Derry Christmas events 2026: lights switch-on, a cathedral festival, panto and a Guildhall concert

Derry at Christmas

Derry is a good Christmas city for people who like their festive season a bit warmer and more local. The programme runs from mid-November to the end of December and mixes a street procession, a cathedral festival, a big pantomime and a Guildhall concert, all within a short walk of the Walled City.

This page uses six individual event pages on Visit Derry, which we opened on 11 November 2026. Each one states 2026. We give dates, places and prices as they state them, and we say when a detail, such as a time or a ticket price, is not given.

We could not read every Derry listing, and some events were listed without individual pages, so this is a selection. Use the links to confirm before you go.

The events at a glance

Source: Visit Derry event pages, read on 11 November 2026. Some listings do not confirm the exact day or time, so check each page and book through the organiser.

Official event pages with details and tickets

• Derry Christmas Lights Switch On 2026 Derry-Londonderry

  Santa procession through the streets, Visit Derry page

  Official site
• St Columb's Cathedral Christmas Festival London Street, Derry

  Festival running through December

  Official site
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Millennium Forum, Derry

  Panto, with signed, relaxed, audio described and captioned performances

  Official site
• Hothouse Flowers Christmas concert The Guildhall, Derry

  Annual Christmas concert

  Official site

Which one suits what you want

For a relaxed first meeting, the lights switch-on is a friendly choice. It is a street event with Santa leading a procession, so there is plenty to look at, and you do not have to sit across a table. Note that the Visit Derry page says tickets are booked on an external site, so check the listing first.

For something calmer, the St Columb's Cathedral Christmas Festival runs for nearly four weeks from 23 November to 19 December. A long run gives you flexibility to pick an evening that suits you both, and a cathedral is a quiet, warm setting where you can actually hear each other.

For a group night out, the Millennium Forum panto is the easy one. It runs from 27 November to 31 December, with tickets listed from £14.50, and the page highlights four special performances: signed, relaxed and dementia friendly, audio described and live captioned. That access detail matters if you are planning with someone who needs it.

For music, the Hothouse Flowers' annual Christmas concert at the Guildhall is listed for 27 December, and Bell X1's Good Bones tour is listed for Friday 11 December at 7pm. Neither page states a ticket price, so check the organisers for tickets.

Derry's listings end before January, so for New Year plans you will need to check back later.

How to go with someone new

1. Pick an event from the table and open its official page to check the date and tickets.
2. Message your plan with the event name, the time and a clear meeting point.
3. Arrive a few minutes early and share your location with a friend if you are meeting someone for the first time.
4. Plan a hot drink or a bite afterwards so the evening has a natural second half.

Cafes in Derry for a warm-up

Place names come from map data contributors. Opening times and quality vary, so check before you go.

Keep going

• Meet new people in Derry
• Museums and the Peace Bridge in Derry
• Events near you