Almost £21 million will flow into the North West economy from six major events in the 2026/27 year, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced. The events are backed by £325,000 from Tourism Northern Ireland's International Tourism Events Fund (ITEF).

Projections suggest the six fixtures will attract 570,000 visitors, 29 per cent of them from outside Northern Ireland. They are expected to generate close to 120,000 commercial bed nights across hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation.

The funding allocations are: Derry Halloween, marking its 40th anniversary, receives £100,000; the North West 200 motorcycle race gets £65,000; Other Voices receives £50,000; the Foyle Maritime Festival £45,000; SuperCupNI £30,000; and the music and arts Stendhal Festival £35,000.

Dr Archibald said tourism is flourishing in the North West, with overnight stays rising sharply. Annual tourism statistics for 2025 show a 35 per cent increase in overnight trips in Derry and Strabane, and a 7 per cent rise in Causeway Coast and Glens. Northern Ireland-wide tourism expenditure reached £1.2 billion, up 9 per cent on 2024.

The ITEF specifically supports events that draw high visitor numbers and generate international media coverage, promoting Northern Ireland as a travel destination. Tourism NI's Head of Events, Siobhan McGuigan, stated the programme offers diverse experiences set against the region's landscapes and heritage, and highlighted the return of Other Voices and the 40th anniversary of Derry Halloween.