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Date: 7 August 2026
Day 6 of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has seen the first All-Ireland competitions get underway across Belfast city centre, as crowds continue to flock to the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture.
Latest figures from Belfast One Business Improvement District show total recorded footfall of 900,020 in the city core from Sunday 2 August to Thursday 6 August – already exceeding the original 800,000 visitors predicted by hosts Belfast City Council, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Ards CCÉ.
Thursday was the busiest day of the festival so far, with footfall of 227,170 recorded by six Belfast One BID cameras located across a one square mile radius around City Hall.
Figures for the same five-day period in 2025 show footfall of 537,921 – meaning the Fleadh has boosted visitor levels into the city core by 67%, when compared to the same time last year.
Today’s figures come as competitors battled it out in traditional music, song, dance and language categories in the Waterfront Hall, Assembly Buildings, the MAC and Ulster University this afternoon – the first of three days of competitions in what is widely considered to be the busiest period within any Fleadh.
To help support crowd levels across the city centre this weekend, organisers are again reminding visitors and residents to follow traffic and travel information, leave extra time for their journey and expect services to be busy.
Over one million passenger journeys have already been made across the Translink network over the last five days, with a special Fleadh timetable in place this weekend to support those travelling in and out of Belfast, with significantly enhanced capacity and additional services, including late night services and Park and Ride operations.
Three official Park and Ride sites for Fleadh are also operating at Eikon Exhibition Centre, Giant’s Park and Belfast Harbour for £10 each day. Free, regular shuttle buses are running between the sites and either Grand Central Station or Laganside Bus Centre, depending on which one you choose. All the info is on the Fleadh website – fleadhcheoil.ie/parkandride
Visitors are also reminded to follow the advice and directions of volunteers and event stewards, and to pick up a what’s on guide and map – available from all Fleadh venues and volunteers – to explore everything that is available, right across the city centre.
There are also Fleadh Fringe events taking place in all four corners of the city, offering plenty of options to enjoy Fleadh on your own doorstep too. Further details on these events are available from fleadhcheoil.ie or follow Fleadh Cheoil on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.