Which Causeway Coast market favourites will win on 17 September?

Twenty years after its first market day, the Causeway Speciality Market is preparing to put the traders, makers and producers behind its stalls at the centre of its anniversary celebrations.

The Causeway Speciality Market 20th Anniversary Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday 17 September in Causeway Coast and Glens. The event is listed as free and aimed at the general public, although the published information does not specify a venue or start time.

The practical details confirmed so far

• Date: Thursday 17 September 2026
• Location: Causeway Coast and Glens; a specific venue has not been published
• Cost: Free
• Audience: The general public, including market visitors and supporters of local traders
• Public participation: Online voting is open now
• Organiser: Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

The council has not announced a closing date for the online ballot. It has also not provided booking instructions, transport information or accessibility details for the ceremony, so anyone hoping to attend in person will need to watch for further logistical information.

Three awards put regular market favourites in focus

The public can choose favourites across three categories: Favourite Market Stall, Best Artisan Food Product and Best Artisan Craft Product. The winning traders will be revealed during the anniversary celebrations on 17 September.

The categories reflect the mixture found at the regular outdoor market, from local produce and prepared treats to handmade pieces and individual craft finds. Rather than relying on a panel alone, the anniversary awards allow shoppers who know the stalls and products to recognise the traders they return to.

Voting is open online through the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s public ballot. The notice does not limit participation to borough residents, describing the ballot as open to the public.

Two decades of Saturday market days

Established in 2006, the Causeway Speciality Market has grown into Northern Ireland’s largest regular outdoor market. It operates on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, bringing together established traders alongside newer makers and producers introducing their work to customers.

That history gives the awards a wider purpose than selecting three winners. Some traders have been part of the market’s development for many years, while others have used it as a place to present new food and craft products. Together, their stalls have shaped the variety and sense of discovery associated with the market’s twice-monthly trading days.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Dawn Huggins said the market has been brought to life by the people behind its stalls. She encouraged the public to support both long-standing favourites and newer discoveries, describing the anniversary as an opportunity to place traders at the centre of the celebrations.

How to make your selections

Regular visitors can consider the stall they consistently stop at, the artisan food they return to buy or the handmade product that stands out during a market visit. Each category separates the overall stall experience from individual food and craft products, giving voters three distinct ways to recognise traders.

Anyone still deciding can review the council’s trader information before submitting selections through the online public ballot. The next confirmed milestone is Thursday 17 September, when the three winning traders or products will be announced as part of the market’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

Source: Causeway Coast and Glens Council News