- Belfast hosted Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 from 2-9 August with 1.6m visits
- The festival will return to Belfast for a second year in August 2027
- Musicians compete in over 180 categories at the All-Ireland event
- Dublin City Fleadh takes place this weekend (22-23 August)
Belfast hosted the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 from 2 August to 9 August, attracting over 1.6m visits to the city centre to hear live bands and street sessions. The All-Ireland Fleadh is the world’s largest Irish music festival and celebrates traditional music, dance, language, and culture. Musicians compete in over 180 categories including solo fiddle, tin whistle, and céilí bands, while streets and pubs fill with free, improvised jam sessions.
The festival has officially announced that the massive event will return to Belfast for a second year in August 2027. The 2026 event has been hailed as a major success for the city’s cultural calendar and tourism offering. Musicians must first compete and win at local levels to qualify for the big All-Ireland competition.
Separate and un connected to Comhaltas or the national comeptitoins structure, The Dublin City Fleadh will take place this weekend (22–23 August 2026) across city spots like Smithfield Square and Capel Street, featuring street perfomrances with established musicians such as Altan and Dervish, storytelling, and famous folk acts.
