What events are taking place this St Patrick's Day?

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets in towns and cities across the island of Ireland to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

Belfast will see displays of costumes, music, dance and theatrical performance on Tuesday.

Derry City and Strabane Council is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its St Patrick's Day parade in Strabane, promising the town will be buzzing with energy and offering a mix of tradition and community spirit.

In Dublin, the largest parade on the island will take place as well as other events across the city.

Belfast has been hosting events since the beginning of March, with a packed programme of cultural activities across the city leading up to St Patrick's Day.

Runners in the SPAR Craic 10K event on Tuesday will leave Belfast City Hall at 09:00 GMT and travel throughout the city centre before finishing in Ormeau Park.

The annual parade will weave its way through the city centre, starting at 13:30.

With colourful live performance and a high energy soundtrack, this year's parade will include some new elements to celebrate the legends of St Patrick.

Local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians will also be taking part.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said a traffic management system and signage will be in place.

From 13:00 through to 15:00, traffic disruption should be expected.

The Féile Trad Trail, presented by Féile an Phobail, showcases Irish traditional music and workshops in various locations across the city from 10 March.

There will be a St Patrick's Day Festival Village in Belfast Cathedral Car Park from 13:00-16:00 with two live music stages, an all-day céilí, a food village, and a variety of family-friendly activities.

Seachtain na Gaeilge, the biggest Irish language festival in Ireland and around the world, are running various events throughout Belfast from 1 March.

See a full list of Belfast events.

The parade will depart Bishop Street Carpark at 15:00 and travel through the city, finishing at Strand Road Carpark.

The colourful Spring Market will take place in Guildhall Square from 12:00, showcasing a mix of local traders.

There will also be live music in the Guildhall Square from 13:00 with the sounds of Irish traditional and folk music, performed by some of the city's most talented artists.

See a full list of events in Derry..

Derry City and Strabane District Council is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its St Patrick's Day parade in Strabane in County Tyrone, with activities across the town centre.

The parade will depart from Holy Cross College at 14:00, travelling along Melmount Road, Bridge Street and Market Street, passing Abercorn Square and continuing along Railway Road before concluding at Dock Street.

There will be music, arts and crafts and face-painting in Abercorn Square from 13:30-16:00.

See a full list of Strabane events..

The Dublin 2026 St Patrick's Festival programme runs from Saturday to Tuesday.

The parade begins at 12:00 local time in Dublin City Centre, running from Granby Row in the north of the city, down O'Connell Street, over O'Connell Bridge and through the south side of the city, ending at the Cuffe Street/Kevin Street junction.

It will feature 12 large-scale floats with more than 3,000 participants involved.

St Patrick's festival events are being held in different parts of the city throughout the weekend.

This year's festival theme is 'Roots', invited people to celebrate the living roots of Ireland.

A full list of the St Patrick's Day Festival can be found here.

The celebrations are especially significant in Downpatrick in County Down as they coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Saint Patrick Centre.

The centre is the world's only permanent exhibition dedicated to St Patrick and plays a key role in telling the story of his life, legacy and lasting connection to the town, including St Patrick's grave and its historic pilgrim routes.

The St Patrick's Day parade departs Downshire Estate, Ardglass Road at 13:30 and follows the main route into town, finishing at Rathkeltair Car Park, Lower Market Street.

Festivities across Downpatrick will run from 12:00-16:00.

In addition to the parade, Downpatrick's celebrations will feature a main stage programme including performances by Clann Uí hUiginn, Celtic Storm and Pure Blarney.

An artisan market will take place at the Grove Car Park at St Patrick's Square, complemented by arts and crafts sessions, face painting, St Brigid's Cross making, Irish traditional music and a series of street performances in and around Down Arts Centre.

See a full list of Downpatrick and Newry events..

The Home of St Patrick Festival in Armagh is running until 18 March, celebrating St Patrick's life through music, art, theatre, film, and dance.

A vigil walk will take place between St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral and St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral at 20:00 on Sunday.

The city's home-grown parade makes its way through the city centre with a route starting at the Christian Brothers' School, starting at 14:00.

It moves through the city onto Cathedral Road, past the Shambles Market before finishing at the grounds of Cathedral Road Recreation Centre.

A Live Irish Music Trail will feature 20 acts across 12 venues from 13-17 March.

A full list of Armagh events can be found here.

Enniskillen's two‑day programme, delivered by Project St Patrick, begins on Monday with an atmospheric event at Enniskillen Castle.

The evening features a live rock folk gig by The Porter Bellys, a variety of food and drink vendors, and an illuminated flotilla of over 40 boats on Lough Erne.

On St Patrick's Day, the celebrations continue with family fun day from 13:00 across the Castle and Broadmeadow, including live traditional music, interactive activities, island storytelling, fun attractions and food vendors.

The St Patrick's parade takes place from 15:30-16:30, travelling "Castle to Castle" through the town centre and across the County Fermanagh town's famous bridges.

Up to 30,000 people are expected throughout the day, with pre‑parade entertainment on the Diamond from The Hand Me Downs and special guest performers.

See a full list of events in Enniskillen..

Omagh's St Patrick's Day carnival parade runs from 15:00-16:00 which goes from South West College through the town centre and back again, showcasing the creativity of local schools, groups, and cultural organisations.

At Strule Arts Centre, in partnership with Dún Uladh Cultural & Heritage Centre, families can enjoy live music, Irish and Highland dancing, themed crafts, storytelling and a unique Celtic Mythology Sand Mandala workshop hosted by Thai Arts NI.

Lead‑in events include the Omagh Eats Food Market on Saturday and Omagh Trad Fest on Sunday.

See a full list of St Patrick's Day events in Omagh..

Lá Fhéile Pádraig is a community organised festival to celebrate St Patrick's Day in Ballycastle, County Antrim.

From 11:30 there will be a market at the seafront with a diverse mix of artisans, makers, food producers, and independent traders.

Families, clubs, and school groups will gather at Dalriada Lower Car Park from 12:30 ready for the parade.

At 13:00, the parade will walk to the seafront, led by a piper, and crowds can enjoy live music at the seafront stage until 16:00.

Full details of events in Ballycastle can be found here.