pubs — book ahead if you want a sit-down meal on Halloween night, as the city is busy.
Questions
Derry Halloween, answered
When is Derry Halloween 2026?
Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October 2026 — four days and nights, and the festival's 40th year. The light trail runs the first three evenings; the Carnival Parade and fireworks are on Halloween night, the Saturday.
Is it free?
Yes — the three headline events (the Awakening the Walled City trail, the Carnival Parade and the fireworks over the Foyle) are all free. Some extra shows and immersive experiences are ticketed, and those are clearly marked when the programme comes out.
Where do I park, and how do I get in?
On the big nights the city centre closes to traffic, so the easiest way in is the Waterside Park & Ride and a short walk over the Peace Bridge. There are car parks on both sides of the river, but they fill fast. The train from Belfast comes into the Waterside, and Translink adds extra services during the festival.
Is it good for young children?
The daytime programme (Little Horrors, arts and crafts, storytelling) is lovely for little ones. The evening parade and fireworks are a bigger, louder spectacle — brilliant for older kids and up, and fine for younger ones with ear defenders and a spot away from the thickest crowds.
What time are the parade and fireworks?
On Halloween night the parade sets off around 7pm and the fireworks over the Foyle follow at about 8.15pm. Exact times are confirmed each October — check the festival programme, and get your viewing spot early.
Where's the best place to watch the fireworks?
Anywhere with a clear view of the river — the Peace Bridge and Queen's Quay on the cityside, or Ebrington Square and the Waterside riverfront for a wider view. Arrive in good time; the riverside fills up well before the display.
What if the weather's bad?
It's late October in the north west, so wrap up and expect a bit of everything — a shower won't stop the trail or the parade. Only severe weather would affect the fireworks; if it's wild, check the festival's social channels on the day.
Getting there
The festival fills the walled city of Derry~Londonderry, centred on Guildhall Square (BT48 6DQ) and the River Foyle. Come in by the Waterside Park & Ride on busy nights, or take the train from Belfast to the Waterside and walk over the Peace Bridge.
From a pub fancy-dress night to Europe's biggest Halloween
Derry has a fair claim to Halloween: the festival grew out of the ancient Gaelic feast of Samhain, the turn-of-winter celebration that Halloween itself is said to have come from, and the city has marked it in one way or another for a very long time. The modern festival started small — around forty years ago, the story goes, with a fancy-dress night in a local pub — and grew, year by year, into what the organisers now call Europe's largest Halloween celebration.
It has the accolades to match the crowds. Derry was named the world's best Halloween destination in a USA Today readers' poll, beating the likes of Salem and Transylvania, and it's a centrepiece of Tourism Ireland's "Home of Halloween" campaign. The council says the festival draws well over 100,000 people across the four days, a good share of them travelling in from outside Northern Ireland — filling the hotels, the restaurants and every viewpoint over the Foyle.
Each year takes a fresh theme and adds new set-pieces — recent editions have brought giant kinetic sculptures, a "City of Bones" story woven through the walls, colour-zoned trails and a river full of fireworks — but the heart of it never changes: a whole walled city dressed up, lit up and out in the streets together on Halloween night. Get the costume on, come in by the Park & Ride, and go and live it.