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Culture
Belfast will host the Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, for the first time from Sunday 2 August to Sunday 9 August 2026.
Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase the very best of traditional music, song, dance and language in All-Ireland competitions. Over 800,000 people are expected to enjoy the eight-day event which will also include street performances, pub sessions and stage concerts.
We are delivering the event in partnership with organisers, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and their local branch Ards CCÉ, as well as a range of city partners and other authorities.
Watch our video about Fleadh Belfast. It plays for 90 seconds.
If you’re a business looking to maximise the opportunities Fleadh offers, you can find out more about:
To make a safe and enjoyable event for all, we are proposing that all roads and streets within Belfast city centre will be closed to vehicle traffic. Additional traffic and parking changes will also apply. These measures will help ensure safe pedestrian movement and allow street performances and activities to take place.
We recognise that arrangements may affect residents and businesses. We’ll make every effort to minimise disruption.
We are proposing that road closures will be in operation from 6am on Sunday 2 August to 5am on Monday 10 August 2026, with flexibility planned where possible during the early part of the week. With significant crowds anticipated from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August, closures will phase-up in line with operational planning and to ensure visitor safety.
Delivery windows are incorporated into the road closure plan to allow business deliveries to continue. An Accreditation and Logistics Hub will be open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to arrange access to premises inside the road closures.
The deadline for feedback to our proposals was Monday 6 April 2026.
We will share further info on road closures, once confirmed, on this page.
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7pm on Friday 31 July to 8am on Monday 10 August 2026 Road closures – authorised vehicles and pass holders only Queen Street (Wellington Place - Castle Street) (contingency), College Street (College Square East - Fountain Street), Fountain Street (Wellington Place - Castle Street), Donegall Place (Donegall Square North - Castle Street), Callender Street (Chichester Street - Castle Lane), Arthur Street (Chichester Street - Castle Lane), Montgomery Street (Chichester Street – William Street South), Castle Lane (Donegall Place – Ann Street), Upper Church Lane (Victoria Street – Ann Street), Ann Street (Victoria Street – William Street South), Church Lane (Ann Street – High Street), High Street (Victoria Street – Castle Place), Bridge Street (High Street – North Street), Rosemary Street (Bridge Street – Royal Avenue), Cornmarket (Castle Place – Ann Street), Lombard Street (Rosemary Street – Castle Place), Waring Street (Victoria Street – Bridge Street), Skipper Street (Waring Street - High Street), Gordon Street (Dunbar Street – Hill Street), Hill Street (Talbot Street – Waring Street), Talbot Street (Donegall Street – Dunbar Link), Exchange Street (Edward Street – Academy Street), Academy Street (Great Patrick Street – Donegall Street), Exchange Street West (Academy Street – Talbot Street), Curtis Street (Academy Street – York Street), York Street (Great Patrick Street – Donegall Street), York Lane (Frederick Street – Donegall Lane), Donegall Lane (York Lane – Donegall Street), Donegall Street (Carrick Hill – Waring Street), Little Donegall Street (20m NW of Union Street junction – Library Street), Stephen Street (Little Donegall Street – Kent Street), Library Street (Carrick Hill – Royal Avenue), Kent Street (Carrick Hill – Royal Avenue), Union Street (North Street – Donegall Street), North Street (Carrick Hill – Bridge Place), Royal Avenue (York Street – Donegall Place), Church Street (North Street – William Street, William Street (Church Street – Royal Avenue), Berry Street (King Street – Chapel Lane), Chapel Lane (Berry Street – Castle Street) Bank Street (Chapel Lane – Royal Avenue), Marquis Street (Berry Street – Castle Street), Castle Street (Castle Place – Queen Street), Innisfayle Park (Downview Park West – Castle Gates), Milewater Road (Duncrue Street full closure), Queen Square (Victoria Street – Donegall Quay), Tomb Street (Corporation Square – Belfast City Council Car Park), Verner Street (East Bridge Street – May Street), College Street Mews (College Street – Queen Street), Fountain Lane (Fountain Street – Donegall Place), Castle Place (High Street – Royal Avenue), William Street South (Corn Market – Montgomery Street), Pottinger’s Entry (High Street – Ann Street), Lower Garfield Street (Royal Avenue – North Street), Hector Street ( Exchange Street – Edward Street), Clarke’s Lane (Curtis Street – Full Length), Montgomery Street (Athur Lane – Chichester Street), College Court (Castle Street – College Street) |
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6pm on Saturday 1 August to 5am on Monday 3 August 2026 Road closures – authorised vehicles and pass holders only Wellington Place (College Square East - College Square North), Wellington Street (Upper Queen Street – Donegall Square West), Donegall Square West (Donegall Square South – Donegall Square North), Donegall Square North (Donegall Square West – Donegall Square East), Donegall Square East (Donegall Square North – Donegall Square South), Pattersons Place (Upper Arthur Street – Donegall Square East), Chichester Street (Donegall Square East – Upper Arthur Street) |
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7am on Sunday 2 August to 11.59pm on 9 August 2026 No stopping restrictions – except emergency services and Translink Victoria Street (May Street – Waring Street), Dunbar Link (Waring Street – Great Patrick Street), Great Patrick Street (Dunbar Link – Frederick Street), Frederick Street (Great Patrick Street – Carrick Hill), Carrick Hill (Frederick Street – North Street), North Street (Royal Avenue – Carrick Hill), Donegall Quay (Albert Square – Bridge End), Queens Quay (Bridge End – Sydenham Road), Sydenham Road (Queens Quay – Queens Road) |
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6pm on Friday 31 July to 11.59pm Sunday 9 August 2026 No stopping restrictions – except emergency services and Translink North Street (East Bridge Street – Royal Avenue), Donegall Street (Waring Street – York Street), Academy Street (Donegall Street – Great Patrick Street), Talbot Street (Donegall Street – Dunbar Link), Waring Street (Donegall Street – Victoria Street), Donegall Square North taxi rank relocated to Donegall Square East - access for taxis via Upper Arthur Street and Pattersons Place |
We recommend using public transport to travel for everyone who lives, works and visits the city. Translink will maintain normal bus and train services during the Fleadh. There will be some minor changes to existing Metro and Glider Services in line with the existing tried and tested Translink plan for city centre events. Translink will provide full details about how to travel to and from the city centre during the event in due course.
Maintaining a clean and welcoming environment is always important and a shared responsibility. Additional bins and cleaning services will be in place and we ask that businesses manage waste carefully.
We encourage visitors, residents and businesses to make use of the facilities provided and to follow any guidance issued.
During the summer, changes to resident bin collections will be implemented. We will add more information to our bins pages when it is available.
Help deliver the city’s famous warm welcome by becoming an event volunteer. Every performance, smiling face and unforgettable moment will be made possible by volunteers giving their time, energy and support.
Volunteer Now is recruiting two thousand volunteers to help run the eight-day event and it’s a great way to be part of the Fleadh. Volunteers will be instrumental in making the festival a success. Visitors will need to know how to get around the city, where to find performance venues, access facilities and more.
Find out more about volunteering, including how to register as a volunteer at Fleadh, at Fleadh Cheoil (link opens in new window).
For information about the event, what’s on and transport, visit the official Fleadh website, Fleadh Cheoil (link opens in new window)
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