Georgian Festival to welcome thousands with Translink partnership
The beloved Armagh Georgian Festival is set to return this November, and with an extended Translink partnership, this year’s event will offer expanded travel options for more visitors across the island to join the beginning of the regions festive season.
Taking place from Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 November, the annual event celebrates the Georgian heritage that shaped the city, and with Translink’s enhanced transport services enabling greater accessibility, the region is preparing to welcome thousands to the 2026 festivities.
The enhanced transport provisions include a free shuttle bus service running throughout Georgian Day on Saturday 28 from Portadown Train Station directly into Armagh. This comes in addition to Translink’s convenient connections from both Dublin and Belfast into Portadown.
With the festival also set to restrict much of the inner city’s parking capacity, free Park & Ride services will also be in operation to and from Armagh, with pick-up points in Portadown, Richhill, Market hill, Navan Centre & Fort, Killylea, Armagh Baptist Church, Armagh Elim Church and Armagh Palace Demesne.
Alongside immersive living history experiences, the four-day festival will feature live music, performances, family activities and festive entertainment across some of the city’s most iconic Georgian settings. The event will also kick-start the 2026 Christmas season with the return of the ever-popular Festive Artisan Market bringing together more than 100 market stalls to The Mall and City Centre, and the acclaimed Georgian light show set again to close this year’s festival at Market House.
Dean Whalley, Assistant Service Delivery Manager at Translink said: “We are thrilled to partner once again with the Armagh Georgian Festival to deliver enhanced transport links, providing greater accessibility to this year’s events. We are proud to offer more sustainable travel options that simplify the journey for hundreds of families, couples and individuals planning to attend the event, allowing them to park their car at a more convenient location and enjoy a stress-free travel experience to the event.”
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon council, Mary O’Dowd said: “The Georgian Festival is a unique celebration of the history that shaped our city as we know it today. It provides a truly immersive family-friendly event, showcasing the very best of the region’s local performers, producers and food through an exciting 18th century lens. As its success continues to grow each year, it has become a cornerstone of the local events calendar and forms a major boost to the local economy.
“Renewing our partnership with Translink enhances the opportunity to showcase the festival and its talents to a growing island-wide audience. The return of the shuttle bus service means guests can have a stress-free experience and fully immerse themselves in the celebration, and we are grateful to Translink for enabling that opportunity for our visitors.”
For those travelling from outside the local area on Saturday November 28, Translink offers a Family and Friends ticket, allowing unlimited day travel on all bus and rail services for up to two adults and four children.
For more information visit: www.translink.co.uk/events