National Heritage Week 2026 - County Antrim Events

What to Expect

National Heritage Week is an island-wide celebration with typically over 2,500 events across Ireland. The 2026 theme is “Heritage at Risk,” exploring threatened buildings, landscapes, traditions and cultural practices. In County Antrim, events are organised by local societies, councils, museums and community groups and include guided walks, open days at normally closed buildings, talks, living history demonstrations, archaeological tours and craft workshops. The full programme of Antrim events is published on heritageweek.ie in the weeks before the festival begins.

Good to Know

• Dates: Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 August 2026.

• Full searchable event listing at heritageweek.ie/event-listings - filter by County Antrim.

• Events are free or low-cost; some require advance booking.

• Antrim councils, historical societies and the Ulster Archaeological Society typically contribute events.

• The week immediately precedes European Heritage Open Days (12-13 September).

Getting There

Events are spread across County Antrim. Use heritageweek.ie to find specific event locations nearer the time; most are accessible by Translink bus or rail services.