Halloween 2027
The old Celtic new year, with fireworks over the river.
Countdown to Halloween 2027
Dates
When is Halloween?
Halloween 2027 falls on Sunday, 31 October 2027 (expected; it can move by a day).
Halloween falls on Sunday 31 October 2027; Derry's multi-day programme around it had not been published.
Date checked against visitderry.com
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 28 October – 1 November 2026Wed – Sun | 5 days | Past |
| 2027 | 31 October 2027Sun | 1 day | Expected |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Spirit & Ancestry
- Tradition
- Folk & Dynastic
- Where
- Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland
- Crowd
- Celebrated widely; Derry's festival draws large crowds from across Ireland and beyond
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
Halloween is now marked across much of the world, but its roots are in Ireland and Scotland. Derry~Londonderry, a short drive from Donegal, hosts one of the largest Halloween celebrations in Europe and is our host.
Halloween grew out of Samhain, the Gaelic festival at the end of harvest when the boundary between the living and the dead was thought to grow thin. The Christian calendar later placed All Saints' Day on 1 November, and the evening before — All Hallows' Eve — kept many of the older customs: bonfires, disguises and going door to door.
Irish and Scottish emigrants carried those habits to North America, where trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving took shape before travelling back across the Atlantic. In Derry, the city's walls, the River Foyle and the narrow streets of the old town become the stage for a multi-day festival that ends with a costumed carnival parade and fireworks over the water.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Halloween
Traditions
What actually happens
- Guising and trick-or-treating — going door to door in costume, an old Irish and Scottish practice.
- Turnip and pumpkin lanterns — carved faces, originally cut from turnips in Ireland.
- The carnival parade — a costumed procession through Derry on Halloween night.
- Fireworks over the Foyle — the festival's closing spectacle.
Food
The table, widened
- Barmbrack, a fruited tea loaf traditionally baked with a ring or other token inside.
- Colcannon — mashed potato with cabbage or kale — and toffee apples.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Street bands, drummers and fire performers lead the parade, and traditional Irish sessions fill pubs in the old town. Expect spooky soundtracks and plenty of fiddles in the same evening.
Religion
Why this date
Samhain belonged to the pre-Christian Gaelic year. The Church's feasts of All Saints (1 November) and All Souls (2 November) gave the season a Christian frame of remembering the dead. Today Halloween is mostly cultural, though some modern pagans observe Samhain as a religious festival.
History
How it survived
Samhain appears in early Irish literature as one of the four great seasonal festivals. Derry's modern Halloween began in 1986, when local people began organising a costumed celebration in the city, and has grown into a citywide event that marked its fortieth year in 2026.
History
How it got here
Samhain appears in early Irish literature as one of the four great seasonal festivals. Derry's modern Halloween began in 1986, when local people began organising a costumed celebration in the city, and has grown into a citywide event that marked its fortieth year in 2026.
Early medieval
Samhain
Irish texts describe Samhain as the end of the pastoral year.
9th c.
All Saints
The Western Church fixes All Saints' Day on 1 November.
19th c.
Emigration
Irish and Scottish customs take root in North America.
1986
Derry begins
A local costume celebration grows into the city's Halloween festival.
Travel & practical
Visiting Derry~Londonderry for Halloween
Getting there
City of Derry airport is close by; Belfast's airports are about 90 minutes away by bus or train.
Where to go
Walk the city walls, the Peace Bridge and the Guildhall area; the parade and fireworks centre on the riverside.
Practical notes
Late October is cold and often wet. Book rooms early — the city fills for the parade night.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Halloween: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Halloween.
When is Halloween in 2026 and 2027?
Halloween falls on 31 October every year — a Saturday in 2026 and a Sunday in 2027. Derry's 2026 festival runs from 28 October to 1 November, with the parade on 31 October; the 2027 programme had not been announced at the time of writing.
Did Halloween start in Ireland?
Many of its customs come from the Gaelic festival of Samhain, kept in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Are Derry's events free?
Many of the main outdoor events, including the parade and fireworks, have traditionally been free; check the official programme for ticketed events.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Much of the programme is designed for families, with daytime trails and activities.
Also in October 2027
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