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Date: 9 August 2026
After a magical, whirlwind week of music, culture, craic, learning, competition, community and friendship among people of all ages and backgrounds, it’s almost time to bid farewell to the Fleadh tonight, Sunday 9 August – until next summer that is!
The final day of judging starts at 10am at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall, Assembly Buildings, The MAC and Ulster University, ending with the hotly contested Senior Céilí Bands competition at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall at 5.30pm. This year, there are over 5,000 competitors from 22 countries in 180 categories. The winning senior Céilí band will then take to the Gig Rig as our finale performance.
With public transport services continuing to see record numbers, visitors are encouraged to make use of the three official Park and Ride sites at Eikon Exhibition Centre, Giant's Park and Belfast Harbour Estate.
Pay in advance using the RingGo app or on arrival, with contactless payment only.
It costs £10 per vehicle to use the Park and Ride sites, with free shuttle buses running in and out of Belfast city centre every ten minutes.
The last shuttle buses back to Park and Ride sites are at 2am tonight (from Grand Central Station back to Eikon, and from Laganside Bus Station back to both Belfast Harbour and Giant’s Park sites).
If you are staying in Belfast City Centre tonight (Sunday), there will be available transport back to the Park and Ride sites on Monday 10 August.
The free shuttle buses will depart as follows:
Laganside Bus Station to Belfast Harbour. The first bus will be at 9am and buses will depart every half hour until the last bus at 12pm.
Laganside Bus Station to Belfast Harbour. The first bus will be at 9am and buses will depart every half hour until the last bus at 12pm.
Belfast Grand Station to Eikon Park and Ride. The first bus will be at 9am and buses will depart every 45 minutes. The last bus will be at 12pm.
All three Park and Ride sites are well signposted upon approach into the city from M1, M2 and M3 direction.
Bus services are expected to be very busy, so passengers should leave extra time and use the Translink Journey Planner.
Dedicated parking operating on a first come, first served basis, is available for Blue Badge holders at Dunbar Street (outside Common Market) and Winetavern Street/Smithfield.
A free city centre loop service is also available to transport those with mobility issues, families or those carrying heavy instruments around the event zone.
For those having a night out in the city this evening, a reminder that taxi services are operating from dedicated pick-up and drop-off locations located around the edge of the pedestrianised event zone.
These are at Corporation Street, Little Donegall Street, junction of North Street and Royal Avenue, King Street, Adelaide Street and Chichester Street, and you will be advised on your nearest pick-up point when booking a fare.
Public hire taxis are also operating as normal from ranks around the pedestrianised event zone.
Translink’s late night bus services are also operating this evening, with info on routes and departure points at translink.co.uk/fleadh
To mark the start of the final day of the Fleadh, musical processions will depart from East and West Belfast. Musicians and music lovers will be gathering at An Chultúrlann, 216 Falls Road in west Belfast and Audacity Café, 341 Beersbridge Road in east Belfast at 1pm to set off on a musical journey towards the heart of the city, stopping along the way to invite people to join in to bid a fond farewell to the Fleadh until next year. Whether you're carrying an instrument, singing a song or simply following the sound of the music, everyone is welcome!
Over on the Gig Rig outdoor stage at City Hall, Áirdan are first up at 11am and the performances will keep on coming right throughout the day, with Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band at 2.50pm, Celtic Roots at 4pm and Foy Vance headlining at 6.40pm. The fun continues with Knockmore Céilí Band at 8.30pm and the Winning Senior Céilí Band will end the week on a high note at 12.20am. No tickets are required for the Gig Rig and there’s no need to book.
Also happening today:
Sing Happy Choir, Victoria Square, 11am (free)
Dance with Deepika, Saltwater Square, 1pm (free)
Enda McCabe, Black Box, 2pm, (free)
Fusion Fighters Summer 26 Showcase, Saltwater Square, 2pm (free)
Step with Annette: Mixed Folk, Dance, Céilí, Belfast Barge, 4pm (free)
The Old Courthouse Session Band, Belfast Barge, 6pm-9pm (free)
Families can enjoy:
Big Breakfast Super Sunday, St Comgall’s, Divis Street 10.30am-1pm (free)
Legend of Finn MacCool and the Scottish Giant, Arts For All, CitySide Retail Park, 1pm and 2.30pm (free)
And in south Belfast, enjoy:
Yoga with Maggie McKeever, Lagan Meadows, 1.30pm-4pm (£5)
The Wee Céili at Wildflower Alley, College Park, 1pm-2.30pm (free)
It’s also the last day of Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week)’s Irish language hub at The MAC and the last chance to pop into the Instrument Makers' Village at Belfast Met, Millfield Campus (10am-3.30pm) to talk to makers of harps, violins and banjos - or treat themselves to something new!
Check out range of exhibitions on offer too at venues including Craft NI, 2 Royal Avenue, Golden Thread Gallery, the grounds of Queen’s University Belfast, the QFT, St Joseph’s Sailortown, the Ulster Museum and Vault Studios.
There are plenty of tasty treats to enjoy, with the Food and Drink Village beside Belfast Cathedral open from 10am to 11pm, St George’s Market open from 10am to 10pm, the Craic and Craft Market outside ICC Belfast/Waterfront Hall with artisan craft vendors, food and drink producers, a Ferris Wheel, facepainting and entertainment from 10am-10pm. Celebrity chef and food writer Paula McIntyre will also be cooking live at the Titanic Food Festival, Hamilton Dock (beside the SS Nomadic) at various times between 11am-5pm.
Some large stores are opening at 11am today and pubs, hospitality and cultural venues across the city have programmed special events.
To check what else is on at Fleadh today, visit fleadhcheoil.ie and follow Fleadh Cheoil on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Details of the pedestrianised event zone, road closures and specific information for residents and commuters is on the Belfast City Council website – belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh