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First things first: the Twelfth is on the 13th this year. Because 12 July falls on a Sunday in 2026, all eighteen main demonstrations across Northern Ireland move to Monday 13 July — so don't be caught out.
For our area, the main event is the County Armagh demonstration in Newtownhamilton — firmly established as the largest Orange gathering in the world on the day, with crowds of up to 20,000 expected. Eleven District Lodges will be on parade, including Portadown, Lurgan, Tandragee, Loughgall, Richhill and Armagh City, joined by around 150 private lodges, almost 5,000 Orangemen and roughly 70 bands — and, weather permitting, plenty of Lambeg drums in the county famous for them.
Newtownhamilton timings: the main parade sets off at 10.30am from the assembly field on the Newry Road, travelling via Newry Street, Shambles Lane, The Commons, Armagh Street and Castleblayney Street to the demonstration field, arriving around 11am. Platform proceedings begin at 2pm, and the return parade steps off at approximately 3pm. If you're travelling from our area, roads into Newtownhamilton will be busy from mid-morning — arriving before 10am is your best bet for parking and a good vantage point.
Here's what to expect town by town across the borough. For exact times of local feeder and return parades, the official listing is the Parades Commission website — worth a quick check for your own town before you travel.
Armagh
Armagh City District will be on parade at Newtownhamilton, so expect coach and band movement through the city early on Monday morning and again from late afternoon as lodges return. Roads south towards Newtownhamilton, including the A29 and connecting routes, will carry heavier traffic than a normal Monday — allow extra time if you're travelling for work or appointments.
Banbridge
On the Banbridge side of the borough, the nearest of the eighteen host venues is Rathfriland, which hosts one of this year's County Down demonstrations — expect busy roads on the Rathfriland direction from mid-morning. Short rolling road closures are likely in and around the town for any local feeder parades in the morning and returns in the evening; check the Parades Commission listing for notified times.
Craigavon
There's no main demonstration in Craigavon itself this year, but with both Lurgan and Portadown districts travelling to Newtownhamilton, expect coach movement and heavier traffic on connecting roads early in the morning and from late afternoon. If you're not attending a parade, the motorway and central Craigavon routes are your friend on Monday.
Lurgan
Lurgan District LOL No. 6 heads to Newtownhamilton, and this year is a special one locally — the Craigavon Protestant Boys Flute Band celebrates its 60th anniversary. Expect a feeder parade and short rolling road closures in the town in the morning before the buses depart, and again on the return in the evening; exact notified times are on the Parades Commission website.
Portadown
Portadown District LOL No. 1 will be on parade at Newtownhamilton, with King William's Defenders LOL 127 marking the 135th anniversary of their warrant and the Star of David Accordion Band celebrating 50 years. As in Lurgan, expect a morning feeder parade and short town-centre road closures before departure, and evening disruption on the return — check the Parades Commission listing for exact times.
Heading to a field on Monday, or watching a parade closer to home? Send us your photos from the day — tag LivingABC on Facebook and we'll share the best of them in our Twelfth 2026 gallery.
Whether you're parading, spectating or just soaking up the bands and banners, LivingABC wishes everyone across the borough a safe and enjoyable Twelfth.
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