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Date: 23 July 2026
Belfast City Council’s Special Licensing Committee has granted a number of entertainment licences, along with extensions to existing licences, to premises in the city centre, as final preparations take shape for the 2026 Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
The world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture is expected to bring more than 800,000 people into the city from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 August, with over 200 events on offer for residents, competitors and visitors to enjoy.
As the city welcomes the event for the first time, the council has been working on an ongoing basis with local hospitality and nightlife venues to work through their plans and ensure they can operate safely during the event.
As well as approving entertainment licences specifically for the Fleadh, the council has also approved a range of temporary pavement café licences to enable cafés and other businesses to extend their premises during the eight-day event. Among those who have received licences are Neighbourhood Café and Bakarí bakery in Donegall Street.
Around 100 businesses will also be able to sell their products through successful applications for street trading - 60 inside the pedestrianised event zone, at High Street, Bridge Street and Royal Avenue, and a further 40 outside of this special scheme.
Councillor Conor McKay, Deputy Chair of the council’s Licensing Committee, said:
“The Fleadh will be the biggest event that our city has ever hosted and attracting events of this calibre helps to support jobs, showcase the city internationally and back our local business community through increased footfall and sales.
“I want to thank businesses and independent traders for working with us while we assessed and processed their applications for street trading and pavement café licences, as well as outdoor and indoor entertainment licences, during the Fleadh.
“From the start, our aim has been clear – to ensure visitors can embrace the spontaneity and atmosphere of the Fleadh, and make sure businesses are able to safely manage the flow of people through their venues, with plenty of options and venues to choose from, with so many people expected across the week.”
For those working in the city centre during the Fleadh, taking in the music until late, at outdoor stages like the Gig Rig, or enjoying the city’s restaurants, bars and music venues, there are plenty of options to get home safe.
Translink will be running late night services on Sunday 2 August and from Thursday 6 August to Sunday 9 August, expected to be the busiest days of the Fleadh. More information is available on their website - translink.co.uk/fleadh – and via the Journey Planner app.
Shuttle buses back to the three dedicated Park and Ride sites, from either Grand Central Station (for Eikon Exhibition Centre) or Laganside Bus Station (for Belfast Harbour and Giant’s Park), continue until 2am (for events on Sunday 2 August, Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August) and 12am (for events on Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 August).
Taxis will also continue to operate around the perimeter of the pedestrian event zone. Local private hire firms will operate from designated pick-up and drop-off points in the city centre – these will be located at Corporation Street, Little Donegall Street, junction of North Street and Royal Avenue, King Street, Adelaide Street and Chichester Street.
Public hire taxis will run as normal, where possible, with some temporary relocations at peak visitor times.
Coach operators can avail of a passenger pick-up and drop-off terminal in Linenhall Street as well as three parking sites. Booking slots are available from belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh
While the pedestrianised event zone in Belfast city centre will host the majority of the official Fleadh events, a fringe festival of 90+ events will also take the action out into local neighbourhoods, providing plenty of opportunities for visitors and residents to ‘celebrate together’ right across the city.
For more information on support for businesses during the Fleadh, as well as info on getting around Belfast during the event, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh
For more on what’s on at Fleadh, including both city centre and neighbourhood events, visit fleadhcheoil.ie