News

2026 Easter Dawn Services

Easter, Church Life, Presbytery News
10 Mar, 2026

At the very heart of the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at Easter. This year, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April, when the joyous acclamation, ‘Christ is risen, he is risen indeed!’ will resound across the denomination and many will celebrate at dawn.

In a tradition that goes back generations, many people choose to celebrate early, with Dawn Services taking place at the moment the sun crests the horizon in forest parks, mountain valleys, on river banks and by the seashore. Some also take place on church lawns and in carparks in towns and cities. This year there are currently over 30 different services to choose from in 17 of the Church’s presbyteries.

As information on dawn services is received from presbyteries, this page will be updated.

The following towns, villages and other locations, are the venues for this year’s Easter Dawn Services:

County Armagh: Richhill
County Antrim: Porglenone, Slemish, Hazelbank Park Newtownabbey, Ballygally, Carrickfergus, Larne, Ballywillan, Ballycastle
Belfast: Cregagh Glen, Belvior Forest Park, Clement Wilson Park
County Cavan: Cootehill
County Down: Millisle, Donaghadee, Ballynahinch, Comber, Raffery, Hillsborough, Moira, Belshaws Quarry, Spelga Dam, Kilbroney Forest Park, Dunamuggy/Donegore
County Londonderry/Derry: Myroe, Portstewart, Magheramason, Ballywillan
County Monaghan: Ballybay
County Tyrone: Dungannon Park
County Wicklow: Arklow, Greystones

Full details can be found in the presbytery lists below:

Last updated on 27 March 2026