Step into the future with the City Deal Fest at the Foyle Maritime Festival
23 June 2026
Visitors attending the highly anticipated Foyle Maritime Festival at the end of this month will have a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of the region’s future. Derry City and Strabane District Council, alongside its project partners, will have a dedicated City Deal Fest tent at this year's festival, showcasing the historic, transformative investments coming to the region.
The interactive space will highlight an unprecedented funding package of over £300 million secured for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area through the City Deal and Inclusive Future Funding. Driven by a partnership involving the UK Government, NI Executive, the Council, various government departments, the Ulster University, WHSCT and NWRC, this massive investment aims to create 6,300 additional jobs and inject £240 million in additional GVA into the local economy by 2033.
Located right in the heart of the festival, the City Deal Fest tent will give members of the public an open platform to learn about major local developments through detailed information boards, interactive stands, and family-friendly activities. Attendees will also have the chance to sign up for regular updates and register their interest in getting directly involved in upcoming community engagement initiatives.
Each day of the festival will focus on a distinct investment theme. On Thursday, 25th June, there will be a focus on Digital and Innovation, highlighting world-class technology advancements coming to the North West, including Ulster University’s Cognitive Analytics and Digital Robotics Innovation Centre (CADRIC), the new School of Medicine, and the NWRC Strabane Campus.
On Friday, 26th June, the focus will be on the Health and Strabane Leisure projects by showcasing massive healthcare and lifestyle investments, featuring the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) Research & Development Facility, and the new Strabane Health Hub. The day will also feature health checks, wellbeing stalls, and yoga sessions – book Yoga by the Quay at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992361419639?aff=oddtdtcreator
On Saturday, 27th June, the theme will be on Derry Regeneration with visitors able to explore the reimagining of local historic spaces, including the DNA Museum at Ebrington, and using our model to design key features for the Walled City Public Realm and Lighting project. Visitors can look forward to the interactive Central Riverfront Project treasure hunt along the quay.
Then on Sunday, 28th June, all eyes will be on the Strabane / Derry Regeneration projects with a celebration of cross-regional transformations. Alongside a continuation of the Central Riverfront treasure hunt, the public can take part in a hands-on “Lego Building the Bridge” activity focused on the new Strabane Pedestrian Bridge project, with sessions running throughout the day with bookings available via Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992368413558?aff=oddtdtcreator
Inviting the public to visit the tent, Oonagh McGillion, Strategic Programmes Director with Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “The Foyle Maritime Festival brings our community together in a celebration of our vibrant riverfront, making it the perfect backdrop to look forward to what the future holds. The City Deal Fest tent is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage directly with the public, share the incredible progress being made across our regeneration, health, and innovation sectors, and hear their thoughts. This is a transformative investment for everyone in the region, and we want to ensure our community is informed, inspired, and deeply involved every step of the way.
“Whether you are curious about how artificial intelligence will shape local jobs, want to see plans for a world-class riverfront, or encourage children to try their hand at engineering with Lego, the City Deal Fest tent has something for everyone,” she added.
The City Deal Fest tent will be open daily throughout the Foyle Maritime Festival from 12noon – 7pm. Admission is free, and all are welcome to drop in. For more information or to sign up for digital updates, visit the tent during festival hours.
For information on the full Foyle Maritime Festival programme visit – https://foylemaritime.com/