Sperrins Festival 2026 to celebrate landscape, heritage and community
- Love Ballymena
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Helping to announce details of the Sperrins Festival 2026 were, from left, Broadcaster Joe Mahon, Zoe Ramsey from Far and Wild and Ciara Toner Sperrins Partnership.
A new three-day festival celebrating one of Northern Ireland’s most distinctive landscapes will launch this spring, bringing guided walks, storytelling, music and heritage experiences to the heart of the Sperrins.
Running from 20–22 March 2026, the Sperrins Festival will take place across the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering visitors a chance to explore the mountains, culture and community stories that define the region.
Organisers say the event aims to strengthen the connection between people and place, support sustainable tourism and provide new opportunities to discover the area’s rich heritage.
The 2026 festival hub will be based at Gortin Activity Centre, with support from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Free transport will be provided to guided walks and events across the Sperrins, helping participants reach remote locations while reducing traffic in rural areas.
Looking ahead, organisers plan to rotate the festival hub around the region in future years to ensure the benefits of the event are shared more widely across the wider Sperrins area.
Exploring landscape, heritage and community stories
Ciara Toner Sperrins Partnership, Zoe Ramsey from Far and Wild and Broadcaster Joe Mahon.
The festival programme includes a range of guided walks suitable for different levels of experience, led by outdoor activity provider Far and Wild.
Alongside the walks, the weekend will feature talks, storytelling, music, crafts and a family fun day hosted at the festival hub. Events have been designed for a wide range of ages and abilities, offering opportunities to explore wildlife, local history and the stories of the communities that have shaped life in the Sperrin mountains.
Transport will operate between the festival hub and selected event locations for safety and comfort. Most activities will proceed in typical spring weather conditions, although severe weather may lead to adjustments or cancellations, with pre-booked participants notified in advance. Dogs will not be permitted on festival walks.
Regional partnership behind the festival
The festival is led by the Sperrins Partnership and delivered in collaboration with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and Mid Ulster District Council, alongside local guides, historians, activity providers and community groups.
The festival is also supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Environment Fund and the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division Research and Revivals Stream.
Cllr Sean Clarke, Chair of Sperrins Partnership, said:
“The Sperrins Festival is about connecting people with this remarkable landscape and the communities that shape it. Through guided walks, storytelling, and shared experiences, we want to celebrate the heritage of the Sperrins while encouraging sustainable tourism and deeper appreciation of the area.”
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Barry McElduff added:
“We are proud to support the Sperrins Festival, that showcases the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Sperrins. Events like this bring people together, support local communities, and highlight the importance of protecting and promoting our unique environment.”
Broadcaster Joe Mahon, Zoe Ramsey from Far and Wild and Ciara Toner Sperrins Partnership.
Broadcaster and festival supporter Joe Mahon also praised the initiative:
“One of the reasons I’m so keen to support the Sperrins Festival, and to sing its praises far and wide, is that the people behind it who know and love this area are so passionate about sharing its beauty and its wonder with the rest of us.”
A landscape shaped by nature and history
The Sperrins region itself is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty located in the west of Northern Ireland. The wider Sperrins stretch from the Donegal border in the west to Lough Neagh in the east and from the Atlantic shores in the north across a landscape defined by mountains, winding rivers, sweeping valleys and scenic lakes.
This natural setting has long been recognised as one of the most striking rural landscapes on the island of Ireland.
The Sperrins Partnership Project is a cross-council initiative focused on preserving, enhancing and managing the natural, built and cultural heritage of the region. Its key partners include Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council.
Further information on the festival programme, ticket details and bookings is available here:
At a glance
A new Sperrins Festival will take place from 20–22 March 2026 across the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The three-day event will celebrate landscape, heritage and community through guided walks, talks, storytelling, music and crafts.
The festival hub will be at Gortin Activity Centre, with free transport to remote sites across the Sperrins.
Guided walks will be led by outdoor activity provider Far and Wild, with events designed for a range of abilities.
The festival is organised by the Sperrins Partnership in collaboration with four local councils and community groups.
Funding support comes from DAERA’s Environment Fund and the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division.
The wider Sperrins region stretches from the Donegal border to Lough Neagh and is recognised as one of Ireland’s most scenic rural landscapes.
