Belfast TradFest

Date: Sunday 26 July to Sunday 2 August 2026

Venue: Various locations

Category: Arts and culture, Festival, Music

Experience almost 600 events across Belfast at one of the island’s leading traditional arts celebrations.

Belfast TradFest welcomes audiences and participants from more than 34 countries. Combining world-class concerts, a major summer school, and one of the island’s premier session trails, the festival also features large-scale outdoor events and an extensive programme of talks and workshops.

World-class concert line-up

This year features some of the biggest names in traditional and folk music, including:

• Solas, Flook, and Cherish the Ladies
• Four Men and a Dog, Cuas, The Bonny Men, and Cúig
• a one-off performance from the Michael McGoldrick Big Band featuring Donald Shaw, Alan Kelly, Dezi Donnelly and others.

Titanic Céilí

• The festival’s hugely popular Titanic Céilí returns to the iconic Titanic Slipways. Over 10,000 people are expected for this giant outdoor celebration featuring the Blackwater Céilí Band, Jack Warnock, and Niamh McGlinchey. Enjoy maritime groups, pipe bands, family activities, a food village, and arts and crafts.

Sessions, talks and workshops

• Alongside over 130 sessions featuring almost 400 musicians, Belfast TradFest 2026 presents more than 80 afternoon talks, screenings, workshops, and talks exploring music, language, dance, and cultural heritage.

For tickets and full programme information, go to Belfast Traditional Music (link opens in new window).