Gaillimh Ah-Boo! Halloween Festival 2026

A Spooktacular Celebration of Samhain 🎃

Galway is set to sparkle this autumn with the launch of Gaillimh Ah-Boo!, a major new festival celebrating Samhain, the Celtic tradition that gave rise to Halloween. Expected to run from October 23rd to November 1st 2026 (tbc), the programme aims to establish Galway as the authentic birthplace of the festival while extending the city’s cultural season into the quieter autumn months.

Thriller Dance in Eyre Square

At the heart of Gaillimh Ah-Boo! is the world-famous Macnas Parade on October 25th 2026, but the line-up is packed with events to entice locals and visitors alike. Highlights include Dark History Tours, exploring folklore and myth; Féasta Fómhair, a feast of food and fire at St Nicholas’ Church; and Blás na Samhain, intimate supper clubs inspired by figures like the Púca and the Banshee. Music, comedy, and spectacle are also on offer, from Samhain Sing Song to a dazzling Tine Lasta Fire Show at the Spanish Arch.

Families can enjoy storytelling, comic-making, and even a city-wide recreation of Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance in Eyre Square. Supported by Fáilte Ireland’s Home of Halloween scheme, Gaillimh Ah-Boo! brings together community, heritage, and creativity to make Galway the beating heart of Samhain.

Contact

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