Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, takes place in Belfast from Sunday 2nd to Sunday 9th August 2026.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Belfast 2026 (photo courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland)

For eight days, the Fleadh will transform Belfast into a vibrant and immersive carnival of sound, colour and craic. Visitors can enjoy world-class performers, family-friendly events and vibrant outdoor celebrations as Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann takes place in Belfast, Ireland’s only UNESCO City of Music.

With music, dance, lively pub sessions, spontaneous street performances and dramatic stage shows, the event offers a wonderful chance to enjoy Irish culture. Throughout the city, visitors will hear songs drifting through the streets, feel the rhythm of céilí bands and witness the world’s finest traditional musicians.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Belfast 2026 (photo courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland)

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which means ‘Music Festival of Ireland’ in English, is an annual Irish arts festival and competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to promote the learning and performance of Irish traditional music and dance. Each year, a different town or city in Ireland plays host to the festival for a week in August.

Northern Ireland has hosted the Fleadh just once before - in Derry-Londonderry in 2013 – and now, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann returns in spectacular style, with over 800,000 visitors expected to share in the sounds, stories and spirit of this landmark event.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025, Wexford Town (photo credit: Wexford County Council by Mary Browne)

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering the Fleadh for the first time, visitors can expect thrilling performances by world-class musicians, dancers and storytellers; street sessions that spill into pubs, squares and hidden corners and cultural events, exhibitions and creative workshops.

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, said: “The Fleadh in Belfast is set to be a fabulous celebration of Irish culture, music and dance, with eight days of first-class entertainment. It is sure to be a highlight of the calendar in Northern Ireland’s UNESCO City of Music!”

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2025, Wexford Town (photo credit: Wexford County Council by Patrick Browne)

And, when the tunes wind down, the adventure continues. With its buzzing food scene, legendary pubs, iconic attractions and famously warm welcome, Belfast is the perfect base for exploring more of Northern Ireland - from the Causeway Coast to the Mourne Mountains and beyond.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Belfast 2026 (Photo courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland)

Belfast will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann again in 2027, marking the second consecutive year that the city will welcome the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture.

If you or your group would like to enjoy a visit to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast in 2027, as part of a tailor-made tour of Northern Ireland, please contact our friendly team today. Or if you would like to experience the best of British and Irish culture on a dedicated Culture Tour, we can help!