Belfast Fleadh on 3 August: free music and travel tips
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann fills venues across Belfast City Centre today, Monday 3 August, with activities running from 10am until 11pm. Entry ranges from free drop-in sessions to ticketed events costing up to £15, while specified library performances require advance booking through Eventbrite. The programme is open to the general public and includes family activities, traditional music, dance, workshops and exhibitions.
Belfast City Council is hosting the festival with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Ards CCÉ. More than 800,000 visits are expected over the week, and the pedestrianised festival zone means anyone attending should plan the journey as carefully as the programme.
City Hall performances lead Monday’s programme
The main Gig Rig stage at Belfast City Hall starts at noon with Innova Irish Dance. The Aisling School of Irish Dance, Flute Church Band Portadown, Ronan McEvoy and Filidh are also scheduled before Auris – Luke Savage headline at 9pm with a combination of traditional jigs, reels, bass, saxophone and electric guitar.
Other prominent events include:
- The free Comhaltas Gradam Inclusion Awards at The MAC at 2pm, recognising traditional musicians with additional needs.
- A celebration of 50 years of Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at Waterfront Hall at 8pm. Tickets cost £15, and The Priests will appear alongside traditional performers.
- The Neuroscience of the Harper’s Brain at the Black Box at 2pm and 7pm, with admission priced at £10.
- Sets Céilí with the Duntally Céilí Band at The Europa at 8pm, with £13 tickets.
- The Instrument Makers’ Village at Belfast Met’s Millfield Campus from 10am to 5.30pm, where visitors can meet makers of harps, violins and banjos.
Free options include the Rock Choir at UNTOLD at 11am, Echoes of Erin School of Irish Dance at Victoria Square from noon to 4pm and the Away with the Fairies exhibition launch at Belfast Barge at 2pm.
Free crafts, music and storytelling for families
Children and accompanying adults can choose from several free activities across Belfast. Stories in the Sky offers intergenerational crafts and storytelling outside 2 Royal Avenue at 10am and 1pm, while The Art of the Bodhrán begins at Falls Library at 10.30am.
A Children’s Trad Trail runs at Native on Queen’s Quay from noon to 2pm. Lenadoon Community Festival holds its family fun day at Lenadoon Millennium Park from 1pm to 4pm, followed by children’s daily seisiúns outside 2 Royal Avenue from 3pm to 5pm.
The Irish-language hub at The MAC has activities for beginners and fluent speakers. Free music elsewhere includes Marcas Ó Murchú leading the Flute Appeal open session at St Galls GAC from 7pm to 11pm.
Pedestrianisation changes how to reach the festival
Public transport is the recommended way into Belfast because much of the city centre is pedestrianised. Main routes remain open, but motorists are advised to check their route, allow extra time and avoid stopping around the event-zone perimeter. Roads near City Hall remain active for public transport, so pedestrians should use crossings and follow steward directions.
Park & Ride shuttles operate every 10 to 15 minutes at peak periods. One service links the Eikon Exhibition Centre with Grand Central Station, while another runs from Giant’s Park and Belfast Harbour Estate to Laganside Bus Centre.
Parking can be reserved through the RingGo app or paid for on arrival using contactless machines. Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and designated zones are available for private-hire taxi drop-offs and collections.
Accessible parking, buses and changing facilities
Blue Badge holders can use dedicated first-come, first-served parking on Dunbar Street outside Common Market and at Winetavern Street/Smithfield. A free city-centre loop bus is operating for people with mobility needs and those carrying large instruments, costumes or equipment.
The drop-in Accessibility Hub is open at Unit 59 on CastleCourt Shopping Centre’s first floor from 11am to 7pm. Accessible portable toilets are provided at City Hall, Fountain Lane, Hill Street and Verner Street, with parent-and-child changing areas at City Hall and Hill Street. A mobile Accessoloo changing-place toilet is positioned behind 2 Royal Avenue on Bank Square.
Visitor support is also available at Ulster University, the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, ICC Belfast and Grand Central Station. Before travelling, attendees can check current services through Translink’s Fleadh information and Journey Planner.
Source: Belfast City Council
Context & actions About this article
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The programme, prices and visitor arrangements were compiled from Belfast City Council’s event notice for 3 August 2026.
- Matched the event date and operating hours to the supplied council notice.
- Retained only the listed free and ticketed prices, ranging up to £15.
- Separated Eventbrite event booking from RingGo Park & Ride reservations.
- Checked the named accessible parking, transport and toilet locations against the source.
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- Belfast City Council
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- Belfast
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- 2026-08-03 11:42
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