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BREAKING NEWS

Belfast to host Irish music festival in 2026

Culture
By Khumaer Bayas

Gráinne Connolly & Daniel Logan

BBC News NI

Getty Images Members of the public holding hands and dancing in a circle to the music a band is playing next to them. Surrounding them are other people watching. The band members in shot are an older man with a black hat and white shirt with black trousers playing a banjo, and a man with a flat cap checked shirt, brown shoes and green trousers playing an accordion. In front of them is a ring of six people including four women and two men. One woman has blonde hair and is wearing a white top, trousers and sandals with a blue and white jacket around her waist, the next woman has short brown hair and is also wearing white clothing with a blue garment wrapped around her waist. The man next to her has a blue shirt on and grey trousers with short grey hair, behind him you can see the back of a woman with short blonde hair, white trousers and a navy top. Then there is a younger girl with long brown hair, glasses, black jeans and grey jeans. A balding man with black trousers is dancing next to her.Getty Images

Members of the public danced along to the traditional music on the streets of Drogheda at the Fleadh Cheoil na Éireann Drogheda 2018

The world’s largest festival of Irish music and dance is to take place in Belfast in 2026.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the All-Ireland Fleadh – is held for a week during August and, in the past, has welcomed up to 600,000 visitors to the host town or city.

Organisers Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Belfast City Council officially made the announcement at an event in City Hall on Saturday.

It will be the second time the event will be held in Northern Ireland.

Getty Images Two men sitting side by side as they play their instruments. Mr Rooney on the left plays his brown wooden harp, he has short dark hair and is wearing a dark grey suit with a patterned tie. On the right is Mr Byrne with short brown hair and facial hair who is wearing a black t-shirt and is playing a fiddle. Behind then both is a black backdrop and two coloured stage lights.Getty Images

Harp player Michael Rooney and fiddle player Neill Byrne perform on stage at the Fleadh Cheoil 2015 in Sligo

In 2013 Londonderry hosted the event, attracting an estimated 400,000 people and 20,000 performers.

At the 2024 All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford, more than 500,000 people visited and more than 1,500 people took part.

The 2025 event is scheduled to take place between 3 -10 August in Wexford.

A white haired man smiles to the camera. He wears a dark blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. On his left lapel is a small gold pin. Behind him are rows of tables with white cloth over them, paired with grey chairs. Over his right shoulder is a tall green house plant. Over his left shoulder is a mirror with a cream frame.

Director general of Comhaltas Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú

Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú, the director general of Comhaltas, told BBC News NI he has “been looking forward to this for many years”.

“It is the Olympics of culture and friendship, and with Comhaltas organised across 22 countries worldwide, I believe this will be one of the greatest gatherings of all time.

“The fleadh belongs to everyone and everybody will put their own mark on it.”

The chairperson of Ards Comhaltas has described the announcement as a “historic day for Belfast” and a “historic day for the north”.

Niall McClean said Belfast is the ideal city to host

“For the event, this city has got everything; the venues are incredible, and the streets will be buzzing with music.”

What is the Fleadh Cheoil?

A black and white image of a group of musicians and audience members from 1964. The band sits in front with the audience behind them. From left to right of the band members is a man with short dark hair playing a string instrument, a man standing with short hair and a jacket on in front of a mic and to his left is a man with short hair sitting down as he plays a guitar.

Luke Kelly attended the Clones Fleadh in 1964

Fleadh Cheoil is an annual Irish arts festival and competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann – the society of the musicians of Ireland.

The organisation was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across Ireland.

They sought to enhance traditional Irish music, dance and language in Ireland.

Each year Comhaltas hosts numerous fleadhanna (festivals) across the island at county and provincial level.

In oversea regions where fleadhanna are also held they are sometimes known as “Féilte”.

The best-known of these festivals is Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, often simply known as the Fleadh.



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Khumaer Bayas
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