This June, the grounds of Hillsborough Castle will transform into one of Northern Ireland’s most unique live entertainment destinations as the Hillsborough Summer Concert Series welcomes audiences for three very different evenings of music, culture and celebration.
The concerts will take place within the spectacular surroundings of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens set against the backdrop of the castle in a series of concerts that is hoped to be developed in the coming years, a partnership that perfectly reflects how heritage, tourism and live entertainment can work together to create new visitor experiences while supporting the wider local economy.
Taking place from 26th–28th June 2026, the concert weekend features three distinct productions: Ceili at the Castle starring The Celtic Tenors, the glamorous Bridgerton-inspired Hillsboroughton, and Thank You for the Musicals 2 led by Peter Corry and friends.
For Peter, the collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to create something truly destination-led.
“We wanted to create a weekend that felt unique to Hillsborough,” he explained. “The Castle and Gardens are absolutely stunning and instantly give the concerts a sense of occasion. At the same time, we’ve been very conscious that this is about creating experiences that complement the venue and bring people into the local area as well.”
Peter Corry Productions are Northern Ireland’s premier entertainment company, and have spent years delivering large-scale entertainment events, concerts and corporate productions across Northern Ireland and beyond. However, the Hillsborough series marks a particularly ambitious example of experiential event programming, blending heritage tourism, hospitality, live performance and community engagement into one carefully curated weekend.
That approach aligns closely with the wider strategic direction of Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity responsible for caring for Hillsborough Castle.
Since taking up her role as Head of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Caroline Walker has focused strongly on broadening the appeal of the site beyond its traditional role as a historic royal residence.
“Hillsborough Castle is well known as a royal residence and the residence of the Secretary of State,” she explained. “It has provided the backdrop to countless state occasions and major moments in Northern Ireland’s history. But what is perhaps less well known is that it is also an incredible visitor destination with some of the most spectacular gardens in the country.”
Caroline says the organisation is increasingly focused on ensuring the site feels accessible, welcoming and relevant to a broad audience.
“Our aim is for everyone to feel welcome, from families and garden enthusiasts to tourists and visitors from across the island of Ireland and beyond,” she said. “We are always exploring new ways to attract as many people as possible to this remarkable place.”
That ambition made the partnership with Peter Corry Productions a natural fit.
“As a charity, we are committed to opening up the sites in our care and making them accessible to the widest possible audience,” Caroline explained. “Our partnership with Peter Corry represents a fantastic opportunity to do exactly that. We are particularly excited to welcome music lovers who may not otherwise have visited Hillsborough Castle.”
For Peter, the attraction of the venue was immediate.
“There’s something magical about Hillsborough Castle,” he said. “As performers and producers, we’re lucky to work in many beautiful venues, but there’s a different atmosphere when you combine live music with outdoor heritage spaces. People experience it differently. It feels immersive and memorable.”
Supported by Lisburn City Council, the concerts also represent an important economic opportunity for the village and surrounding area.
Historic Royal Palaces has been working closely with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council to continue developing Royal Hillsborough as a tourism destination, while Peter Corry Productions has actively partnered with local hospitality businesses to create visitor packages around the concert weekend.
Local businesses including The Plough Inn, The Hillside and Arthur’s of Hillsborough are all collaborating on special dining and accommodation packages for concertgoers.
“We’re very conscious of the wider impact events like this can have,” Peter said. “People will come into the village, stay overnight, dine locally and experience everything Hillsborough has to offer. The support from local businesses has been fantastic because there’s a real understanding that events like this benefit everybody.”
Caroline agrees the broader tourism opportunity is significant.
“Hillsborough Castle sits at the heart of Royal Hillsborough, a village filled with fantastic attractions, experiences and exceptional places to eat and drink,” she said. “Events like these play a vital role in raising the profile of the area, and we hope visitors attending the concerts will also spend time exploring the village and supporting local businesses.”
The Summer Concerts also reflect a wider trend within the heritage and tourism sectors towards experiential programming, creating reasons for visitors to engage with heritage spaces in new and unexpected ways.
For Historic Royal Palaces, that includes everything from exhibitions and family trails to cultural partnerships and live events.
“Arts, culture and live events bring people together, and that is something Hillsborough Castle has always done,” Caroline said. “Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to open up new spaces and create further opportunities so we can continue hosting events like these in the future.”
Meanwhile, Peter Corry believes Northern Ireland is increasingly capable of delivering world-class destination events that rival experiences elsewhere.
“There’s incredible talent here, incredible venues and an audience that genuinely supports live entertainment,” he said. “What’s exciting is when organisations and businesses collaborate to create something bigger than any one individual or organisation could achieve alone and that collaboration goes beyond PCP and HRP, we’re also delighted to have both Oasis Travel and Silverseas Cruises on board as sponsors.”
That collaborative spirit is perhaps best reflected in the diversity of the concert programme itself.
From the celebratory atmosphere of Ceili at the Castle to the romance and glamour of Hillsboroughton and the magic of Thank You for the Musicals 2 which is a tribute to Broadway and Hollywood, the series has been designed to attract audiences across generations and musical tastes.
For both Historic Royal Palaces and Peter Corry Productions, the partnership ultimately represents something larger than a single concert weekend.
It is a demonstration of how culture, heritage, tourism and commercial creativity can successfully intersect, helping to reposition historic spaces not simply as places to visit, but as places to experience.
To book tickets to any of the concerts please visit www.petercorryproductions.com