3rd August, 2026
From theatre performances, concerts, exhibitions and more, here's your guide to what's on in the arts...
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026: Belfast will host the Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, for the first time from Sunday 2 August 2026 to Sunday 9 August 2026. Qualifying competitors from all over the world will showcase the very best of traditional music, song, dance and language in All-Ireland competitions. Over 800,000 people are expected to enjoy the eight-day event which will also include street performances, pub sessions and stage concerts. Visit https://fleadhcheoil.ie/
August Craft Month: The largest annual celebration of craft on the island of Ireland has officially launched, unveiling an incredible line-up of almost 500 events taking place on both sides of the border this August. For the full island-wide programme and to sign up for events, visit www.augustcraftmonth.org
Open House Festival, Bangor: returns from 1-31 August with a packer programme of art, comedy, film, food, literature and music. To purchase tickets and view the full festival programme go to: www.openhousefestival.com
Clandeboye Festival, North Down: taking place from 22–29 August, this special 25th anniversary programme celebrates the alumni of the Camerata Ireland Academy, with every concert featuring outstanding musicians who have been part of the programme over the years. View the full programme at www.camerata-ireland.com
Arts Ekta’s Belfast Mela: takes place from 23-29 August 2026. Celebrating 20 years of Mela. Highlights include:
Visit https://belfastmela.org.uk/
Charles Wood Festival of Music and Summer School, Armagh: The festival takes place from 15-23 Aug and celebrates the music of Charles Wood and seeks to give singers and musicians an opportunity to perform and develop their talents. Visit https://www.charleswoodsummers...
DU Dance: has a number of classes available for young people, all abilities welcome. Visit https://www.dudanceni.com/news...
Accidental Theatre: presents a varied programme of comedy, live music, theatre, and other arts events, inviting audiences to enjoy great entertainment in good company.
For these and many more events, visit: https://accidentaltheatre.co.u...
Lyric Theatre: presents their spring and summer programme with highlights including:
View all events at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry: presents,
Visit www.derryplayhouse.co.uk
Linen Hall Library: Founded in 1788, it is the oldest library in Belfast. Linen Hall Library offers a year-round programme of arts and cultural events featuring authors, academics, historians, performers, and much more. Visit www.linenhall.com
Millennium Forum Derry-Londonderry: presents music, comedy, theatre and more with highlights including:
The Millennium Forum also has a number of regular accessible events including:
View all events at www.millenniumforum.co.uk
THE MAC: presents a fantastic programme of theatre, comedy music and talks with highlights including:
For all this and more visit www.themaclive.com
Crescent Arts Centre: presents a series of language, visual arts, craft, music, dance classes, and more plus workshops and events. Visit www.crescentarts.org for details.
Seamus Heaney HomePlace: has launched their programme for 2026. Visit https://seamusheaneyhome.com/u...
Strand Arts Centre: Silver Screenings at Belmont Bowling Club, every Thursday at 2pm.
Visit www.strandartscentre.com
Northern Ireland Opera: presents,
Visit www.niopera.com for more information on all events.
Moving on Music: presents,
Visit www.movingonmusic.com
Portico of Ards, Portaferry: presents,
Visit https://www.porticoards.com/wh...
Ulster Orchestra:
Summer highlights include:
The Ulster Orchestra’s 2026/27 Season is now on sale. Full details of all concerts visit www.ulsterorchestra.org.uk/wha...
Ulster Youth Orchestra: presents their annual Summer Concert on Sunday 16 Aug at the Ulster Hall in Belfast with a programme blending Irish musical poetry and Russian passion including, Armagh composer Sam Kane’s, "Journey to the Otherworld", Hamilton Harty’s, “The Children of Lir”, featuring local soprano Rebecca Murphy, and Rachmaninov’s, “Symphonic Dances, Op.45”. For the third time, the orchestra will be led by renowned conductor Jac van Steen. For tickets visit https://www.waterfront.co.uk/w...
Oh Yeah Centre Belfast: The NI Music exhibition at Oh Yeah is the only permanent exhibit for popular music in Northern Ireland. There is much to see, including a series of storyboards documenting and plotting the history and the stories of Folk, Punk, Rock, Jazz and more. Visit www.ohyeahbelfast.com for this and all events.
The Black Box: presents a varied programme of music, comedy, street art tours and other arts events. For further information visit www.blackboxbelfast.com
Scott’s Jazz Club: Scott's Jazz Club runs a weekly concert in Ballyhackamore club 1a Sandown Road every Friday Night from 9pm. For upcoming performances visit Scott's Jazz Club (scottsjazzclub.com).
Dock Street Jazz Club: Upstairs at the American Bar, Belfast. Homegrown MOBO-nominated drummer David Lyttle and Dock Street Jazz Club regulars feature acclaimed guests and NI talent. Visit https://www.citizenticket.com/...
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Derry~Londonderry: programme highlights include,
Visit https://www.culturlann.org/eve...
In Your Space Circus: is offering KIDS' AERIAL CLASSES across a 4-week aerial course for kids aged 6-8 and 9-12 years. Cost: £40. Aerial classes take place at the Glassworks, Derry. New members are welcome, but places are very limited, so get in QUICK to avoid disappointment!! All classes can be booked at: https://bookwhen.com/inyourspa...
Circusful:
No matter your age or experience — Circusful has something for everyone!
Itty Bitty circus classes are shaped to each child’s age and development needs. Suitable for ages 2-7, whether your child is a budding acrobat or has never taken a tumble, the skilled Circusful team will help them to find their confidence, gain coordination and have fun.
Adult Circus - Think you’re too old to learn circus skills? Think again. Circusful has been teaching aerial skills, acrobatics and juggling to grown-ups for decades. Their Circus Skills for Adults class has different skill options available - whether you are a budding aerialist or completely new to Circus simply sign up.
Visit www.circusful.org
Duncairn: presents live music with highlights including,
The Duncairn also has a range of workshops and craft classes and courses. For further details and to view the full programme of events visit www.theduncairn.com
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich: presents,
Irish Language Intensive Course. Intensive courses are a great way to boost your language skills in a short space of time. The course will be both motivating and informative and will take your confidence in the Irish language to another level. The levels we offer are: Bunrang|Beginner , Meanrang | Intermediate , Ardrang | Advanced . Please email [email protected] for more information
Yoga Classes with Dunla, 6:30-7:30pm, £5. No need to register, just pay on arrival.
For this and more visit www.culturlann.ie
Greater Shantallow Community Arts: presents Spill The Tae Youth Led Podcast from the young people at Studio2/GSCA. This amazing group of creative young people have launched their very own podcast and it can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcast.
Eden Place Arts Centre: in Derry-Londonderry has an exciting range of courses and workshops to get your creative juices flowing including wood sculpture, Inner Landscapes, Abstract Art, Ceramics, Painting for Beginners, Contemporary Botanical Watercolours, Landscape Painting Life Painting, Spinning and Weaving plus Portrait Painting, among others. All courses are designed for adults aged 18+. Visit www.edenplaceartscentre.com
WheelWorks Arts: presents,
ArtCart: Unique to WheelWorks Arts (WWA) is their ArtCart community engagement and outreach programme, which brings creative and artistic activities to your community. Visit https://www.wheelworksarts.com or email [email protected]
TS3 Programme: The Tech Studio Skills Share (TS3 programme) offers training to help young people improve their skills in digital communication. For further information, visit https://www.wheelworksarts.com
Streetwise Community Circus: Learn how to juggle and other circus skills at Streetwise’s weekly classes. For info email Streetwise on [email protected] suitable for all ages. https://www.sccni.co.uk/
R-Space: presents
Dr. Zoë Victoria Gibson, ‘Linen Landscapes’, 1 August - 28 August 2026.
Visit https://www.rspacelisburn.com/...
The MAC Belfast: presents,
Visit www.themaclive.com
Craft NI Gallery presents: Fleadh Week at Craft NI
Craft NI Gallery presents, Rhythm, an August Craft Month exhibition which celebrates the various ways music inspires contemporary craft. The show brings together 18 designer-makers from across the island of Ireland, who share how music, with its rhythms, harmonies or lyrics inform their making across a variety of disciplines. Participating makers: Adam Frew, Celine Traynor, Corinne Price, Eddie Doherty, Eimear Malone, Fiona Kerr, Hannah Ferguson, Joel Smyth, John Piekaar, Karen Hamilton, Kevin Callaghan, Natasha Heaslip, Nicola Dalton, Peter Meanley, Stuart Cairns, Sue Cathcart, Tamzen Lundy, Ursula McGivern. Dates: July 23 - August 28, 2026.
Meet The Maker Talk with Marlene McKibbin, Thursday, August 6th, 3 - 4pm at Craft NI Gallery. Marlene is the guest judge for this year's August Craft Month exhibition. The talk offers a unique opportunity for makers and collectors to hear about her jewellery practice, career and experiences exhibiting across the UK and internationally. She'll also share insights into selling through London-based stockists and offer practical tips on building and making the most of those important relationships. Visit www.craftni.org
Down Arts Centre: presents, Objects and Innovations, a new exhibition of selected works curated from the Collection of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, celebrating August 2026 Craft Month. The exhibition which runs from 6-28 Aug, brings together a mixture of craft and sculpture, this exhibition seeks to reveal some of the Collection’s most recent purchases, amongst a selection that reflects the breadth of designer/makers and visual artists currently practicing in Northern Ireland. Visit Down Arts Centre | Downpatrick
Seacourt Print Workshop: Seacourt is a friendly open-access print workshop based in the seaside town of Bangor, Northern Ireland. They offer membership, courses and resources for all, as well as our self-arranged residency programme and exhibitions. Visit https://seacourtprintworkshop....
Queen Street Studios:
Visit https://www.queenstreetstudios...
Golden Thread Gallery: Belfast's leading contemporary art gallery, located at 23-29 Queen Street, BT1 6EA. Free Entry.
The Ignorant Art School: Outside the Circle x Belfast
Dates: 4th July – 29th August 2026
Gallery: Upper & Lower Galleries
An exhibition and event programme inviting you to witness and respond to radical emancipation, resistance, survival and collective action inspired by and generated from feminist and queer movements.
Golden Thread Gallery also has a range of other events on including:
For all of the above, and more https://goldenthreadgallery.co...
PS2/Paragon Studios: www.pssquared.org
Belfast Exposed: presents
Gallery I: Healing Through Photography. From Isolation to Connection: Stories of Recovery, Resilience and Hope. On now until 29 Aug. ‘Healing Through Photography’ is a powerful and moving exhibition exploring how photography can support mental health, wellbeing and recovery.
Belfast Exposed also offers a range of summer schemes, photography and videography training courses. Visit www.belfastexposed.com
VOID Art Centre: presents,
Animale, a solo exhibition by Hanna Tuulikki, 4 Jul – 5 Sep. Across works Deer Dancer (2019), cloud-cuckoo-island (2016) and Seahorse (2026), Hanna uses vocal performance, costume and cinematic embodiment to reimagine masculinity as a performed and mutable condition, reframed through animal behaviour, myth and ecological relation. Moving between ritual, lament and testimony, the works trace cycles of violence, trauma, care and interdependence, positioning voice, gesture and multispecies communication as sites through which alternative, more attentive ways of being might be rehearsed.
Visit www.derryvoid.com
CCA: presents Christopher Steenson’s solo exhibition All I see is the present, 19 June – 12 Sep. For this exhibition the artist combines sound photography, installation and archival material to explore the ways in which moments from prehistory can be used as a gateway to the present. Visit www.ccadld.org for more details.
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