- Belfast footfall reached 176,464 on first day of Fleadh, 95pc increase on 2025
- Sunday crowds peaked at 25,000 near City Hall at 3pm
- Monday footfall of 165,077 represented 75pc year-on-year increase
- Over 700,000 visitors expected across eight-day festival
- Roads around City Hall closed from 5am Wednesday due to high footfall
Tourism NI, together with Belfast City Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) and Ards CCÉ, has welcomed Thursday’s release of figures which show the total recorded footfall in Belfast city centre reached 176,464 on Sunday – the first day of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026. The figure, released by Belfast One BID, represents a 95pc increase for the location for the same day last year. The footfall on Sunday outperformed previous big events in the city centre, including this year’s St Patrick’s Day and Belfast Pride celebrations, as well as last year’s Culture Night.
Crowds peaked at around 3pm on Sunday, with footfall figures of just under 25,000 for the area around City Hall. On Monday, footfall was recorded at 165,077 – a 75pc increase on the same day last year. The data has been taken from Belfast One BID cameras which track footfall in the square mile around City Hall. Over 700,000 visitors are expected to descend on Belfast City Centre during the eight-day celebration of music, dance, song, culture and competition.
Given the high footfall, event organisers this evening took the decision to close the roads directly in front of and to the sides of City Hall to all traffic from 5am tomorrow (Wednesday, 5th August) to support people to move around safely. These roads will remain closed to all traffic until Sunday evening. Anyone planning on travelling to the Fleadh is urged to check the Translink website and the Journey Planner app. Looking ahead to day 4, there is plenty to be enjoyed including the Food and Drink Village in the grounds of Belfast Cathedral and the Craic and Craft Market at ICC Belfast. In addition, 100 businesses have set up shop along High Street, Bridge Street and Royal Avenue offering hot food, crafts and souvenirs, while new pop-up hospitality venues and independent cafés, restaurants, bars and food producers are all offering Fleadh taster menus, special promotions, performance spaces for musicians and late-night snacks and drinks.
TourismNI Shared in a written statement: “The total recorded footfall in Belfast city centre reached 176,464 on Sunday – the first day of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026.”
