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family · Monday 20 July 2026 · Various 
Red Sails Festival - Portstewart
At Portstewart Crescent and Flowerfield Arts Centre · Portstewart, Co. Londonderry
At Portstewart Crescent and Flowerfield Arts Centre · Portstewart, Co. Londonderry
Red Sails is Portstewart’s own week-long summer festival, running from Monday 20 July to Saturday 26 July 2026, and it covers a broad sweep of what this North Coast town does best: sea air, community spirit, and genuine family entertainment. Organised by Portstewart Community Association and supported by Flowerfield Arts Centre, the festival draws families, locals and visitors in equal measure. Everything across the week is free to attend, which makes it an easy choice for a day out or a full-week holiday anchor.
The week opens on Monday 20 July with the launch of “People of Portstewart” - a community exhibition at Flowerfield Arts Centre that brings together artworks in every medium, all shining a light on the characters and stories that give the town its particular atmosphere. It runs through the week with free admission.
Across the days, the programme mixes art workshops, live music, dance, street theatre and sports activities. Flowerfield runs booked workshops through the week - a Vintage Postcards session for adults on Tuesday 21 July (designing retro railway-poster-style cards) and a Family Print Workshop on Wednesday 22 July using eco-friendly materials. Both are free but need advance booking: 028 7083 1400.
The children’s highlight is the Beach Hut Canvas drop-in on Saturday 26 July, 10am to 12 noon, on Flowerfield Terrace: children aged 4 to 11 make mini beach-hut canvases with seaside scenes, no booking needed, parents stay alongside. Saturday evening wraps with live entertainment along the Crescent and the fireworks finale over the harbour.
Portstewart sits on the Causeway Coast, roughly 5 kilometres west of Portrush and 8 kilometres from Coleraine. By car from Belfast, the M2 north then A26 to Coleraine takes around 75 minutes; from Derry city allow 45 minutes via the A2.
Coleraine is the nearest railway station, served by Translink from both Belfast and Derry. From Coleraine, the 140 bus runs to Portstewart. Street parking on and around the Crescent fills early on busy festival days - side streets off Lever Road are a quieter option.
The town’s Strand beach - a long, dune-backed stretch managed by the National Trust - is a short drive or walk from the Crescent and is well worth combining with a festival visit. There is more to see in Portstewart and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Portstewart Crescent and Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Portstewart area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.