Celtic creatures in the streets of Derry, fire processions in Trim, fantastical tales at Howth Castle and the awakening of the Cailleach in Kilkenny: Halloween 2026 promises to be particularly lively in Ireland. From 28 October to 1 November, the two major festivals, Púca and Derry Halloween, will be joined by events organised across seven regions of the island. Here are the dates already confirmed and the first official programme details.
Why celebrate Halloween in Ireland?
A modern festival inherited from the ancient Samhain festival
Grinning pumpkins, macabre costumes and haunted houses may now seem to belong to American popular culture. Yet Halloween’s roots lie largely in Ireland’s ancient traditions.
More than 2,000 years ago, Celtic communities celebrated Samhain at the end of the harvest season. This period marked the beginning of the darker part of the year, between late October and early November.
According to traditions passed down through texts and folklore, the boundary separating the world of the living from the Otherworld became more fragile at that time. Spirits, ancestors and various supernatural creatures could move among humans. Fires, gatherings, banquets and costumes formed part of the celebrations.
These practices changed over the centuries, particularly under the influence of Christianity, All Saints’ Day and Irish communities who went to live in North America. Contemporary Halloween is therefore not an exact reproduction of a Celtic ritual, but several of its elements do indeed refer back to the traditions of Samhain.
Ireland now draws on this heritage to develop a genuine autumn tourism season, presented under the name Ireland, Home of Halloween.
What is the Halloween 2026 programme in Ireland?
Two major festivals and seven destinations across the island
The national Halloween 2026 programme was officially launched on 21 July on the Hill of Uisneach, in County Westmeath. This major ceremonial site is closely associated with the ancient traditions of Samhain.
The 2026 edition will centre on two main events: the Púca Festival, in County Meath, and Derry Halloween, in Northern Ireland.
Seven regional hubs will complete the programme in Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Westmeath, as well as in the counties of Meath and Louth. The programme is expected to bring together outdoor performances, processions, night-time trails, traditional storytelling, culinary experiences and family activities.
All the local activities and their exact times had not yet been published when the announcement was made. Visitors should therefore monitor the websites of the relevant festivals and tourism offices before booking.
Púca Festival 2026 in Trim and Athboy
From 29 October to 1 November in County Meath
The Púca Festival will take place from Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 in Trim and Athboy. For four evenings, the two towns in County Meath will be transformed into territories suspended “between the worlds”, the theme chosen for this new edition.
The festival’s name refers to the púca, a shapeshifting creature from Irish folklore. This unpredictable spirit can take on different forms, including those of a horse, a dog or a human being. An encounter with it can herald either good luck or trouble: exactly the kind of companion one would rather meet at a festival than on an isolated road.
The programme will combine Irish mythology, music, comedy, street arts, storytelling, fire performances and gastronomy. Several iconic events will return, notably the lighting of the Samhain fire in Athboy and the Púca procession in Trim.
Lighting the Samhain fire in Athboy
A ceremony inspired by the gatherings at Tlachtga
Athboy is located close to the Hill of Ward, also known as Tlachtga. This archaeological site in County Meath is associated, in Irish tradition, with one of the great Samhain gatherings.
The Púca Festival draws on this heritage to present a contemporary ceremony centred on fire. Music, storytelling, mythological characters and visual performances symbolically accompany the passage from light into the dark season.
This is not an exact reconstruction of an ancient ritual whose every detail is known. Instead, the event offers a contemporary artistic interpretation of traditions documented through archaeology, medieval texts and folklore.
The Púca procession through the streets of Trim
Fantastical creatures and fire performances around the castle
Trim will form the festival’s other major stage. Its medieval fortress, the largest Anglo-Norman fortress in Ireland, provides a particularly effective setting when night falls over the Boyne Valley.
The Púca procession will bring creatures inspired by Irish mythology through the town. Performers, musicians, large animated figures and light effects will combine to create a spectacle open to the public.
The festival will also feature a Púca trail, a Samhain circus, storytelling events, heritage tours and a harvest market announced as larger than in previous editions.
Some of the street entertainment will be freely accessible, while concerts, shows and experiences held in indoor venues will require a ticket.
Púca Festival 2026 concerts and shows
A programme combining Irish music and comedy
Several artists have already been announced for the 2026 edition. The music programme is expected to include The Coronas, Glen Hansard, Róisín O, Hothouse Flowers, Jerry Fish, Qween and the Dublin Gospel Choir.
The comedy programme will include shows by John Colleary and Shane Daniel Byrne. Other artists and events may still be added to the programme.
In Athboy, the Samhain banquet will offer a four-course dinner accompanied by Irish music and dancing. This experience is restricted to people over the age of 18. The announced price is €85, excluding booking fees.
Tickets for concerts, shows and experiences can be purchased separately on the official Púca Festival website. Booking promptly is recommended for events held in the smaller venues.
Derry Halloween celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026
From 28 to 31 October in the walled city
Derry Halloween will take place from Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 October 2026. This edition will mark the fortieth anniversary of a festival that has become one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in Europe.
The event’s story began in 1986, when a few regulars at a Derry pub organised a fancy-dress party despite the tensions prevailing in Northern Ireland at the time. The celebration gradually grew until it spread to the city walls, the streets of the historic centre and the banks of the Foyle.
The festival now attracts more than 100,000 people, according to its organisers. For four days, residents and visitors dress up as fantastical creatures, witches, ghosts or characters that become much harder to identify after nightfall.
The fortieth-anniversary programme is expected to bring together aerial performances, acrobatics, street theatre, music, light installations, pyrotechnics and activities for children.
Awakening the Walled City
A night-time trail along Derry’s walls
The Awakening the Walled City trail is one of the highlights of Derry Halloween. Over several evenings, the old walls and streets of the historic centre become the setting for a journey populated by strange characters.
The route usually passes through Guildhall Square, Shipquay Street, the Diamond, Bishop Street and the cathedral quarter. Illuminations, music, theatre, acrobatics and pyrotechnic effects bring to life a “city of bones” where the spirits of Samhain seem to reclaim the place.
The trail is designed to welcome families, although some creatures or atmospheres may impress younger children. Access to the main outdoor installations is generally free.
The detailed times for the 2026 edition still need to be confirmed on the official Derry Halloween website.
Derry’s grand Halloween parade
A spectacular finale on 31 October
The evening of 31 October will host Derry’s grand carnival parade. Artistic groups, associations, musicians and residents in costume will parade through the city centre with floats and creatures inspired by the folklore of Samhain.
Fireworks are expected to bring the celebrations to a close. The exact time and whether they go ahead will depend in particular on weather conditions.
The parade and fireworks are announced as free. Some concerts, guided tours or additional events may, however, require a booking or the purchase of a ticket.
Given the expected attendance for the fortieth anniversary, booking accommodation several months in advance is strongly advised. Properties near the city walls, Guildhall Square and the Peace Bridge are best placed for enjoying the events, but they are also the first to sell out.
New permanent experiences in Derry
Halloween should no longer be limited to October
The 2026 programme is also expected to mark the launch of new experiences available beyond the festival period.
A Derry Samhain Experience is planned to tell the story of the links between the city, folklore and the origins of Halloween. A permanent mural dedicated to Derry Halloween is also to be created.
Detailed visiting arrangements and opening dates have not yet all been communicated. These new features nevertheless demonstrate the intention to make Halloween a lasting part of Derry’s tourism identity.
Halloween 2026 in Kilkenny
Macnas’s Cailleach will take over the medieval city
In 2026, Kilkenny will host a new major outdoor show. The programme will notably include The Cailleach, a production by the Irish company Macnas.
In Gaelic mythology and folklore, the Cailleach is a powerful female figure associated with winter, wild landscapes and the transformation of the seasons. She sometimes appears as a divine old woman capable of shaping mountains and commanding the elements.
Macnas is known for its monumental processions, giant puppets and visual theatre. The encounter between this company and Kilkenny’s medieval streets should be one of the season’s major new features.
The date, route and access arrangements for the show still need to be detailed by the local organisers.
Halloween 2026 in Fingal and Howth
Howth Castle joins the celebrations
The Fingal hub will expand its programme around heritage, folklore and the passing down of local stories. Events will notably extend to Howth Castle, which has so far rarely been associated with major Halloween celebrations.
Storytelling and culinary experiences have already been announced. Howth Castle Cookery School will notably offer workshops inspired by the Samhain banquet on 28 and 30 October, as well as a seasonal brunch on 1 November.
These classes are paid and must be booked in advance. The other events planned within the castle grounds will be specified at a later date.
Howth is an interesting option for travellers staying in Dublin. The peninsula is easily accessible by DART train from the capital’s city centre, making it possible to combine the festivities with a coastal walk or a visit to the harbour.
Halloween in Longford and Westmeath
A Samhain trail through ancient landscapes
The counties of Longford and Westmeath will offer a joint programme in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. The celebrations will draw on boglands, ancient paths, ceremonial sites and the region’s rich mythological heritage.
Among the announced new features is Spooktacular Summoning at Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park, near Moate. A new trail dedicated to Samhain is also expected to link several historic and natural sites.
Athlone will host a new procession. Its times and route will be announced when the full local programme is published.
The Hill of Uisneach is expected to play a central role once again. Considered in tradition to be the sacred centre of Ireland, it once hosted major seasonal gatherings. Modern celebrations there generally combine storytelling, music, fire and an exploration of the landscape.
In Longford, the Dead of Night festival traditionally stages a procession of fire and shadows. The regional programme also extends to Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre, where an Iron Age wooden road is preserved in the heart of the boglands.
Halloween 2026 in Limerick
A Samhain banquet and events throughout the region
Limerick will develop its programme between 11 October and 1 November 2026. A budget of €130,000 has been made available to cultural groups, associations and tourism businesses to create events in the city and county.
The main new feature announced is a Samhain banquet dedicated to local gastronomy, seasonal traditions and regional culture.
The menu, venue, price and exact date of the banquet have not yet been made public. Other community and artistic events are expected to complete the programme across the county.
Halloween in Galway and Kerry
Regional programmes still being prepared
Galway and Kerry will be among the seven official destinations for Ireland, Home of Halloween in 2026. Fáilte Ireland has announced festivals, shows, trails, food experiences and celebrations inspired by Samhain.
At the end of July, however, their detailed programmes had not yet been published. It would therefore be premature to give dates, venues or prices that have not been officially confirmed.
Information is expected to be released progressively by tourism offices and local authorities. Interested travellers should keep an eye on the calendars of Visit Galway, Discover Kerry and Discover Ireland.
The Meath and Louth programme
The Boyne Valley at the heart of Halloween’s origins
In addition to the Púca Festival in Trim and Athboy, the counties of Meath and Louth will host several activities linked to the folklore, heritage and ancient landscapes of the Boyne Valley.
This region has a remarkable concentration of prehistoric and medieval sites. The Hill of Ward, Tara, Trim Castle and the monuments of Brú na Bóinne help place the celebrations within a history far older than modern pumpkins and costumes.
Details of events organised outside the Púca Festival remain incomplete. Some experiences may require a separate ticket, particularly guided tours and shows held in indoor venues.
Should you choose Púca or Derry Halloween?
Two very different atmospheres
Derry Halloween is particularly suited to travellers looking for a huge, free and spectacular popular celebration. The walls, thousands of people in costume, the parade and the fireworks create a very urban atmosphere. The whole city seems to take part in the event.
The Púca Festival offers a more spread-out experience centred on the myths, music and historic sites of County Meath. Free processions take place alongside concerts, shows and paid experiences. A car can be useful for travelling between Trim, Athboy and the other sites in the area.
The dates theoretically make it possible to combine the two festivals: Derry Halloween begins on 28 October, while Púca ends on 1 November. However, the journey between Derry and Trim takes several hours and should be planned in advance.
How should you prepare for a Halloween trip to Ireland?
Book early and expect very Irish weather
The Halloween period attracts many visitors, particularly to Derry, Trim and Athboy. For the weekend of 31 October, it is best to book accommodation several months in advance.
In Derry, accommodation in the centre makes it possible to reach the walls and parade on foot. In Trim, staying near the castle simplifies access to the main events. Athboy has a more limited range of accommodation, so it may be necessary to look for somewhere to stay in the surrounding area.
Late-October weather is cool, wet and changeable. A waterproof jacket, suitable footwear and several layers of clothing are essential, especially for processions and night-time shows.
Finally, times and routes may be changed because of wind or rain, particularly for fireworks and pyrotechnic performances. Checking the official websites a few hours before each event remains the best precaution.
A Halloween season that has become strategic for Ireland
More than 322,000 visitors at the previous edition
The national programme is not driven solely by cultural ambitions. It must also extend the tourism season beyond summer and encourage travellers to discover less-visited areas.
According to Fáilte Ireland, the Ireland, Home of Halloween initiative supported more than 830 events in 2025. These are said to have attracted more than 322,000 Irish and international visitors, with an estimated economic impact of more than €43 million.
The 2026 edition therefore aims to turn Halloween into a genuine travel season. The major celebrations in Derry and County Meath are now joined by experiences spread across a large part of the island.
A clever way of reminding us that before illuminated pumpkins and horror films, Halloween was first and foremost an Irish story of fire, seasonal change and doors left ajar between two worlds.
