Northern Ireland's champion dairy cattle, judged in the ring, and hundreds of trade stands under one roof in the run-up to Christmas. The premier day of NI's winter farming calendar — a warm, festive-season day out for animal-loving families.
What's on — the flagship dairy cattle showing and championships (the country's best Holsteins, Ayrshires and more competing for the Supreme title), 200-plus trade stands, and food and a bar, in a big warm indoor venue on a December day.
When — Thursday 10 December 2026, the 40th Winter Fair, 9am to 5:30pm at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Lisburn.
It's a farming showcase, not a Christmas market. Honest heads-up: the draw for families is seeing the prize cattle and browsing the stands in the festive run-up — there's no Santa or funfair. (And the live cattle showing was paused in 2025 over disease risk, so check it's confirmed for 2026.)
Cost — ticketed, around £13 adult and under-12s free with an adult (2025 prices; 2026 to be confirmed). RUAS members go free. Free parking on site.
Family — great for animal-loving and farming families: under-12s free, warm and dry indoors on a winter's day, and the cattle are the star turn for children.
Getting there — off the M1 at Sprucefield (Junction 7), with thousands of free parking spaces on site — the same showground as the Balmoral Show.
What's on
A day at the heart of NI dairy farming
It's a serious agricultural event with a festive-season flavour. Here's what's under the roof.
🐄Champion dairy cattleThe heart of the fair — the finest Holstein, Ayrshire, Dairy Shorthorn and Jersey cows in the country, washed, brushed and shown in the ring, competing up to the coveted Supreme Interbreed Champion.
🏆The showing ringThe judging is the main spectacle — a real draw for children and animal-lovers as the handlers lead the cows and the titles are decided in front of the crowd.
🛠️200+ trade standsFarm machinery, animal health, feed, genetics, rural organisations and more fill the halls — the meeting place for the whole dairy industry.
🎁A festive flavourLanding in the pre-Christmas fortnight, it has a light festive-shopping-and-day-out feel among the stands — genuine, but modest: think browsing, not a Christmas market.
☕Food & a barA coffee dock, hot food and bar facilities on the day — somewhere warm to refuel between the ring and the stands.
🏛️A warm indoor dayIt's all under the roof of the huge Eikon Exhibition Centre — warm and dry, and an easy, sociable day out on a cold December Thursday.
Plan your visit
Tickets, timing and getting there
It's a one-day, ticketed event running 9am to 5:30pm. As a guide, 2025 tickets were around £13 adult, £11 senior, £10 youth, and under-12s free with an adult (RUAS members free) — buy online in advance or at the door. It's at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, off the M1 at Sprucefield (Junction 7), the same showground as the Balmoral Show, with thousands of free parking spaces on site. Being all indoors, it's a warm, weather-proof day out — ideal if you fancy the animals and the atmosphere without the cold.
Confirm the 2026 prices and that the cattle are on.
2026 ticket prices weren't published at the time of writing (2025 figures are given as a guide). And because the live cattle showing — the main family draw — was paused in 2025 over a disease risk, check on the official site that it's confirmed for 2026 before you plan your day around it.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Date & hours
Thursday 10 December 2026 — one day, 9am to 5:30pm. The 40th Royal Ulster Winter Fair.
Cost
Ticketed. As a guide (2025): £13 adult, £11 senior, £10 youth (12–16), under-12s free with an adult, RUAS members free. 2026 prices to be confirmed. Buy online or at the door.
Where
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn, BT27 5RD — the same showground as the Balmoral Show.
Getting there
Off the M1 at Junction 7 (Sprucefield), about 15 minutes from Belfast, with thousands of free parking spaces on site (enter via Gate 1 on the Halftown Road).
Family
Best for animal-loving and farming families — under-12s free, warm indoors, and the cattle as the star attraction. Honest note: there's no Santa, funfair or dedicated kids' entertainment; it's a farming day out.
Accessibility
The venue aims to be fully accessible, with dedicated accessible parking (first come, first served) and accessible toilets.
Dogs
Not allowed on site except assistance/guide dogs.
Food
A coffee dock, hot food and a bar on site.
Questions
The Winter Fair, answered
When is the RUAS Winter Fair 2026?
Thursday 10 December 2026 — one day, 9am to 5:30pm, at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Lisburn. It's the 40th Winter Fair.
Is it a Christmas market?
No — it's Northern Ireland's premier winter agricultural event, built around champion dairy cattle showing and 200+ farming trade stands. It has a light festive-shopping flavour in the run-up to Christmas, but there's no Christmas market, Santa or funfair.
How much are tickets?
Ticketed — as a guide (2025), around £13 adult, £11 senior, £10 youth (12–16), and under-12s free with an adult; RUAS members free. 2026 prices to be confirmed. Buy online or at the door.
Is it good for children?
For animal-loving and farming families, yes — under-12s go free, it's warm and dry indoors, and the cattle in the ring are the star turn. It's not a kids'-entertainment day, though, so temper expectations if you're bringing toddlers wanting rides.
Where do I park?
There are thousands of free parking spaces on site at Balmoral Park, off the M1 at Junction 7 (Sprucefield), entering via Gate 1 on the Halftown Road.
Will there be cattle in 2026?
The live cattle showing is the whole draw, but it was paused in 2025 over a disease-control risk. Check the official site that it's confirmed for 2026 before planning your visit around it.
Getting there
Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn, BT27 5RD — off the M1 at Junction 7 (Sprucefield), about 15 minutes from Belfast. Thousands of free parking spaces on site; enter via Gate 1 on the Halftown Road.
The Royal Ulster Winter Fair was first held in 1987, and for years it ran at the great King's Hall in Belfast before moving, with the Balmoral Show, to the purpose-built showground at Balmoral Park in Lisburn. Run by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, it's the winter bookend to the society's year — the Balmoral Show in spring, the Winter Fair in December — and the premier showcase of Northern Ireland's dairy industry.
For the farming community it's as much a get-together as a competition — a chance, as the organisers put it, to reflect on another year's hard work over a warm day of prize cattle and good company. For everyone else, it's a chance to see some magnificent animals up close and feel the heart of rural Ulster, right in the run-up to Christmas. Wrap up for the car park, and enjoy the warm indoors.