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.
Events stretch across the island's regions
Further Halloween events take place in Limerick and Galway on the Wild Atlantic Way, in counties Longford and Westmeath in the Hidden Heartlands, and in medieval Kilkenny in the Ancient East.
Visitors can explore atmospheric forests, ancient passage tombs, and towns and cities alive with music, folklore and fire. Torchlit traditions and storytelling are part of the program.
Food is also part of the season, with Samhain customs celebrated through seasonal flavors, harvest ingredients and food traditions passed down through generations.