Belfast Learning Festival - Saturday

Date: Saturday 13 June 2026

Venue: Various locations in Belfast

Category: Belfast Learning Festival, Free

Saturday is the sixth day of the Belfast Learning Festival 2026.

Whether you’re passionate about a particular subject or keen to discover a new skill, learn by sharing, doing, and experimenting. There are events for everyone, whatever your age, interest or ability. Held in venues across the city, including community centres, museums and parks near you.

All events are free to attend but you may need to book a ticket.

Event details	Description
Rhythms of wellbeing Time: 10am to 2pm Location: Wave Trauma Centre, 5 Chichester Park South, Belfast, BT15 5DW	Actively explore how rhythm can reduce stress, build confidence and strengthen connection in this guided group drumming session. No experience needed, just come ready to take part. To reserve a space, email [email protected]. Hosted by Wave Trauma Centre.
Wildlife on your doorstep Time: 10am to 11.30am Location: Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1EA	Discover the wildlife visiting your garden and learn how to Record what you see. Try wildlife cameras and birdsong apps while exploring the ecological importance of local species. Make your own footprint trap and join an online community to share wildlife sightings across Belfast. Reserve your space (link opens in new window) Hosted by Friends of Littlewoods.
Write here, write now Time: 10am to 4pm Location: 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD	Join playwright Clare McMahon for a two-day deep dive into the craft of playwriting. Take part in creative writing exercises, explore script structure and story development, share ideas through group discussion and feedback, and spend time writing and testing new scenes in a supportive creative environment. Ages 18+. To reserve a space, email [email protected]. Hosted by Commedia of Errors.
Introduction to combat robotics workshop Time: 10am Location: W5 LIFE, Odyssey, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ	Transform your understanding of technology in this one-day combat robotics workshop. Learn electronics, material science, 3D printing, soldering and bot assembly, then build your own pusher robot. Explore STEM principles, gain troubleshooting skills and develop confidence in engineering. Leave with a functional robot and the knowledge to maintain and evolve it. Reserve your space at Combat Robotics NI (link opens in new window) Hosted by Combat Robotics NI.
Pollinator Protectors Time: 10am to 11.45am Location: The Glade Forest School at Belfast YMCA, Stranmillis, Belfast, BT9 5EH	Explore nature and learn about pollinators in this hands-on outdoor session at The Glade Forest School. Take part in activities that build understanding of biodiversity, green spaces and conservation. Connect with nature, learn new skills and discover how you can support pollinators in your local environment. Suitable for under 16s. Reserve your space (link opens in new window) Hosted by Belfast YMCA.
Create your own pollinator pot Time: 10.30am to 1.30pm Location: Dance Addiction studios, 1a Parkgate Avenue, BT4 1JA	Join us at The Juke Yard for a hands-on biodiversity workshop with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Learn about pollinators, native plants, soil preparation and container planting. Make your own pollinator pot to take home, connect with others, and discover how small actions in your neighbourhood support urban wildlife. Reserve your space (link opens in new window). Hosted by Our Social Space.
Learning labs Time: 11am to 3pm Location: 2 Royal Avenue	Drop in and explore how we learn from animals in these interactive Learning Labs. Handle real artefacts such as skulls, feathers and shed skins. Solve fun challenges and talk with zoo educators about habitats and behaviour. Discover how observation and curiosity help us understand the natural world. This is a drop-in event and you don't need to book. Hosted by Belfast Zoo.
Brunch and books Time: 11am to 1pm Location: Education and Empowerment Centre, 54 Kings Street, Belfast, BT1 6AD	Enjoy a relaxed morning of reading, storytelling and connection at this family-friendly event. Choose a book, share stories together and take part in a guided storytelling session. Discover the joy of reading, build confidence and learn about local supports and resources available through Foodstock’s Education and Empowerment Centre. Reserve your space (link opens in new window) Hosted by Foodstock Education and Empowerment Centre.
The great learning adventure Time: 11am to 1pm Location: 2 Royal Avenue	Families with children aged 4 to 12 are invited to explore fun, interactive activities designed to support children’s learning and development. Through colouring games exploring language development, movement activities promoting healthy habits, and discussion with parents about future child development research in Northern Ireland, families can learn, play and share ideas together. This is a drop-in event and you don't need to book. Hosted by NI Child Development Research Network.
Books to blocks Time: 2pm to 4.30pm Location: W5 LIFE, Odyssey, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ	Bring your favourite book to W5 LIFE and turn stories into games. Reimagine characters, settings and key moments, then design and code your own simple video game using MakeCode Arcade. Learn how storytelling and coding connect through fun, guided challenges. No experience needed. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 8 to 12. Reserve your space (link opens in new window) Hosted by W5 Life.

Event details

Description

Rhythms of wellbeing

Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Wave Trauma Centre, 5 Chichester Park South, Belfast, BT15 5DW

Actively explore how rhythm can reduce stress, build confidence and strengthen connection in this guided group drumming session. No experience needed, just come ready to take part.

To reserve a space, email [email protected].

Hosted by Wave Trauma Centre.

Wildlife on your doorstep

Time: 10am to 11.30am
Location: Belfast Central Library, Royal Ave, Belfast BT1 1EA

Discover the wildlife visiting your garden and learn how to Record what you see. Try wildlife cameras and birdsong apps while exploring the ecological importance of local species. Make your own footprint trap and join an online community to share wildlife sightings across Belfast.

Reserve your space (link opens in new window)

Hosted by Friends of Littlewoods.

Write here, write now

Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: 21 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, BT2 8HD

Join playwright Clare McMahon for a two-day deep dive into the craft of playwriting. Take part in creative writing exercises, explore script structure and story development, share ideas through group discussion and feedback, and spend time writing and testing new scenes in a supportive creative environment.

Ages 18+.

To reserve a space, email [email protected].

Hosted by Commedia of Errors.

Introduction to combat robotics workshop

Time: 10am
Location: W5 LIFE, Odyssey, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

Transform your understanding of technology in this one-day combat robotics workshop. Learn electronics, material science, 3D printing, soldering and bot assembly, then build your own pusher robot. Explore STEM principles, gain troubleshooting skills and develop confidence in engineering. Leave with a functional robot and the knowledge to maintain and evolve it.

Reserve your space at Combat Robotics NI (link opens in new window)

Hosted by Combat Robotics NI.

Pollinator Protectors

Time: 10am to 11.45am
Location: The Glade Forest School at Belfast YMCA, Stranmillis, Belfast, BT9 5EH

Explore nature and learn about pollinators in this hands-on outdoor session at The Glade Forest School. Take part in activities that build understanding of biodiversity, green spaces and conservation. Connect with nature, learn new skills and discover how you can support pollinators in your local environment.

Suitable for under 16s.

Reserve your space (link opens in new window)

Hosted by Belfast YMCA.

Create your own pollinator pot

Time: 10.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Dance Addiction studios, 1a Parkgate Avenue, BT4 1JA

Join us at The Juke Yard for a hands-on biodiversity workshop with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Learn about pollinators, native plants, soil preparation and container planting. Make your own pollinator pot to take home, connect with others, and discover how small actions in your neighbourhood support urban wildlife.

Reserve your space (link opens in new window).

Hosted by Our Social Space.

Learning labs

Time: 11am to 3pm
Location: 2 Royal Avenue

Drop in and explore how we learn from animals in these interactive Learning Labs. Handle real artefacts such as skulls, feathers and shed skins. Solve fun challenges and talk with zoo educators about habitats and behaviour. Discover how observation and curiosity help us understand the natural world.

This is a drop-in event and you don't need to book.

Hosted by Belfast Zoo.

Brunch and books

Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: Education and Empowerment Centre, 54 Kings Street, Belfast, BT1 6AD

Enjoy a relaxed morning of reading, storytelling and connection at this family-friendly event. Choose a book, share stories together and take part in a guided storytelling session. Discover the joy of reading, build confidence and learn about local supports and resources available through Foodstock’s Education and Empowerment Centre.

Reserve your space (link opens in new window)

Hosted by Foodstock Education and Empowerment Centre.

The great learning adventure

Time: 11am to 1pm
Location: 2 Royal Avenue

Families with children aged 4 to 12 are invited to explore fun, interactive activities designed to support children’s learning and development. Through colouring games exploring language development, movement activities promoting healthy habits, and discussion with parents about future child development research in Northern Ireland, families can learn, play and share ideas together.

This is a drop-in event and you don't need to book.

Hosted by NI Child Development Research Network.

Books to blocks

Time: 2pm to 4.30pm
Location: W5 LIFE, Odyssey, 2 Queens Quay, Belfast, BT3 9QQ

Bring your favourite book to W5 LIFE and turn stories into games. Reimagine characters, settings and key moments, then design and code your own simple video game using MakeCode Arcade. Learn how storytelling and coding connect through fun, guided challenges. No experience needed. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Ages 8 to 12.

Reserve your space (link opens in new window)

Hosted by W5 Life.

Discover the full programme