Belfast TradFest, running from 27 July to 3 August, will bring a comprehensive programme of traditional music, song, and dance to Belfast, UNESCO City of Music. Visitors can expect over 450 events across 30 venues, featuring more than 500 musicians and dancers.
The festival opens with a major concert at Ulster Hall, showcasing Dervish, NOTIFY, the Irish Concertina Orchestra, Cormac McCarthy, and the MGCE Concert Orchestra, with over 80 performers on stage. Other highlights include performances by Goitse, John Doyle, and Mick McAuley at the Empire Music Hall, alongside Iarla Ó Lionáird and Tim Edey, and a special collaboration featuring Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway, and John McIntyre with the Ulster Orchestra.
The Summer School at Ulster University offers masterclasses from 28 July to 1 August, led by artists such as Kevin Burke, Cathy Jordan, and Mary Bergin, catering to musicians of all levels. Free events include the Titanic Céilí on 27 July at the Titanic Slipways, a family-friendly outdoor gathering with music from Pólca 4, Meadhbh Walsh, and others, alongside bodhrán circles, dance workshops, and children’s activities. Pub sessions, supported by Dunville’s Irish Whiskey, will take place across iconic Belfast venues, while the Festival Club at The Deer’s Head hosts late-night acts like Joe Jack Attack and a Trad Disco. Additional offerings include talks, film screenings, a Highland piping competition, and Flutopia, ensuring a broad appeal. Visitors can explore Belfast’s cultural landmarks, such as the Cathedral Quarter or the Maritime Mile, with accommodation options near Ulster University priced at £349 for seven nights.
Initiated in 2015 as the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music, the festival was rebranded as Belfast TradFest in 2019, expanding into a seven-day celebration.
Founded by Dónal O’Connor, a musician and producer, and his team, it aimed to promote traditional arts while fostering education and community engagement, drawing inspiration from historical collections like the 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Festival. Now in its seventh year, the festival has grown significantly, attracting over 25,000 attendees, with a quarter from overseas, and is supported by Belfast City Council and the Arts Council of N I. Dónal O’Connor continues as Artistic Director, guiding the festival’s vision to blend local and international talent, nurture emerging artists through bursaries, and celebrate Belfast’s musical heritage.
The 2025 programme, launched at the Empire Music Hall, reflects this commitment to cultural diversity and accessibility. Further details and tickets are available at www.belfasttradfest.com.
