Foyle Maritime Festival sets the standard for sustainability
10 June 2026
The Foyle Maritime Festival is not only set to deliver a major cultural and economic boost to Derry this summer, but is also leading the way in sustainable event delivery, with a strong focus on reducing environmental impact and promoting greener choices for visitors, traders and partners.
Running from 25–28 June 2026, the Foyle Maritime Festival has placed sustainability at its core, with a wide range of initiatives designed to minimise waste, encourage behavioural change and showcase best practice across all areas of delivery.
One of the most significant measures is the festival’s ban on single-use plastics, reinforcing its commitment to reducing unnecessary waste across the site. Visitors will instead be encouraged to use reusable alternatives, supported by the provision of free water refill stations throughout the festival footprint, helping to cut down on plastic bottle use while promoting sustainable habits.
In a further move to reduce environmental impact, organisers have taken a largely paper-free approach, with no printed programmes produced. Instead, festival information is available digitally, reducing paper consumption and waste while ensuring easy access to up-to-date event details.
Sustainability is also reflected in the physical design of the festival, with dedicated rest points and outdoor learning spaces created using reusable and environmentally conscious materials. These areas offer visitors the opportunity to relax, learn and engage with themes around environmental awareness, local biodiversity and sustainable living.
The event also promotes active travel, encouraging attendees to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible, helping to ease congestion and lower carbon emissions across the city during the four day celebration.
A strong emphasis has also been placed on reuse and circular practices, with festival infrastructure, materials and equipment carefully selected to be reused across future events. Traders and vendors have also been encouraged to adopt more sustainable packaging and sourcing practices, ensuring a consistent approach across the entire festival.
Importantly, sustainability is a shared commitment among all those involved in delivering the event. From organisers and contractors to food vendors and partners, there has been a collective effort to embed environmentally responsible practices into every aspect of the festival.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais said sustainability is a key priority for Council and a central pillar of the festival. She said: “Sustainability is a fundamental commitment for Council and it is embedded across all of our major events, including the Foyle Maritime Festival. We are proud to lead by example, taking meaningful steps to reduce waste, promote greener choices and create a festival environment that is both enjoyable and environmentally responsible. This approach reflects our wider ambitions to build a more sustainable future for our City and District.”
Jacqueline Whoriskey, Interim Head of Culture with Council said that extensive collaboration between various Council teams and external partners was required to deliver a greener event. She said: “Delivering a sustainable festival is a shared effort, and we have worked closely with all of our teams, partners and traders to ensure sustainability is considered at every stage. From eliminating single-use plastics to encouraging reuse and promoting active travel, every decision has been made with environmental impact in mind. Our goal is to ensure the Foyle Maritime Festival continues to be one of the most sustainable large-scale events in the region.”
Alongside its environmental initiatives, the festival’s programme also reflects a growing focus on education and awareness, with interactive exhibits, family-friendly activities and themed spaces encouraging visitors to learn more about the natural environment and the importance of protecting it. Among them will be a series of special environmental themed rest points located along the quay. Waste and Recycling Officer with Council, Julie Hannaway, explained more: “By using recycled and reused materials to create our rest point stations, we are demonstrating that sustainability and creativity can go hand in hand. These spaces not only provide comfort for festival visitors but also highlight our commitment to reducing waste and promoting environmental responsibility throughout the Maritime Festival
“Our themed rest point stations offer visitors a chance to relax while learning about some of the most important environmental issues facing our communities today. Through engaging and interactive displays focused on Waste and Recycling, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Food Sustainability, we hope to inspire people of all ages to discover how small actions can make a positive difference. By making these spaces both educational and fun, we're creating meaningful experiences that will stay with visitors long after the Maritime Festival ends."
As the riverfront prepares to welcome thousands of visitors, the Foyle Maritime Festival is demonstrating that large-scale events can be both vibrant and environmentally responsible, setting a benchmark for sustainability while delivering an unforgettable experience.
The Foyle Maritime Festival is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council in close partnership with the Foyle Port and Loughs Agency with funding from Tourism NI and Diageo.
The full programme will be available online, with further announcements and daily highlights to follow in the lead-up to the festival at www.foylemaritime.com