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nightlife · Friday 31 July 2026 · Various 
Around the Town Festival Carrickfergus 2026
At Various venues · Town Centre, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
At Various venues · Town Centre, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim
Carrickfergus has been putting on a proper community arts week since 2024, and the third Around the Town Festival - running 31 July to 8 August 2026 - is the biggest yet. Thirty-one events across nine days take over the town’s pubs, civic buildings, parks and care settings, with a programme that moves from daytime family workshops through lunchtime sessions to late-night shows. It was built from the ground up by local regeneration group Positive Carrickfergus in partnership with Déjà Vu Promotions, and the intention from day one has been to give musicians, performers and production crews from the town a platform right here at home.
The programme covers a lot of ground. Live music is the backbone - from brass band concerts and traditional sessions to jazz, folk, and pop - but the festival also runs stand-up comedy, theatre, and interactive family events. New for 2026 is The Blues Café, a dedicated evening of blues music. The silent disco, which proved popular in earlier years, is expected to return for teens and adults alike.
The festival finale takes place outdoors at Shaftesbury Park and has previously featured tribute acts and local headliners; the 2026 finale line-up includes ABBA tribute Björn Identity alongside local acts. Events are spread across Carrickfergus Town Hall, the Civic Centre, Dobbins Inn, the Castle Green, and other venues in the town centre. The Artscare partnership brings performances into residential and care settings, so the festival reaches parts of town that most events miss.
Tickets are required for the evening showcase events; many daytime and community events are free. Prices vary by event - check the full programme on the festival website once it is published closer to the date.
Carrickfergus is on the Belfast to Larne Translink rail line - trains from Belfast Great Victoria Street run roughly every half hour and take about 25 minutes. The town centre, including most festival venues and the Castle Green, is a short walk from Carrickfergus railway station. By road, the town sits on the A2 north of Belfast along the shore of Belfast Lough; there is on-street and car park parking in the town centre.
The festival is a good reason to spend more than an evening in the town. Carrickfergus Castle - one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland - sits right on the waterfront and is worth an hour of anyone’s time. There is more to see in Carrickfergus and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Various venues in Carrickfergus? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Carrickfergus area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.