Derry Chamber warmly welcomes the return of the Foyle Maritime Festival, and the significant opportunities the four-day event brings for local businesses and the wider regional economy.

Now underway and running until Sunday 28 June, the festival is expected to attract substantial visitor numbers to the city, supporting increased footfall across hospitality, retail, and tourism sectors while further strengthening the North West’s reputation as one of Ireland’s leading destinations for major events.

The festival programme, built around this year’s theme of “Forged by the Foyle – It’s in Our DNA”, reflects the city’s unique maritime heritage while showcasing the breadth of experiences available across the North West.

Among the headline attractions is the arrival of the Galeón Andalucía, making its first visit to Northern Ireland, alongside a fleet of visiting vessels that will transform the riverfront throughout the weekend. The programme also features live music, street arts and cultural performances, family activities, educational experiences, water-based activities and a range of food and hospitality offerings that highlight the quality and diversity of the region’s visitor economy.

The LegenDerry Food Village and Merchant Market provide an important platform for local producers, independent businesses and hospitality operators, with a number of Chamber members participating as vendors throughout the festival.

Anna Doherty, Derry Chamber Chief Executive, said:

“The Foyle Maritime Festival has become one of the defining events in our city’s calendar, bringing together our maritime heritage, culture, creativity and hospitality.

“We are particularly looking forward to welcoming Chamber members and regional stakeholders on board the Galeón Andalucía this evening for a special networking event, offering a unique setting to connect while celebrating one of the festival’s headline attractions.

“Events of this scale bring significant visitor spending into the local economy, support employment across a range of sectors and reinforce our growing reputation as a destination capable of delivering leading cultural and tourism experiences.”

The festival programme includes a number of high-profile attractions, including the Carnival of Colours, run by Chamber member In Your Space Circus, and street arts festival which will run throughout the weekend at McFarland Quay. The programme features performances from a range of local and visiting artists, including circus acts, street theatre, physical comedy and family-friendly entertainment.

The festival will also feature extensive on-water activities, maritime heritage experiences, live entertainment and the evening Sails of Solas light installations. The event will conclude on Sunday evening with a riverside fireworks display and festival finale.

Derry Chamber encourages businesses and visitors alike to make full use of the festival programme over the weekend and to support local traders, hospitality venues and independent businesses across the city centre.

The full programme and festival brochure are available online at the Foyle Maritime Festival website: https://foylemaritime.com/