Things To Do

Adam Laughlin.

Shakespeare comes to shanty as Derry comedian Adam Laughlin performs Macbeth

Jamie-Lee O'Donnell

Jamie-Lee O'Donnell to attend 39th Foyle Film Festival

Culmore woman Róise Ní Mhurchú has won the prestigious women's under 35 Gaelic singing competition at Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Killarney.

Derry’s Róise Ní Mhurchú wins prestigious singing competition at Oireachtas

Mayor Ruairí leads the ‘City of the Bones’ Halloween carnival parade back in 2025. Photo: George Sweeney

Derry Halloween 2026: parade route, fireworks times, road closures

The first Maiden City Card Show back in may sold out.

Maiden City Card Show for Derry as interest in collecting and trading soars

Mayor Ruairí leads the ‘City of the Bones’ Halloween carnival parade back in 2025. Photo: George Sweeney

Derry Halloween 2026: events, parade, fireworks and road closures

Dave Duggan

Dronuilleog an Scribhneora (The Writer’s Rectangle) at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin

We spoke with Long Tower resident Mary Blair, who reflected on what Halloween was like when she was growing up. She said: “It wouldn't have been like what it is now. We would dress up, my mother would bake apple cakes and we would dunk for apples. You put your hands behind your back, had a basin with apples in it, and then had to try and get them with your teeth, which wasn't easy. “One year, I remember, I must have been about nine or 10. We lived in the Waterside at that time and my friend and I dressed up as witches. In school we painted the hats, so the hat was black and, of course, what kind of night was it? The usual Derry rain came. When I got home there was more black paint on my face and down my shoulders. That was the fun of Halloween.” Mary also shared her thoughts on how Halloween has grown in the city. She said: “Now it is marvellous. Everybody comes here in October to celebrate Halloween. You also like to promote your city.” Mary said she is hoping to get out and enjoy this year's Halloween festivities and is currently trying to convince her friends to dress up as nuns inspired by the film Sister Act. The Derry woman said she does not often watch horror films, but recalled going to the Palace cinema, now Silver Street, to see the 1958 Christopher Lee film Dracula. “I think that put me off scary films. I think The Addams Family would be more my kind of enjoyable film,” Mary laughed.

From SpongeBob to Sister Act Derry folk reveal their Halloween costumes

Original Fun Lovin’ Criminal Huey Morgan is returning to the North West to play some of the most recognisable tunes of the 1990s in Derry’s Guildhall this Hallowe’en.

Original Fun Lovin’ Criminal Huey Morgan looking forward to Derry Hallowe'en

Derry Hallowe'en.

Inclusive family fun this Hallowe’en

One of the fire installations on Grand Parade during a previous Hallowe'en Carnival.

Additional Awakening Walled City tickets during Derry Halloween

The public is invited to get into the Halloween spirit at the Mayor’s Halloween Tea Dance, taking place in the Guildhall on Monday 26 October from 2pm to 4pm.

Get into the Hallowe’en spirit at the Mayor’s Tea Dance

Great Granda Vlad entertaining pupils on a primary school visit ahead of the Halloween pantomime.

Sequel to Derry's first Halloween pantomime confirmed

Max Roddy.

Playhouse launches new Laughing Matters comedy festival with five free events

Wakey Wakey.

Halloween to bring unique Irish wake experience to visitors

TechTides Youth 2025 winning team, Sparks DC, Jayden Tang Rebecca Furey and Sohmi Okoyomoh.

Young entrepreneurs can win upto £1,500 at Derry TechTides event
TechTides Youth, a leading peer-to-peer technology youth conference, has announced a new competition for young people to submit Tech for Good business ideas with first prize securing £1,500 and two runners up receiving £500.
Jack Tibbetts

Timeless Tiles Memorial Initiative.

Derry Baby Loss Awareness Week to honour lost Babies with lasting tribute

Jeananne Craig.

Letterkenny's Literary Festival to host Jane Austen themed night in a Castle

Awakening the Walled City Trail returns.

Awakening the Walled City Trail returns to Derry Halloween

Talented Derry musician Denis Heaney who is being honoured with a concert by Aileach on October 24.

Aileach reforming to honour talented Derry traditional musician Denis Heaney

'BE THE CHANGE' CONFERENCE. . . . . Dove House Community Trust manager Jayne Quigg pictured with DHCT’s Advocacy advisers Brighdin Deane and Michelle Boyle putting the finishing touches to the 'Be The Change' Conference - Ending Violence Against Women and Girls' - to be held in Derry's Guildhall on. Wednesday, October 21. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

'Be The Change Conference' to tackle violence against women and girls in Derry

Hocus Pocus.

Studio 2 performers to bring Hocus Pocus magic to Derry Halloween Parade

Derry Halloween programme launch.

Derry Halloween launches 40th anniversary programme

Dr Robyn Atcheson.

Historian Dr Atcheson to host special tour and talk at Limavady Workhouse

Westside Cowboy

Derry needs ‘Other Voices’

PACEMAKER BELFAST 27/04/2017 Irish language activists Ciaran î Pronntaigh, Pol Deeds, Janet Muller, Sean î Maoilste, Paddy Mac Fhearraigh Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press

Derry Irish speakers invited to meet Irish Language Commissioner Pól Deeds

Derry playwrights Eamonn Lynch and Bernadette MacFarland are looking for the memories of women who travelled on the Long Kesh bus.

Derry playwrights looking for memories of Long Kesh bus
Embracing a collaborative process described as Lennon and McCartney-esque, Derry playwrights Bernadette MacFarland (Movers & Shakers) and Eamonn Lynch (Derry Yarns) are palpably excited about their next play - The Long Kesh Bus.
Catherine McGinty

Colin Murphy, Susie McCabe, Finlay Christie, Diona Doherty and Serena Terry are among a stellar bill of comics lined up for the return of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Comedy Festival to Derry.

Diona Doherty and Serena Terry on bill as Cat Laughs visits Derry again

Other Voices founder Philip King.

Philip King says Other Voices Derry promises 'an antidote to a digital world’

Derry City and Strabane District Council said they are delighted to announce the return of the popular Halloween Costume Swap initiative, which is now open at both the Guildhall and Riversdale Leisure Centre

Derry's Halloween costume swap is open now

Pictured in Derry are (L-R) are Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, Other Voices, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Gareth Stewart, Other Voices and Eimear Callaghan, Director of Client Engagement with Tourism NI.

Derry gets ready to host ‘Other Voices’ for first time in over a decade

A still from Buster Keaton's Neighbours.

Buster Keaton and Roberta Cantow films to be screened in Woodburn

Kate Nash.

Ticket lottery open for Other Voices headline performances in Derry

St Columba’s Church Long Tower.

Folksongs and fables to celebrate cultural icon St Columba during Culture Night

The next Chat Tea train event from Derry to Coleraine and back will take place in early October.

All aboard as Chat Tea returns

Mayor of DCSDC, Colr Grace Uí Niallais.

Derry Repair & Share Foyle marks milestone 50th Repair Café

Culture Night.

Derry set for city‑wide celebrations during Culture Night

See the River Foyle and the city’s landmarks lit up in technicolour at Derry Hallowe’en’s epic fireworks finale.

10 things to do during Derry’s 40th anniversary Hallowe’en celebrations

Preparations are under way for Derry's 40th anniversary Hallowe'en celebrations.

Kevin O’Neill appointed director for Derry’s 40th anniversary Hallowe’en parade

Brew and bite.

Tico the tarot picking Shetland pony set for Brew & Bite’s Halloween fundraiser

1985: Ojibwe leader and founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM), Clyde 'The Thunder Before the Storm' Bellecourt, addressing the Bloody Sunday commemoration.

Indigenous US delegation visiting Derry

Pól Ó Frighil, Policy Officer (Languages) at Derry City and Strabane District Council,

Irish and Ulster-Scots poets come together for Twa Tongues, Aon Tír Amháin

Martin Hayes

Trad maestros Martin Hayes and Brian Donnellan to open Other Voices Derry

Guildhall, Derry

Protest in Derry to oppose AI data centres

The 2025 Foyle Pride Parade makes its way down Shipquay Street towards Guildhall Square.. Photo: George Sweeney

Traffic advice from Derry police ahead of Foyle Pride Parade

Kate Nash.

Other Voices unveils first wave of artists as Derry prepares music festival

END OF SUMMER FESTIVAL TIME!. . . . The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Ui Niallais pictured at St. Brigid's College, Carnhill on Wednesday afternoon for the launch of the 2026 Annual Greater Shantallow End-of-Summer Festival to be held in the school grounds on Saturday, September 13 from 1-4pm. Included in photo from left, Rory McParland, Manager, Greater Shantallow Area Partnership, Conchur O’Braoin, St. Brigid’s College, Andrew Mullin, Housing Executive and Charlie McDaid, Chair, GSAP. On right are Michelle Simpson, GSAP, Councillor Sandra Duffy, Councillor Pat Murphy and Sean Carlin, Community Development Manager, GSAP. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Friends of St. Brigid’s End-of-Summer Community Festival date announced in Derry

From L-R: Erin McFeely, Director Northern Ireland, Alchemy Technology Services; Alastair Cameron, Founder, TechTides; Alison Ballard, Principal Product Manager, Allstate NI; Aoife Heaney, Programme and Events Executive, The AMP Growth Incubator.

TechTides to return with major 2026 conference featuring global tech leaders

Participants on stage.

The Pride Monologues takes the stage again

(L–R): Tanya Cavanagh, Rosie McLaughlin and Gillian Treanor, participants on Spraoi agus Spórt’s WorkAbility programme. Angelina McLaughlin is not pictured.

Tea with Slí: WorkAbility participants to host First Responders fundraiser

MP Colum Eastwood.

Colum Eastwood says Foyle Pride remains a vital protest and celebration

Muff Liquor Company.

Muff community to host major iCARE Autism Support fundraiser

The 2025 Foyle Pride Parade makes its way down Shipquay Street towards Guildhall Square.. Photo: George Sweeney

Foyle Pride Festival unveils packed week of events

Group pictured at The Galliagh Goes Country Concert.(Photo - Deirdre Heaney, nwpresspics) : .

17 brilliant photographs from Galliagh Goes Country

Derry Lions: Marian, Simon & Raj.

Derry City Lions to host open meeting as group outlines mission

News you can trust since 1772

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice