Red Sails Festival is Portstewart’s long-running community festival - a week of free, family- friendly events run by the Portstewart Community Association, centred on the town and Portstewart Strand.
2026 Dates
Launches Sunday 19 July 2026, running for a week.
What’s On
- Opening: Blessing of the Boats, at the Bandstand.
- Live bands, dance performances, comedy, and street theatre through the week.
- A children’s fancy dress parade, sandcastle competition, and talent competition.
- Children’s activities including Lego digital animation and street dance workshops, plus a kite display and butterfly safari on Portstewart Strand.
- Partnership events with Flowerfield Arts Centre, including art workshops and the “People of Portstewart” exhibition.
- Grand finale: a Children’s Parade (Superheroes and fire engines among the regulars), performances from the Causeway Shantymen and Innova Dance Group, and a fireworks display over the bay at 10:30pm, run by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
Confirm the current year’s full programme and exact daily schedule closer to the date - the event runs on a broadly similar format each year but specific activities and timings vary.
