Limerick City and County Council will officially unveil the full programme for Halloween in Limerick 2026 later this month, with organisers brewing up a bewitching blend of family fun, spooky encounters and unforgettable experiences across the city and county from 11 October to 1 November.
Building on the success of recent years, this year's festival will once again celebrate Ireland's Halloween heritage through a mix of culture, folklore, food, music, storytelling and family-friendly entertainment.
The 2026 festival marks the second year of Limerick's participation in Fáilte Ireland's Home of Halloween Pilot Destination Development Scheme, through which Limerick has secured funding of up to €100,000 annually over three years. The programme supports the development of authentic Halloween experiences rooted in Ireland's Samhain traditions while helping to attract visitors and extend the tourism season.
While the full programme will be announced later this month, visitors can begin looking forward to a range of events and experiences taking place throughout the festival period, including:
Mystery Samhain Banquet: A unique theatrical dining experience that brings guests on a mystery journey through the city to a secret historic venue, celebrating Limerick's medieval heritage and the origins of Halloween. The evening combines storytelling, live performance and a three-course seasonal menu inspired by traditional Samhain foods and local produce.
Trick or Treat in the City: An immersive family-friendly trail through Limerick's city centre featuring storytelling, live entertainment, themed experiences and interactive activities inspired by Irish Halloween traditions. Running across two weekends, the event connects key city locations while bringing Georgian Limerick to life through seasonal animation.
Halloween City Centre Fancy Dress 5km: Up to 2,000 participants will take to Limerick's illuminated streets for a unique 5km Halloween-themed night run, walk or jog through the city centre. The event culminates at King John's Castle with music, lights, costumes and a festival atmosphere celebrating the Halloween season.
From Dullahan to Darkness in Rathkeale: A folklore-inspired Halloween programme that reimagines Irish mythology through storytelling, workshops, a Samhain carving trail and a spectacular narrative-led parade. The festivities conclude with a fancy dress party, creating a distinctive community celebration rooted in local culture and legend.
Limerick Harvest Festival: Taking place at the Milk Market, this family-friendly autumn festival celebrates food, culture, creativity and community in the heart of the city. Visitors can enjoy artisan producers, live entertainment, demonstrations and hands-on activities showcasing the best of the harvest season.
Morbid and Sons: The popular street theatre troupe returns with its darkly comic Victorian "pop-up funeral shop", bringing laughter and Halloween mischief to the streets of Limerick. Through interactive performances and quirky characters, the show offers a humorous take on life, death and everything in between.
Samhain Tales by the Limerick Fireside: Storyteller and musician Dáithí Collopy explores the origins and traditions of Samhain through a blend of folklore, history, music and verse. The performance includes uniquely Limerick tales, from the haunting of Thomond Bridge to the curse of St. Munchin.
Samhain at the Crossroads in Kilfinane: A community-focused celebration that blends folklore, harvest customs and local heritage within the Ballyhoura landscape. Artist-led workshops, storytelling and a lantern walk culminate in a welcoming gathering that captures the spirit of a traditional rural Samhain.
You can start planning your celebrations by visiting Limerick.ie/Halloween with a full programme of Halloween in Limerick 2026 events being unveiled later in September.
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