New York – October 21, 2026 -- Ireland is inviting travelers to spend Halloween in the place it started, with festivals running from late October into November across the island.

The season traces back more than 2,000 years to Samhain, the Celtic festival that marked the shift from summer to winter and shaped the Halloween traditions celebrated worldwide today.

Two main festivals anchor the season

Púca Festival in Meath and Derry Halloween in Northern Ireland form the core of Ireland's Halloween celebrations.