Ireland Home of Halloween 2026 Launches with 40th Anniversary Derry Halloween
The Ireland Home of Halloween programme for 2026 has been officially launched, building on the success of 2025 which attracted over 322,000 visitors and generated more than £37 million in economic impact . Now in its second year, the initiative celebrates Ireland's role as the birthplace of Halloween through festivals and experiences inspired by ancient Samhain traditions .
2026 Programme Highlights:
Derry Halloween 40th Anniversary: Europe's largest Halloween festival celebrates four decades with a special enhanced programme
Seven "Home of Halloween" hubs: Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford/Westmeath, and Meath/Louth
Flagship events: Púca Festival and Derry Halloween anchor the island-wide celebration
New for 2026: Derry Samhain Experience, permanent Derry Halloween mural, Kilkenny's "The Cailleach" outdoor spectacle by Macnas
Laura McCorry, Chief Executive of Tourism Northern Ireland, stated: "We are not creating a new story; we are sharing one that has existed for thousands of years" .
