Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, so you can take a full Friday-to-Sunday trip around it without using up much leave. We checked this year’s dates against official sites. These are the six best options for 30 October to 1 November.
1. Derry Halloween, Northern Ireland
Derry~Londonderry hosts what is often called Europe’s biggest Halloween party. The official site lists 28 October to 1 November 2026. The carnival parade and fireworks fill the walled city on the night of the 31st. You need a ticket for the Awakening the Walled City Trail, and the street events draw huge crowds, so book a room early.
Best for: a whole city in fancy dress.
2. Samhuinn Fire Festival, Edinburgh
The Beltane Fire Society marks the Celtic new year on Calton Hill on 31 October. Gates open at 6.30pm and the bonfire is lit at about 7.45pm. Drummers and costumed performers carry the story through to about 10.30pm. Entry is ticketed through the society’s official box office only, so ignore resale offers.
Best for: fire, drums and folklore rather than plastic pumpkins.
3. Bran Castle, Transylvania
The castle linked with Dracula runs "The Legend of Dracul" from 24 October to 1 November. Expanded tours run by day, and 31 October brings evening parties. Most Halloween-night packages already appear to be fully booked. The family ticket on Sunday 1 November and the daytime tours are the realistic options now.
Best for: the Dracula story at the source.
4. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
Tivoli’s Halloween season runs from 2 October to 1 November, with pumpkins, lanterns and evening illuminations across the gardens. On Sunday 1 November the park invites visitors to come in costume. It sits next to Copenhagen Central Station, so it works for a short trip with no car.
Best for: families and a gentle, pretty kind of spooky.
5. Liseberg, Gothenburg
Halloween at Liseberg runs from 2 October to 1 November 2026, with haunted houses and scare zones. Opening days vary across the season, so check the park calendar before you book.
Best for: fans of serious haunted houses.
6. Europa-Park, Germany
Germany’s biggest theme park keeps its Halloween season running until 1 November. Its separate after-dark scare event, Traumatica, carries on until 7 November. Rust is a short hop from Strasbourg, so you can pair it with a French city break.
Best for: thrill rides with a Halloween twist.
A week earlier: Dublin
Dublin’s Bram Stoker Festival runs over the bank holiday weekend before Halloween, from Friday 23 to Monday 26 October. The Stokerland family zone in St Patrick’s Park and the Macnas parade on Monday evening are both free. Our Dublin guide covers the rest of the city.
What to do now
- Book accommodation first. Derry and Edinburgh fill up fastest over Halloween weekend.
- Buy event tickets only from the official sites linked from each organiser.
- For more parks, see our best amusement parks in Europe. If castles are your thing, try best castles in Europe.
