- Belfast Fleadh opens Sunday 2 August at 12 noon at City Hall’s Gig Rig.
- Opening features “Sharing Traditions” showcase with 130+ choir.
- Sharon Shannon and her Big Band perform at 8pm.
- Seven pop-up session spaces are available across the city.
- Additional late-night transport services run on 2 August and 6-9 August.
Belfast will officially strike the first note of the Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on Sunday 2 August at 12 noon at City Hall’s Gig Rig stage. The opening event features the specially commissioned ‘Sharing Traditions’ showcase with traditional musicians from Ards CCÉ and the Belfast Bands Forum, alongside performers from Arts Ekta and South Asian Dance Academy, followed by a 130+ choir of school pupils from Belfast and North Down. Admission is free, with performances by the Blackwater Céilí Band, Goitse, the Shaer, Moss and Warnock Trio, and Sharon Shannon and her Big Band at 8pm.
The festival will feature music across the city’s streets with big-name acts, intimate performances, and impromptu sessions. The Gig Rig at City Hall will host free music daily from morning until late evening. Seven pop-up session spaces are located at 2 Royal Avenue, Castle Place, Donegall Quay/Big Fish, CastleCourt, Corn Market, the Assembly Rooms and ICC Belfast for drop-in acoustic opportunities. The Irish Language Hub at the MAC offers entertainment and events for families through Irish, including storytelling, films and circus skills.
Additional late-night bus and rail services will be in place on Sunday 2 August and from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August. The event will close on Sunday 9 August with a performance from the 2026 Senior Céilí Band winners on the main Gig Rig stage. The festival is expected to attract over 800,000 visitors across the week.
