Belfast TradFest launches landmark 8th edition following major Arts Council investment

Festival welcomes more than 1,000 artists across almost 600 events as Belfast UNESCO City of Music celebrates traditional arts on a global stage

Belfast TradFest has today unveiled its full programme for 2026, marking a landmark eighth edition of one of the island's leading celebrations of traditional music, song and dance.

Taking place from 26 July to 2 August 2026, the festival will bring together more than 1,000 artists across almost 600 events in 40 venues, transforming Belfast UNESCO City of Music into a vibrant international hub for traditional arts and cultural exchange.

From major headline concerts and community celebrations to workshops, talks, sessions and educational programmes, Belfast TradFest continues to attract audiences and participants from across Ireland and around the world.

The scale of the festival reflects a growing international appetite for traditional arts. In 2025, Belfast TradFest welcomed more than 30,000 attendees, attracting visitors from 34 countries and generating an estimated £3.1 million net economic impact for the city.

This year's launch also comes at an important moment in the festival's development, following Belfast TradFest's successful inclusion in the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Annual Funding Programme.

Patricia Murray, Co-Director of Belfast TradFest, said:

"Belfast TradFest is delighted to acknowledge the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through its Annual Funding Programme. This significant investment recognises the festival's contribution to the cultural life of Belfast and the North of Ireland and will help support the continued development of world-class artistic programming, education initiatives, community engagement, and opportunities for emerging artists. Belfast TradFest looks forward to working closely with the Arts Council in the years ahead to celebrate, sustain and grow our rich traditional arts heritage for future generations."

The Arts Council investment marks a significant milestone in the festival's growth and provides a strong foundation for future development. The support will enable Belfast TradFest to expand its artistic programme, strengthen educational and community initiatives, and further establish Belfast as a leading international centre for traditional arts.

Rooted in artistic excellence, inclusion and cultural exchange, Belfast TradFest brings together people from diverse backgrounds through shared experiences of music, dance and storytelling.

Dónal O'Connor, Artistic Director of Belfast TradFest, said:

"At a time when dark forces, both close to home and across the world, seek to divide communities and foster a sense of fear and otherness, festivals like Belfast TradFest are more important than ever. Through music, song, and dance, we create spaces where people can come together, celebrate our shared humanity, and discover the richness of different traditions and experiences."

"Traditional arts have a unique power to build connections across generations, backgrounds and communities, reminding us that culture can be a force for understanding, belonging and hope."

Belfast TradFest takes place in a city that has undergone remarkable transformation since the Good Friday Agreement. While Belfast has changed dramatically, the legacy of division still shapes how people experience culture, identity and shared space. 

"Our aim is to create a space where traditional music becomes a meeting point rather than a dividing line, where people from all backgrounds can come together with curiosity, respect and a shared enjoyment of the music," O'Connor continued.

"With the full programme launched today, we are proud to offer an expansive week of large-scale performances and intimate, authentic musical experiences that demonstrate Belfast TradFest's ambition for the future and its commitment to the city and our community."

A Masterclass in Artistic Excellence

The 2026 programme presents an exceptional roster of internationally acclaimed performers alongside the next generation of traditional artists.

Headline concerts at Mandela Hall include Grammy-nominated Irish-American ensemble Cherish the Ladies, the long-awaited Belfast return of Michael McGoldrick Big Band, the highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Tour of Solas, and two special concerts featuring Four Men and a Dog and Flook, supported by rising stars An Chéad Ghlúin Eile.

The Empire Music Hall programme features acclaimed performers including Barry Kerr, Pauline Scanlon, Gerry O'Beirne, CUAS, The Bonny Men, Bríd Harper, Sylvain Barou and Libby McCrohan.

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The full release boasts an incredible array of master musicians, featuring Manchester fiddle legend Dezi Donnelly, Tyrone legend Cathal Hayden, the 'world’s greatest tin whistler' Mary Bergin, Conamara sean-nós dance champion Becky Ní Éallaithe, and rising singer Piaras Ó Lorcáin. 

Special Concerts

Special themed events include Flutopia, Na Máistrí hosted by Neil Martin, Ceol na bPíob (The Music of the Pipes) with Robbie Hannan, Diane Cannon’s book and album release, an annual fiddle concert at the Lyric Theatre in celebration of the great Belfast fiddler Ómós Sean Maguire, and Harps Alive|An Chruit Bheo|Harps Leevin’ featuring Ireland’s premier harper Michael Rooney.

Ireland's Fastest-Growing Summer School 

Delivered in partnership with Ulster University, Belfast TradFest's internationally renowned Summer School is expected to attract 1,000 students positioning it as the second largest summer school of traditional music in the world.

Spanning all ages and abilities, classes are held in the stunning Belfast city centre campus. Affordable student accommodation is available just a two-minute walk away for just £349 per person for 7 nights.

Titanic Céilí

The festival opens on Sunday 26 July with the free Titanic Céilí on Belfast's iconic Maritime Mile, featuring the All-Ireland Champion Blackwater Céilí Band, Jack Warnock, Niamh McGlinchey, maritime music groups, family activities and a celebration of Belfast's rich cultural heritage.

Session Trail

Throughout the week, the Dunville's Irish Whiskey Session Trail will bring more than 130 free-admission, Céilí House-style listening sessions with almost 400 musicians to over twenty of Belfast's most iconic pubs, including Madden's Bar, Kelly's Cellars, The Garrick and The American Bar. Showcasing the very best of traditional music in intimate and authentic surroundings, the Session Trail offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience spontaneous musical exchange, exceptional artistry and the warm hospitality at the heart of Ireland's living musical tradition.

Talks, Lectures & Screenings

Beyond the music, Belfast TradFest 2026 presents an ambitious programme of more than 80 talks, lectures and screenings, offering audiences a deeper exploration of the stories, traditions and people that have shaped Irish cultural life. Featuring leading musicians, scholars, broadcasters, filmmakers and tradition bearers, the programme explores topics ranging from music history, language and folklore to contemporary cultural issues and artistic practice. Through engaging conversations, film screenings, masterclasses and panel discussions, Belfast TradFest continues to create space for reflection, learning and dialogue, celebrating not only the performance of traditional arts but also the ideas, heritage and lived experiences that sustain them.

New Partnership with Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland

Belfast TradFest is also delighted to announce a new partnership with Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, the national agency dedicated to promoting and supporting Ireland's unique harp tradition. The collaboration will see a special focus on the harp within this year's programme, including performances, workshops and educational opportunities that celebrate the instrument's rich heritage and contemporary vitality. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to nurturing Ireland's national instrument and ensuring its place at the heart of the country's cultural future.

Sober Sessions

New for 2026, Belfast TradFest is delighted to partner with The Sober Irish to present a series of alcohol-free traditional music sessions throughout the festival. Designed to offer a welcoming and inclusive space for musicians, listeners and visitors, these sessions celebrate the best of traditional music culture in an environment where everyone can feel comfortable and connected. The new partnership reflects Belfast TradFest's ongoing commitment to accessibility, wellbeing and ensuring that traditional music can be enjoyed by the widest possible audience.

Grand Central Station Sessions

Returning for 2026, and delivered in partnership with Linen Quarter Bid & Translink, the Grand Central Station Sessions will bring the energy and spirit of Belfast TradFest to the heart of one of the city's busiest public spaces. Across the festival week, audiences can enjoy 24 pop-up céilís, live music performances and bodhrán circles, transforming Ireland’s biggest transport facility into a vibrant hub of traditional arts. Free and open to all, these events will offer commuters, visitors and locals alike the chance to experience the joy of traditional music, dance and participation, while introducing new audiences to Belfast's thriving cultural scene

Booking Information 

With the full programme launched today, tickets for all newly announced concerts, workshops, talks, traditional céilís (including the annual Big Queer Céilí on Thursday 30 July), and late-night festival clubsfeaturing Cúig, Peter Street & Le Chéile are expected to sell quickly. 

Belfast TradFest is generously supported by key funders and partners including the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Tourism NI, Ulster University, Maritime Belfast, National Lottery Dormant Accounts Fund, Cathedral Quarter BID, Linen Quarter BID, Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, Reclaim the Enlightenment, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Foras na Gaeilge, Department of Culture Communications and Sport, An tOireachtas, RTÉ Supporting the Arts, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, The Sober Irish, Love Belfast & The Noah Donohoe Foundation. 

Visit belfasttradfest.com to view the full programme and book tickets. 

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