FoyleMaritimeFestival_2026_Programme_

foylemaritime.com

Foyle Maritime Festival 2026 Programme

The wait is finally over…

The bi-annual Foyle Maritime

Festival will return to Derry from

Thursday 25th until Sunday 28th

June, jumpstarting the summer

season with a packed programme

of events the whole family can

enjoy. In anticipation of the 2027

opening of a £15 Million investment,

Derry North Atlantic Museum, DNA

Museum, the theme of this year’s

festival is ‘Forged by the Foyle: It’s

in Our DNA’.

The riverfront will come alive daily

from 12 noon to 11pm with visiting

ships, water activities, live music,

animation, festival bars and food

experiences. Highlights include the

Sails of Solas Lighting Experience

from Thursday to Saturday and a

fireworks finale over the River Foyle

on Sunday night. For the latest festival

announcements, tickets, water activity

bookings and surprise programme

updates, follow the festival website and

social channels.

Thank You to Our Funders & Sponsors

A special thanks for all of our funders, sponsors and volunteers for their

support for the Foyle Maritime Festival.

2 Foyle Maritime Festival 2026

The Dock;

Our Fleet of ‘26

Maritime enthusiasts of all ages will be captivated by this year’s

festival fleet. Discover ships from distant shores, each with their own

seafaring stories, and step into a world of maritime adventures at

The Dock and North Pontoon.

The Galeón Andalucia

Derry City and Strabane District

Council is honoured to welcome this

stunning replica 16th–17th century

Spanish galleon to this year’s Foyle

Maritime Festival, the only sailing

vessel of its kind in the world.

Visit this incredible ship and be

transported back to the

Age of Exploration, when

galleons ruled the seas

and maritime adventure

shaped history.

Venue, Dates & Times

Dates:

Wednesday 24th – Sunday 28th June

Opening Times:

10am – 8pm daily

Online Ticket Offer:

Regular: £12 (age 10 +)

Child: £6 (ages 5-10)

Family: £30 (2 adults & 3 children)

Children under 5 free

Onboard Tickets: £15 / £7 / £37

Location: The Docks

Tickets available onboard and online:

ticket.velacuadra.es

The Galeón Andalucia is attending the festival independently of Council and is trading strictly as an

independent commercial venture.


The Dock

Our Fleet of ‘26

Brocklebank:

The Dock

The Brocklebank is an historic

1964 motor tugboat that operated

on the River Mersey.

The Phoenix:

The Dock

A movie star in the Tall Ship world The

Phoenix, is now owned by a French

company who are touring Europe to

showcase the magic and splendour of

this magnificent Tall Ship.

The ship wowed spectators with her

cannon salutes and majestic sails in 2024

and we’re honoured to have her take a

break from an intense film schedule to

drop anchor at the festival once again.

Following her working retirement

in 1989, she was purchased by

the Merseyside Maritime Museum

and now serves as a floating

ambassador, touring coastal

events and offering visitors a

hands-on look at Liverpool’s

maritime legacy.

Visit the wonderful crew of

retired sailors to learn more of

the fascinating history of this

hardworking vessel, and if you

behave you might just get a

lollipop!


The Dock

Our Fleet of ‘26

Le Dundee mutin :

North Pontoon

The festival is honoured to welcome the

French Ecole Navale and their sail training

vessel, Mutin which is part of the Marine

Nationale. This ship played an undercover role

as a spy-boat during the second world.

Taking cover in Plymouth when the

Germans bombed her port town of Brest,

she was requisitioned to the British Secret

Services for the remainder of the war carrying

out special missions for British agents as far

as the Adriatic coasts before returning to the

French Navy in 1945.

Eabora:

North Pontoon

Built in Crosshaven, Cork

in 1956 as a naval tender,

this remarkable vessel was

later converted to sail by

renowned Scottish novelist

Alistair MacLean, famous for

bestselling novels and films

including Where Eagles

Dare and When Eight Bells

Toll.

MacLean purchased the

boat as part of his research

for When Eight Bells Toll,

immersing himself in life at

sea to bring authenticity

to his writing. The vessel

remains closely linked to

the adventurous spirit and

maritime legacy. We’re

thrilled to welcome it to the

Festival this year.


The Dock

Our Fleet of ‘26

Sea Snail : North Pontoon

Making its debut at this year’s festival, the

“Sea Snail” is a classic 56ft Danish schooner,

originally built in 1932 as a North Sea fishing

vessel with a seawater-filled hold to keep fish

alive.

The Klevia:

North Pontoon

Built in Denmark in 1936

for fishing in the North Sea,

this ship has been restored

and traditionally rigged as a

Gaff Ketch and is registered

as a sailing vessel in the UK.

Another stunning vessel,

we can’t wait to welcome

back this beautiful boat into

Foyle Port.

Converted for sail training in 1980, she now

offers traditional, hands-on sailing experiences

and is based in Co. Down.


In Your Space presents: Carnival of Colours

Derry’s boldest and brightest Circus

& Street Arts festival, Carnival of

Colours, is BACK!

We’re returning to Foyle Maritime Festival

with more colour, more chaos, and more

circus than you could shake a seagull at!

(Please don’t shake the seagulls…)

From 25–28 June, we’ll be taking over

The Dock with a programme packed

to the brim with circus magic including

astounding acrobatics, jaw-dropping

juggling, feats of balance and fabulous

physical comedy from…

Hikapee, Brain Fools, Tumble

Circus, Logy on Fire, Fraser

Hooper, Frankie Magilligan,

IYSC Youth Circus, and more!

And of course, it wouldn’t be

Carnival of Colours without

plenty of artsy fun for all the family! Swing

by the Baby Top (behind Sainsbury’s)

for portraits and face painting, circus

skills workshops and lots of sea-themed

shenanigans.

So… why not join us along the quay for

some circus maritime madness?

And follow us online for exciting

updates! @inyourspacecircus

circus & street arts festival

25-28th June @ Foyle Maritime Festival 12-6pm


On the River

No maritime festival would be complete without a full programme of

activities on the river. First port of call is the Water Registration Tent,

managed by the Loughs Agency who have curated a packed itinerary

that caters for all ages and abilities and will delight participants and

spectators alike.

The tent is located beside the South

Pontoon entrance, where all taster

sessions and tours depart. A changing

tent is also available in the family

festival hub for anyone taking the

plunge and needing to dry off.

Experienced providers will offer

inclusive, bespoke experiences for all

abilities. Please see our website to book

tickets. Some sessions require booking,

while others are available for walk-ups

where possible.

CHECK OUT ALL THE FUN INCLUDING TIMES AND TICKETS ON OUR WEBSITE


LA Marine Machines

& VR Experience

Join the Loughs Agency at a bespoke marine-themed zone and enjoy a

range of immersive activities for all the family.

Explore the ‘Marine Machine’, where

you can meet live marine creatures,

try angling skills, explore biodiversity

and conservation, and test your ocean

knowledge.

Immerse yourself in underwater

landscapes using VR headsets, diving

into the world of marine life around us.

Lough Lookout! Keep your eyes peeled

for water species hidden throughout

the festival. Learn if they are ‘Friends’

who help keep rivers and oceans

healthy, or ‘Foes’ who can cause harm

to our marine life.


The Edge Wakeboarding

Returns

Crowds at the Foyle Maritime

Festival 2026 are set for another

adrenaline-filled spectacle as The Edge

Wakeboarding Team returns to the

River Foyle with a daily programme of

high-energy wakeboard performances.

Featuring riders David Coates, Robin

Coates, Nicolas Sweeney, and Nicole

Carroll, the team is renowned for

delivering thrilling jumps, precision

tricks, and crowd-pleasing stunts that

captivate audiences of all ages.

Their performances have been a

standout attraction at previous

editions of the festival, drawing large

crowds to the riverfront and creating

unforgettable moments on the water.

This year’s displays promise even

bigger tricks, more action, and

even more excitement as the

team showcases the very best in

wakeboarding entertainment.

Further details and performance times

will be announced closer to the event.

Venue, Dates & Times

Dates:

Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th June

Performance Times:

These vary daily as tide dependant, keep

an eye on socials and festival website

Location:

Best viewing is along Thompsons’ Quay


Festival Feasting & Markets

LegenDerry Food Village

Coppins Quay, opposite

North Pontoon

12 noon to 11pm

The LegenDerry Food Village is the

place to soak up the festival

atmosphere, surrounded by serene

ships on the Foyle, the smell of

incredible food in the air, and the

chance to sip a locally brewed beer.

This is where good times are served!

Whether you’re craving street food with

big bold flavours or want to discover

the best of our local produce, you’ll find

it all here. The LegenDerry Food Village

brings together outstanding local

businesses using the finest seasonal,

sustainable ingredients and fresh

local catch to create authentic dishes

inspired by flavours from around the

world - all with a LegenDerry twist.

From wood fired pizzas and slow

smoked barbecue to sweet treats and

festival favourites, enjoy a one of a

kind food adventure along our iconic

riverfront.

Come join us and

taste what makes

this city truly

LegenDerry!

Watt’s Warehouse

Festival Village

12 noon to 11pm (last orders 10.30)

Back by popular demand we’ve

installed two stretch tents in the

festival village to house a range of

beers and spirits any pirate would be

proud to plunder!

Named in honour of Andrew Watt,

a prominent 19th and early 20thcentury

whiskey distiller who owned

Watt’s Distillery on Abbey Street,

one of Ireland’s largest distilleries

at the time.

There’s more than spirits stirring in

Watt’s Warehouse!

You never know who might pop in for

a dram! Step into Watt’s Warehouse

and you might find yourself rubbing

shoulders with a few of the DNA

Living History Characters!

From the fearless Amelia Earhart

to the legendary whiskey distiller

Andrew Watts, expect surprise

appearances, tall tales and healthy

dose of maritime mischief as history

comes ashore for the festival

weekend.


Festival Feasting & Markets

The Edge Wakeboarding

Returns

Maritime Market 2026

Various from The Dock to start of

Thompsons Quay • 12pm - 11pm

We pride ourselves in the wonderful

array of locally produced delicacies,

dishes and crafts that we get to enjoy

here in the North West.

It wouldn’t be right to keep them all

to ourselves so we’ve rolled out some

of the region’s finest produce for

everyone to enjoy from handmade

jewellery to award winning cheeses

and chutneys.

Merchants Market

Merchant Market • Running along

Queens Quay from Funfair to City Hotel

12 noon to 11pm

A festival favourite, the Merchant Market

brings an emporium of continental cuisine

and a taste of the exotic to the festival,

taking patrons on a culinary voyage

across Europe and beyond the Silk Road

to experience some of the finest culinary

flavours in the world as well as a host of

bespoke gifts and surprises.

Boasting not one but two curated dining

areas for 2026, we can’t wait to dine al

fresco at the Beach Restaurant, salty

dishes and sandy toes, what’s not to love?


Forged by the Foyle

The Science of Water

Festival Village • 12 noon to 7pm daily

FUSE arts are set to deliver a

dynamic programme of STEAM

focussed interactive activities and

performances in our SOW tent

throughout the festival.

The line-up is

suitable for all

ages, encouraging

intergenerational

learning and

interaction for

everyone. Inspired

by the festival

theme expect a

focus on environmental awareness,

local innovation and industry and

celebrations on the 15th anniversary

year of the Peace Bridge Opening.

Free, fun and phenomenally

inspired investigations,

storytelling, future

thinking and innovation!

Derry North

Atlantic Museum

Festival Village • 12 noon - 7pm daily

Welcome to the Derry ~ Londonderry

on the North Atlantic (DNA)

Hundreds of years, millions of stories

Through hands‐on

activities and lively

encounters with

characters from the past,

discover how our city

and district has been

shaped by the landscape

and the people who have

called it home. Using our

collections and archives,

maps, and stories, learn about

surprising connections as we bring

history to life, showing how places,

journeys and relationships have

shaped who we are today. Discover

too what life was like for the many

women who worked in our shirt

factories…the heartbeat of our city…

Learn more about our DNA Museum

(Derry ~ Londonderry on the North

Atlantic) and explore the stories that

connect us all.


Maritime Mayhem

Enjoy a selection of pop up performances on the Quay daily especially

The Anchor and Coffey Stages.

Rockshore Sounds ‘26

Festival Village • 12 noon to 11pm

Greater Shantallow Community

arts presents:

Up the Foyle in a Bubble

Coffey Stage • Saturday 27th &

Sunday 28th • 1pm - 4pm

Three mermaids caught in a storm,

have found themselves washed up on

the banks of the River Foyle with no

way home! What will they do?

Join Pearl, Coral and Bubbles as they

try and navigate their way home. With

the help of a friendly Sailor, who tells

them tales of a Dopey whale from

Derry’s past, they sing and dance their

way to a solution in this charming tale

of magic, mischief and friendship.

No trip to the festival would be

complete without taking time to

enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of

the Festival Village and listening to a

fantastic array of acclaimed local and

national musicians and performers.

Perched perfectly between two

watering holes, the Rockshore Stage

is where the party’s at.

For 2026

we’re curating

specially

themed sessions

and will be

confirming the

line-up on a

weekly basis as

we countdown

to end of June.

Check our website to discover more exciting performances and

activities taking place all along the quay.


Maritime Mayhem

Fuse arts presents:

Ebb & Flow

Festival Village

A playful and imaginative movement

piece inspired by the sea! Ebb & Flow

follows a group of young dancers

from FUSE arts as they ripple, splash,

swirl and drift together like the ever

changing ocean.

From gentle tides to rolling waves,

the children explore the joy, energy

and calm of the sea through creative

movement and music - ebbing and

flowing through the motions.

Echoes of the Foyle

by Sollus

Festival Village

A brand new production by Sollus

Highland Dancers, celebrating the

global journeys and lasting impact of

people from the Foyle.

With over 40 dancers from across

the North West this is a vibrant and

compelling performance not to be

missed.

Everywhere’s a Beach

by Hikapee

The Dock @ Carnival of Colours site

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th •

2pm & 5.30pm daily

Join us for a day at the beach unlike

any other in this high energy, circus

theatre show. Perfect for the whole

family, Everywhere’s a Beach is a

charmingly ridiculous performance,

taking place on a giant revolving

beach parasol!

This dynamic, dizzying and downright

daft show will leave you dancing with

delight!

You’ll be swept away as this show

embraces everything we love about

the beach. Our spinning parasol

creates the perfect setting for our

eccentric beach loving characters.

Watch as their world collides with

yours, as sophistication turns to chaos

in this aerial circus performance.

Proudly presented by Carnival of

Colours, in partnership with Foyle

Maritime Festival 2026.


Sails of Solace

Sails of Solace

South Pontoon, North Pontoon & The Dock

Thursday 25th, Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June • 11pm – 4am each night

Step back in time and enjoy a

breathtaking illuminated riverscape,

with masts and beams stretching into

the night sky reminiscent of days when

the Derry Docks were home to a fleet

of working ships.

For 2026 Visual Spectrum will

transform our visiting Tall Ships into a

unified artwork of light and reflection,

presenting them in a new light that

celebrates their grandeur and majesty

while the timing of the display invites

visitors to revel in a private viewing as

the city and ships sleep.

This curated experience invites visitors

to come at their leisure outside the

trading hours of the festival and enjoy

the space and time to take in the

festival riverscape with the masts of

visiting ships and their illuminated

reflections creating a temporary but

beautiful experience that disappears

with dawn each day.

Some special installations from

Wonderlights will enable a family of

seals and the ghost of Dopey Dick to

appear under the cover of darkness,

look to the horizon and see golden

sails stretching towards the night sky.


Maritime Mayhem

Peaball presents:

Get Up - A Celebration of

Graffiti and Street Art

Thursday 25th, Friday 26th &

Saturday 27th June

FMF is delighted to welcome the

return of ‘Get Up’ Graffiti & Street Art

Initiative, following its debut in 2024.

Enjoy a street spectacle of

outstanding calibre as 26 local,

regional, national and international

street artists captivate your

imagination on a larger than life scale.

Various locations throughout Coppins

and Thompsons Quays daily.

Fireworks & Dusk Chorus

Sunday 28th June •

From 10.25pm with Fireworks at 11pm

Festival Finale

The festival will come to a spectacular

close with a synchronised fireworks

display on the river around 11pm on

Sunday night.

An enchanting Dusk Chorus will be

delivered by NI Rock Choir who will

sing a moving and uplifting ensemble

of songs inspired by the occasion.

The performance will begin at

approximately 10.25pm in The Dock,

alongside Tall Ship, The Phoenix

and Spanish

replica vessel

The Galleon

Andalucia,

setting the scene

that will close

four days of

maritime magic,

beautifully.


Maritime Mayhem

Old Seaside Funfair

Foyle Maritime Festival

25th ~ 28th June 2026

12noon ~ 11pm Daily • Thompson’s Quay

Special Sensory Opening: Friday 26th June, 10am ~ 12 noon

Quiet performances across the site for tours, ships, funfair & markets.

Vintage Funfair with the Amelia Earhart Wheel

Step back to the charm of old seaside promenades with a vintage funfair

experience along the banks of the River Foyle. Enjoy classic attractions, grab an

ice cream, and soak up the atmosphere of a perfect traditional seaside escape.

Take a spin on the Amelia Earhart Wheel and enjoy stunning views across the

river and festival grounds.

FoyleMaritimeFestival_2026_Programme_

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