← All events
festivals · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Various 
Stendhal Festival
At Ballymully Cottage Farm · Limavady, Co. Derry
At Ballymully Cottage Farm · Limavady, Co. Derry
Stendhal is something different from the touring-festival circuit that pitches up in a field and leaves no trace. This one was born in 2011 on a family farm outside Limavady, built from the ground up by locals who wanted a proper arts gathering for the north-west, and it has stayed rooted there ever since. Now in its 16th chapter, it draws a mixed crowd - families with young children, trad-session regulars, indie fans - all sharing the same woodlands and stages across three days. If you want a festival that still feels like it belongs somewhere, this is a good choice.
Eight stages spread across Ballymully Cottage Farm give the weekend a real sense of discovery. The main arena handles the big evening sets while smaller stages tuck into the surrounding woodland, each with its own mood. The 2026 line-up covers a wide range: Cast headline Saturday night with their Britpop back catalogue fresh off a run supporting the Oasis reunion; The Tumbling Paddies close out Friday with their hard-to-pin-down blend of traditional, country and rock. Elsewhere on the bill you will find Mary Coughlan, Kíla, DJ Yoda, Mad Professor, Eric Bell Trio, Alana Henderson and well over 50 acts in total. Trad, blues, spoken word, visual art and comedy all feature alongside the music. The family programme is one of Stendhal’s most praised elements, deliberately programmed to run in parallel rather than as an afterthought. On-site camping is available, which most regulars regard as the right way to do it - the farm setting works best when you stay.
Limavady sits roughly 30 minutes east of Derry city along the A2, and about an hour from Belfast via the M22 and A26. By car, follow signs for Limavady town and then out to Ballymully Cottage Farm - the festival runs shuttle services from the town centre during the event, which eases the parking pressure and is worth checking on the official site before you travel. Translink operates bus services from Derry into Limavady; check goldline and local routes at translink.co.uk for current timetables. Driving from Dublin, the M1 north to Newry then the A29 and A6 through Maghera is the main route, roughly two and a half hours.
Limavady is the town said to be where Jane Ross first heard the tune that became Danny Boy, transcribing it from a travelling fiddler in the 1850s - a small detail that says a lot about the area’s connection to music. The Roe Valley Country Park, just outside the town, is worth a walk if you have a morning free before the festival gets going. There is more to see in Limavady and across Co. Derry.
Heading to Ballymully Cottage Farm in Limavady? Derry has plenty more to see. Read the Limavady area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.