Thousands to parade through Larne as Royal Black Institution stages five Last Saturday demonstrations

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Around 5,000 members of the Royal Black Institution will march through Larne on August 29 in one of five major demonstrations marking the end of the 2026 parading season.

The Co Antrim gathering will see 76 preceptories and 71 bands take part, with organisers expecting up to 10,000 spectators. Six districts will be represented, including Ballymena No 2, alongside Lisburn, Antrim, Larne, Ballymoney and Ballyclare.

The main parade will begin at 12 noon and make its way to the demonstration field at Sandy Bay playing fields. The return parade is scheduled for 4.15pm.

Platform speakers will include Rev David McCarthy, County Antrim Grand Chaplain, and Rev Dr Ronald Johnstone, District Chaplain of Newtownards RBDC No 11.

Five venues across Northern Ireland

In total, more than 17,000 members from around 350 preceptories and 300 bands will take part in the Last Saturday processions. Parades will also be held in Coleraine, Dundonald, Dungannon and Newry.

Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson will attend the Dundonald gathering. He said the annual processions are “flagship events on the parading calendar” and that thousands of supporters are expected to see “a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history.”

He added that the institution’s “principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront,” with religious services held at each location.

Coleraine

The Co Londonderry demonstration returns to Coleraine for the first time since 2006. Around 2,500 participants from 33 preceptories and 31 bands will take part, representing four districts.

The demonstration field is at Coleraine Showgrounds.

The main parade starts at 12 noon, with the return at 3.45pm. Speakers will include Mervyn Kernaghan, Assistant Sovereign Grand Master, and John Goligher, County Grand Master.

Dundonald

Around 2,000 participants from the City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter will parade in Dundonald. Seven districts, including Sandy Row, Shankill Road, Ballymacarrett and Ballynafeigh, will be involved, accompanied by 25 bands.

An Act of Remembrance will take place at Dundonald War Memorial. The morning parade will run from Moat Park to East Link Road via Comber Road, Drumadoon Drive and Upper Newtownards Road.

Dungannon

The Co Tyrone demonstration is expected to draw around 20,000 spectators. Eighty preceptories and the same number of bands will form a 3,500-strong procession involving members from Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh and Armagh.

The parade will head to the demonstration field at Lord Northland Park. Principal speaker will be David Livingstone, County Grand Master for Armagh. Harold Erskine, County Grand Master for Tyrone, will chair proceedings, with the service of worship led by Canon Alan Irwin.

Newry

Newry will host the largest demonstration, with up to 5,000 participants and around 100 bands. Organisers say the event offers “a significant platform for the public expression of the Protestant and Unionist cultural tradition” and note it is the first Last Saturday demonstration in the city since 2011.

Around 5,000 spectators are expected. The parade will take approximately two hours to pass any given point as it moves from Newry High School to the demonstration field at Shandon Park. The main parade begins at 12 noon, with the return at 4pm.

Speakers will include Paul McCarroll, County Grand Master, Rev Nigel Reid and Raymond Adams, County Grand Chaplain.

All five demonstrations take place on Saturday 29 August. Religious services will form a central part of each gathering.

Local residents in the parade towns, including those in Mid and East Antrim who plan to attend the Larne event, are advised to check traffic and road closures closer to the day.