While it may be commonly known, it has now been “officially” announced that Newtownhamilton will play host to the 2026 Twelfth Demonstration in County Armagh.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland released details on Friday (February 27) details of the 18 venues which will act as hosts.
Firmly established as the ‘largest Orange gathering in the world’, the Co Armagh demonstration is one of 18 locations across Northern Ireland where bands and Orangemen will gather to mark the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.
Eleven District Lodges will be on parade (Portadown, Richhill, Loughgall, Tandragee, Armagh City, Lurgan, Killylea, Keady, Newtownhamilton, Markethill and Bessbrook), with a total of 150 Private Lodges and almost 5,000 Orangemen.
The Grand Master, Most Wor. Bro. Harold Henning said: “Our Twelfth of July celebrations are an annual highlight for our members and the wider Orange family.
“The tradition of Twelfth processions stretches back 230 years and are very much a focal point for local communities to come together and commemorate the important historical events which shaped our society.
“The colour, pageantry and music provide a unique spectacle, and we are increasingly witnessing a growing number of international visitors attending our events, as well as the great many who regularly travel from other parts of the United Kingdom.
“I trust that wherever you plan to take part or spectate, everyone has an enjoyable day.”
The host venues for 2026 are:
𝐂𝐨. 𝐓𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞
Cookstown
Castlederg
Aughnacloy
𝐂𝐨. 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧
Rathfriland
Killyleagh
Royal Hillsborough
Ballymartin
Ballywalter
𝐂𝐨. 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐦
Larne
Ballymoney
Portglenone
Ballymena
Glenarm
𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭
𝐂𝐨. 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐡
Newtownhamilton
𝐂𝐨. 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲
Limavady
Kilrea
𝐂𝐨. 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐡
Maguiresbridge
𝐂𝐨. 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥
Rossnowlagh (11th July)
More details will be available in due course.
