Artists and venues have been confirmed
Belfast City Council has revealed some of the programming and planning for the St Patrick’s Day 2026 festivities in the city.
A document forwarded to the council’s January City growth and Regeneration Committee was published this week, giving agreements and plans with regards to the delivery of St Patrick’s Celebrations.
The budget for events, £300,000, is currently the same as last year. The council will continue contracts with Luxe, Circusful, Beam Creative, Tradfest and Féile an Phobail.
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St. Patrick’s Music Festival will take place March 13 to 17 as part of Belfast UNESCO City of Music’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. In the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day and the day itself, a series of activities will be delivered across the city by the council and its partner/curators.
TradTrail, by Féile an Phobail, will feature performances from the best local and national traditional musicians, offering free music performances in bars, restaurants, hotels and visitor attractions across the city from early March.
The council document states: “At the heart of the programme is a diverse, crosscultural and cross-traditions celebration in honour of St. Patrick.
“From headline concerts and relaxed workshops, the fun and grace of set and céilí dancing, reflective pilgrimages, and free St. Patrick’s Day Festival Village at Cathedral Quarter, everyone is invited to the city to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor traditional arts events.
“Sunday March 15 will see the Pipe Band Extravaganza take place in the grounds of City Hall from 12pm to 2pm. A stellar line-up of musicians are confirmed on the bill including the legendary voice behind the timeless anthem “Caledonia”, Dougie MacLean, and Belfast harper Ursula Burns.
“RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Singer of the Year 2022 Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and her band will appear, as well as Planxty’s Andy Irvine, the experimental smallpiper Brìghde Chaimbeul, celebrated harper Michael Rooney, sean nós dancer Becky Ní Éallaithe, uilleann piper Mick O’Brien, and many more.
“Writers Square will host Tradfest’s Main Stage Area, Belfast Cathedral Car Park will house the Food Village while Saint Anne’s Square will provide the Acoustic Stage and The MAC Indoor Céilí sessions.”
It adds: “The St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Tuesday March 17 2026. Starting at Belfast City Hall, it will provide an accessible family-friendly experience of cultural celebration. The large-scale parade will be curated and delivered by the council events team with animation and participation from professional, voluntary and community organisations.
“Participants from a range of backgrounds and from the North, South, East and West of the city will come together to join the procession of floats to champion inclusion and diversity within the city.”
Seachtain na Gaeilge, the biggest Irish language festival in the world, will be presented in Belfast by Conradh na Gaeilge, and will take place from March 1 to 17.
The council states: “(its) aim is to amplify and to broaden participation through accessible family-friendly and community-centred events, all of which aim to raise awareness of the Irish language. It will feature a headline event, the Irish Cultural and Family Celebration Day “Spraoi Cois Lao” or “Footprint fun” at Custom House Square on Saturday March 7 from 1pm to 4pm.
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