Get ready for the Fleadh: Hospitality and tourism briefing with Belfast Tourism Forum

Date: Monday 23 March, 12 noon to 2.30pm

Venue: Belfast City Hall

Category: Business, Fleadh Belfast

Belfast will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the first time from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 August 2026.

With visitors travelling to Belfast from across Ireland and the world, the hospitality sector will play a central role in delivering a world-class welcome.

Designed for hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes, cultural venues and retailers, this session will share information on:

scale and visitor profiles
accommodation demand insights
licensing updates and regulatory considerations
outdoor trading and entertainment guidance
managing extended trading hours and high-volume service
staffing and training, and
accessibility and sutainability guidance.

Attendees will also learn about:

main programme and venues – overview of Fleadh event footprint,
road closures and traffic management – outline of proposed arrangements, timelines and access considerations,
licensing and operational update –information for businesses regarding licensing processes and operational planning advice, and
safety, stewarding and city coordination planning.

Hosted by Lynette Fay, this event will include opportunities to meet the Belfast City Council team and colleagues from Visit Belfast, Tourism NI and voices of the industry.

Why attend?

Preparation will be key to ensuring Belfast delivers a world-class welcome — and that your business or organisation benefits from the increased demand. Join us to find out how you can prepare and plan for the biggest cultural events ever hosted in Belfast.