All shades of pipes and drums filled the Grand Hall of Stormont Parliament Buildings during this year’s Belfast TradFest for ‘With Pipe & Drum: A Celebration at Stormont’ 🥁🎶
An explosive celebration of Highland piping, uilleann piping, smallpiping, traditional Irish and Scottish song, percussion and traditional sean-nós dance, bringing together world-class traditional musicians from across Ireland, Scotland and the United States. 🇮🇪🏴🇺🇸
Hosted by Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons MLA and presented in partnership with EastSide Arts Festival and Strand Arts Centre.
⭐️ Taking to the stage were Joanie Madden, Kim Carnie, Ailis Sutherland, Grahame Harris with Campbell College Pipe Band, Len Graham, Maeve O’Donnell, Aimée Farrell Courtney, Andy McGregor, Donogh Hennessy, Mark Wilson and Becky Ní Éallaithe.
A special and historic night celebrating the music, dance and shared traditions that connect these shores.
With thanks to our funders Arts Council of Northern Ireland | Belfast City Council | Discover Northern Ireland | Belfast Music
Stormont IrishMusic ScottishMusic
Belfast TradFest
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Belfast TradFest welcomes world-class traditional musicians to Belfast each July.
Belfast TradFest is the pinnacle of world class traditional music concerts, fiery pub sessions & the fastest growing summer school of traditional music in Ireland.
26 July - 2 August 2026 Bringing the city to life with traditional music concerts, sessions, ceili’s, talks, masterclasses and free events.
16/08/2026
‘For those involved in Belfast's Irish traditional music scene through the 1970s, '80s and '90s, the idea of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann one day coming to the city was one too ridiculous to even contemplate……
…….Much has changed, including, Martin said, the idea that traditional music is "only for Catholics and nationalists". For this he gives credit to the organisers of Belfast Trad Fest.’
Belfast - 'Unrecognisable city' hosted All-Ireland Fleadh Organisers and participants hail the "transformational" impact of the cultural festival on the city.
10/08/2026
“The demand for learning is going to go through the roof,” he added. “The Arts Council and City Council need to move quickly with funding so local weekly music schools and organisations are ready to deal with demand from September.”
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Belfast City Council BelfastTrad Glengormley School of Traditional Music Ceathrú Cheoil na bhfál Ionad na Fuiseoige Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
'We can expand on the legacy of Fleadh by having our own, indigenous world-class, traditional arts festival' THE cultural and political significance of this week’s Fleadh is being talked about on a par with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, according to Belfast Tradfest co-founder Donal O’Connor.
A huge congratulations from everyone at Belfast TradFest to the organisers Belfast City Council Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Comhaltas, volunteers, musicians and everyone involved in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann on an incredible week in Belfast! 🎶☘️
A wonderful celebration of traditional music, culture and community, and a fantastic success for the city.
Comhghairdeas libh go léir! 👏🎻
🎥 Artistic Director Dónal O’Connor speaks with Alison Fleming for ITV News about Belfast TradFest & Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, as Belfast celebrates an incredible summer of traditional music, culture and connection. 🎻🪕✨
What a week. What a city. What a time to be alive. ☘️🎻
Belfast TradFest 2026
🎶 600 events
📅 8 unforgettable days
🎻 Over 1,000 musicians employed
📍 40 venues across Belfast
👏 50,000+ audience members
💷 Over £5 million in economic impact
💃 10,000 people dancing at the Titanic Céilí on the Titanic Slipways, Belfast’s Maritime Mile
🥃 130 sessions across 20+ bars on the Dunville's Irish Whiskey Session Trail
🎓 1,100 students at our Summer School, delivered in partnership with Ulster University
🎬 Over 80 talks, film screenings, lectures & walks
🎵 Over 30 concerts, céilís & festival clubs
🚉 24 Grand Central Station Sessions Linen Quarter
🌿 6 Sober Sessions
👯Over 1100 musicians at Tunes on the Square Cathedral Quarter Belfast
Harps Alive series with Harp Ireland
🏆 The Highland Piping Competition
But Belfast TradFest is about so much more than numbers.
It’s the musicians, singers and dancers. The quiet chat at the edge of a session. The music spilling out of packed bars. The students learning from some of the finest tradition bearers. The audiences who travelled from near and far. Thousands dancing together on the Titanic Slipways. The stories shared, friendships made and memories that will last long after the final tune. And the unmistakable sound of traditional music filling Belfast for eight incredible days.
To every artist, tutor, venue, partner, sponsor, crew member, volunteer and audience member who played a part, go raibh míle maith agaibh.
This is Belfast TradFest. ❤️
See you in 2027.
📅 25th July - 1st August
🎵 Music: Freefalling by Michael McGoldrick Music
05/08/2026
Congratulations to the winners of our 2026 raffle!
And a huge thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, helping to support our non-for-profit charity and our work celebrating and sharing traditional music, song and dance.
05/08/2026
Belfast TradFest is immensely proud to share that our Artistic Director, Dónal O’Connor, was presented with the prestigious Comhaltas Ceannródaithe award yesterday evening in Belfast City Hall. Here he is with Belfast TradFest Co-Director Patricia Murray.
The Comhaltas Ceannródaithe Awards (Bardic) honour individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music, song, dance, and culture. These prestigious accolades recognise lifelong dedication, outstanding talent, and significant service to Irish the traditional arts.
We also wish to extend our sincere congratulations to the other awardees who were recognised last night; Niall McClean, Francis McPeake & Maurice Brown.
Comhghairdeas Dónal ⭐️
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