Derry

New York – October 21, 2026 -- Ireland is inviting travelers to spend Halloween in the place it started, with festivals running from late October into November across the island.

The season traces back more than 2,000 years to Samhain, the Celtic festival that marked the shift from summer to winter and shaped the Halloween traditions celebrated worldwide today.

Two main festivals anchor the season

Púca Festival in Meath and Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland form the core of Ireland's Halloween celebrations.

Galway and Dublin add parades and Gothic history

In Galway, the Macnas Halloween Parade features giant mythical figures, visual effects and live performance. In Dublin, the City Bram Stoker Festival celebrates Dracula and his Dublin-born creator. It is one of the city's biggest arts festivals and explores its Gothic history and heritage.

New York – September 28, 2026 -- Travel And Tour World (TTW) has released its Top 50 Halloween Travel Destinations in the World for 2026, ranking Transylvania as the number one spot for October travel.

Transylvania leads a list built on folklore and historic landmarks

The ranking places Bran Castle and the Dracula legend at the top, with Brașov and Sighișoara offering access via train, bus or car from Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca.

Derry, Salem and Dublin round out the top five

Derry's parades and city-wall festivities take second place, followed by Salem's Haunted Happenings, easily reached from Boston by commuter rail or ferry. Dublin and County Meath rank fourth, tied to Ireland's Samhain heritage near the Hill of Ward, while Edinburgh's Old Town ghost tours take fifth.