What's On in Derry Londonderry

What’s going on in Derry-Londonderry

Though Derry-Londonderry is one of the oldest cities in Ireland, the home of Teenage Kicks and Derry Girls has always been young at heart. Northern Ireland's second city has a proud musical pedigree with The Undertones, Nell McCafferty, Bronagh Gallagher, Willie Doherty, singer-songwriter SOAK and Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid all hailing from Derry-Londonderry. With so much musical talent around, it should come as no surprise that here you will find a host of music festivals to suit all tastes throughout the year - from jazz, electronic to choral and beyond. 

However, it’s not all music, and the biggest, and perhaps most famous festival in Derry-Londonderry is the city’s annual Hallowe'en celebrations, widely regarded as one of the best in the world. In fact, the New York Times even named Derry-Londonderry as one of the world's six Spooky Travel Destinations for the Halloween Season in 2017.

When it comes to what’s happening in Derry-Londonderry, the best way to find out is to ask the locals as often this will lead you to unknown treasures. But here's a few ideas to get you started... 

Folk, trad and more at IMBOLC (January)

The IMBOLC International Music Festival is one of Ireland’s leading folk and world music festivals. While this event still has firm roots in the musical cultures of this island, it has grown in depth. You can expect to see and hear performances in folk, traditional and roots to jazz, contemporary and world music. Alongside concerts, the festival also has an extensive programme of music and dance workshops including Sean-nós, two hands dance workshops, song-writing workshops and a weekend-long Band Camp for young traditional musicians.

Kick the summer off with Jazz & Electronic (May & June)

The City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival in May features artists from all over the world for an annual celebration of jazz and big bands. Around 70 venues play host to more than 200 live acts to packed audiences. 

Celtronic Festival, a five-day extravaganza held in June offers festival goers a huge choice of DJs and performers across house, techno, electro, breakbeat, hip-hop, reggae, downtempo, drum and bass, soul and funk from across Ireland and the globe.  

A festival on the Foyle (July)

The annual Foyle Maritime Festival is arguably one of the biggest events of the year in Derry-Londonderry and can attract well over 200,000 visitors to the city over nine days in July.

A major part of the attraction is the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race which ports in Derry-Londonderry as part of its international programme of events. One of the most-anticipated stopovers on the race, Derry-Londonderry has earned the reputation between crews past and present for being the best stopover despite fierce competition from other host cities like Cape Town, Seattle and New York. Visitors are spoiled by a range of events. There’s the Legenderry Food Festival & Market, live performances, visiting ships and boats as well as water activities, food trails and animated zones. The event culminates in a breathtaking showcase event on the River Foyle.

Come to the carnival (August)

Celebrating the colour of life is exactly what the wonderful Carnival of Colours is all about. This is a two-day circus, music and arts festival showcasing local and international circus and theatre acts. The Big Top and Baby Big Top Tents cater for family fun by day before transforming at night into a music, comedy and cabaret event more suited to slightly older audiences.

Sure doesn’t every age group need their teenage kicks every now and then? 

Singing their hearts out for you, and the world (October)

The City of Derry International Choir Festival takes up the musical baton in late October and since starting in 2014, its reputation has grown on the international choir circuit. Over fifty competitors from across Ireland and Europe travel to Derry-Londonderry to compete and perform concerts and workshops over five days.

Derry Hallowe'en (October)

As previously mentioned, every year Derry-Londonderry surpasses itself with the world-famous Derry Hallowe'en carnival. Derry-Londonderry boasts the biggest Hallowe'en carnival in Europe and was named Number One Halloween Destination in the World by USA Today in 2015. A welcome like no other awaits you, as supernatural beings and the souls of the dead flood into the city. Highlights include Awakening the Walls, Little Horrors shows, Tower of Terror, Samhain Sessions, the Legenderry Food Village and the famous City of Bones carnival Parade.

Derry-Londonderry meets the silver screen (November)

The Foyle Film festival is one of only a handful of international film festivals with Oscar affiliation and BAFTA recognition. One of the highlights is the film festival's highly anticipated Intercultural & Anti-Racism programme which is jam packed with award-winning features, special events, guest panellists and speakers and workshops.

The programme addresses and responds to issues relating to human rights and inequality, including racism, homophobia, sexism, prejudice and discrimination. Festival organisers aim to encourage participants to value and embrace diversity in all its forms and try to encourage awareness of local and global issues. 

Needless to say, this means an intriguing line-up of movies and documentaries from right across the globe.