Stendhal Festival

Stendhal Festival 2026

Stendhal Festival returns for its 16th edition from 2-4 July 2026 in Roe Valley, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Set on a scenic countryside farm, this intimate summer music and arts festival offers a family-friendly celebration of live music, creative workshops, and nature.

Music

Enjoy a diverse mix of live performances across multiple stages scattered through fields, riverside clearings, and woodlands. Highlights include indie bands, acoustic sets, DJs, and drum circles creating a vibrant soundtrack day and night.

Creative Arts & Workshops

Stendhal features interactive art installations, live painting, spoken-word, theatre, and circus skills workshops. The Kids’ Adventure Centre offers crafts, puppet shows, and nature trails, ensuring activities for all ages.

Atmosphere & Setting

The festival takes place beside the River Roe with forest trails and hilltop views. As dusk falls, colourful lights and bonfires create a magical ambiance. The friendly community vibe makes Stendhal Northern Ireland’s welcoming family festival.

Food & Drink

Local food trucks and juice bars serve hearty stews, ice cream, and warm drinks. Cosy campsite bars add to the relaxed, eco-conscious environment.

Roe Valley is easily reachable by road, rail and air. The nearest airport is City of Derry Airport (also known as City of Londonderry Airport), just west of Derry city and about a 20-minute drive from Roe Valley. Belfast International Airport is the closest major airport (approximately 75 miles away by road) offering flights from the UK, Ireland and Europe. Belfast City Airport (in Belfast itself) is closer to the city centre but has far fewer flights. If you are coming from elsewhere on the island of Ireland, you can also fly into Dublin Airport and continue your journey north by road or rail through Belfast and along the north coast.

By car, follow main highways into the region. From Belfast or the Republic of Ireland, a common route is the A6 through Antrim and Coleraine towards Limavady, or the scenic A2 Causeway Coastal Route if coming from Coleraine along the coast. From Derry/Londonderry, take the A37 or use the A2 south toward Limavady. In the final miles you will drive on smaller country roads, so plan extra travel time during busy weekends. Parking is usually available on site or in nearby fields (often included with festival tickets).

Public transport is an option, although services may be limited late at night. The nearest main train stations are Londonderry (about 15 miles away) and Coleraine (about 20 miles away). From either station, Ulsterbus or Translink buses and taxis can take you to Limavady. (Translink routes 144 and 146 run between Derry/Londonderry and Limavady, stopping in the town centre.) From Limavady Bus Centre, local bus or taxi services can reach the festival site. If cycling appeals, a scenic cycle route follows Roe Valley Country Park from Limavady toward the festival.

For accommodation, many attendees enjoy camping on-site (Stendhal usually offers a camping field and campervan parking, weather permitting). If you prefer a bed indoors, nearby Limavady (approximately 3 miles away) has several hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. Surrounding towns offer even more choices: for example, Ballymoney, Portrush, Coleraine and Portstewart (all within about a 30-minute drive) have comfortable lodgings, and the Roe Valley Resort & Spa is a country hotel with spa facilities in Limavady. Because summer weekends tend to fill local accommodations, it’s wise to book early.