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Expect lively entertainment, stirring performances and contemporary collaborations as Belfast welcomes Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to the city for the first time.

With City Hall as its impressive backdrop, the main Gig Rig stage will be at the heart of the entertainment on the opening day. Cross-community and multi-cultural performances will set the tone for a week of multi-generational shared celebration across the city.

Join musicians, dancers and performers as they treat visitors from across the world to a special showcase of the very best of traditional music, song and dance.

The opening event at Fleadh 2026 will include a special collaborative performance from host branch, Ards CCÉ, South Asian Dance Academy, Belfast Bands Forum, as well as an array of highland pipers and champion Irish dancers led by Riverdance lead, Lauren Smyth. The impressive outdoor stage will also welcome over 100 children from primary and secondary schools across North Down and Belfast as part of a Schools Choir Project.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of traditional music or experiencing the Fleadh for the first time, be part of a momentous moment for Belfast and for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.