Sails of Solas: A Nighttime Maritime Spectacle You Can't Afford to Miss
12 June 2026
Derry’s quay is set to light up in style at this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival as the Sails of Solas cascade over the river Foyle.
The after-hours experience is a new element to the bi-annual festival programme, where visitors will be treated to a stunning display of lights from 10pm each night until 3am. Glowing masts, accompanied by illuminated figures and floating flowers, will reflect across the water and transform Derry’s quay into a tranquil, illuminated riverscape.
Facilitated by Visual Spectrum and Wonderlights, the sleeping Tall Ships will be transformed into a stunning night-time artwork of light, reflections and ghostly maritime legends over the course of three nights.
Celebrating their grandeur and majesty, the display will invite visitors to step back in time when the Derry Docks were home to a fleet of working ships, joined by some special installations from Wonderlights including a family of sea lions and the ghost of Dopey Dick.
Events Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aisling McCallion, said they were delighted to deliver this new feature to the festival programme.
“We are really pleased to add this wonderful new concept to the festival’s programme and give visitors the opportunity to see the River Foyle lit up so beautifully in an incredibly unique experience. This will be something really special to witness and I would encourage anyone who is around at that time, to take a walk along the Quay and enjoy the tranquil and serene atmosphere as the lights fall along the riverfront.”
Running from Council Offices along the Quay up to Sainsburys, the spectacle will take place on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June from 10pm-3am along the North and South Pontoon as well as on The Dock.
The Foyle Maritime Festival takes places from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th June 2026 and 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 at www.foylemaritime.com and on our social media platforms.