Family fun at the Fleadh: All you need to know ahead of the festival

Belfast is preparing for one of the biggest events in its history. About 800,000 visitors are expected during the world's largest celebration of Irish music, dance and culture.

From lively céilís and storytelling sessions to street parties and circus performances, this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is set to offer more than the traditional mix of music-filled pubs and bustling crowds.

While the All-Ireland music competitions remain at the heart of the festival, organisers say there will also be a strong focus on families with dozens of free and low-cost events designed to keep children entertained throughout the week.

This year marks the first time Belfast has hosted the event, with more than 200 events planned across the city, alongside competitions, concerts and street performances running from 2 to 9 August.

Fleadh Cheoil is an annual Irish arts festival and competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) - the society of the musicians of Ireland.

The organisation was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across Ireland who wanted to enhance traditional music, dance and language on the island.

Each year numerous fleadhanna (festivals) are hosted across Ireland, at county and provincial level.

In oversea regions where fleadhanna are also held they are sometimes known as "Féilte".

The best-known of these festivals is Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, often simply known as the Fleadh, which draws thousands of people, and sometimes a famous face or two.

Earlier this year, CCE confirmed that Belfast will again host the All-Ireland Fleadh in 2027.

Previously the only time the festival was held in Northern Ireland was in 2013, with the event in Londonderry attracting an estimated 400,000 people and 20,000 performers.

Organisers have placed a strong emphasis on activities for families and children.

A dedicated Irish Language Hub at The Mac will include free taster classes, arts and crafts workshops, circus skills, family entertainment and a dedicated family room throughout the week.

As well as core events, the city's fringe programme will feature more than 90 community events with family-focused gatherings taking place in neighbourhood venues across Belfast.

At Titanic Quarter, there are outdoor movies, carnival games, pop-up céilís and food events, while the Waterfront's Craic and Craft Market will combine street food, live music and children's activities, including a Ferris wheel, face painting and a trading card and pop-culture event.

Belfast City Council will also run free sustainability workshops, where children can create musical instruments from recycled materials and make festival bunting.

Pupils and tutors from Glengormley School of Traditional Music will play an active role in the festival, performing on stage as well as leading workshops at 2 Royal Avenue and Children's Trad Trail sessions.

The family-friendly sessions allow for children to play music "away from the bars, and away from other adults", tutor Maria Rafferty explained.

"It's not very formal, it's more like a social gathering but via the medium of music and it's very inclusive as well.

"If you're not playing music it's something you really should try and experience."

The festival being hosted in Belfast is "something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime", she said, adding that the influx of musicians was "delightful".

"All my students are so excited by the events going on," bodhrán teacher Niamh Reynolds said.

"I feel like there's something for everybody... I would say come along and just see."

The event is "good for all communities in Northern Ireland", Jacob added.

"It's very neutral, playing music is fun. Many people can get involved in that and the best place to be in the next couple of weeks will be in the city, in Belfast."

Libraries NI is also prepared for the festival, with a range of events across the city over the course of the week.

Fleadh serves as a "brilliant opportunity" to showcase a "jam-packed programme" that has been months in the making, explained Service Development Manager Bríd Steele.

Live music sessions, storytelling, interactive workshops, dance classes and family fun days all feature in the programme.

"If you want to take a little bit of time out from all the hustle and bustle, pop into the library, charge your phone, use the water station, pick up a daily newspaper and have a cup of tea," she added.

"It's a brand new experience for us here. Hopefully it will be buzzing and a brilliant atmosphere."

There are options for families looking for somewhere to take a break between events.

A food and drink village beside Belfast Cathedral will feature local producers, live music and communal seating.

St George's Market will open throughout the week of the Fleadh, extending beyond its normal trading pattern.

Additional food festivals and markets are planned along the Maritime Mile with organisers keen to showcase Belfast's growing culinary and crafts scenes.

The Titanic Quarter site will offer camper van and caravan facilities, while traditional tent camping will be available at Ormeau Park in south Belfast.

Both will provide visitors with convenient access to the city centre. Alongside toilet, shower and parking facilities, each venue will have food vendors and bar facilities on site, as well as support staff and 24-hour security.

The biggest change for residents and visitors will be the creation of a large, pedestrianised zone in Belfast city centre over the course of the festival.

This is to ensure safe pedestrian movement and allow for performances and activities to take place.

Many roads will be closed to general traffic from 05:00 BST on Sunday 2 August until 07:00 on Monday 10 August. A full list of closures can be seen on the council's website.

Drivers are advised to plan ahead, allow for extra travel time and consider alternative routes where possible.

Visitors travelling to Belfast for the festival are being encouraged to use a dedicated Park and Ride network.

Three sites will operate on the main routes into the city:

• Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn (near the M1)
• Giant's Park (M2)
• Belfast Harbour (M3)

Visitors can park outside the city centre and use free, fully accessible, shuttle buses operated by Translink, with services running regularly to Grand Central Station and Laganside Bus Station, both within easy reach of the festival zone.

Parking costs £10 per vehicle per day and can be booked in advance through RingGo or paid for on the day, subject to availability.

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While the central event zone will be pedestrianised, public transport services will continue to operate around the city.

Translink has encouraged visitors to use public transport, park-and-ride facilities and active travel options during the festival.

To accommodate the event, additional late-night bus and rail services will operate on 2 August and 6-9 August, alongside special coach services to Belfast from locations including Derry, Omagh, Enniskillen, Armagh, Craigavon, Newcastle, Limavady, Dungannon and Crumlin.

A fully accessible city-centre loop shuttle service will operate throughout the festival for people with accessibility requirements or those carrying heavy instruments.

Visitors travelling from the Republic of Ireland can access Belfast via hourly cross-border coach services from Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport, or hourly train services between Dublin Connolly and Belfast Grand Central Station.

Additional transport information will be available throughout the week and visitors are being encouraged to check travel advice.

Sean McGreevy, Belfast Area Manager, said this is one of the biggest events Translink has been involved with in recent years with "hundreds" of extra services.

"We have a number of options, for example our bus and rail network," he said.

"We also have additional ad hoc resources to respond to bursts in demand. And we've upped our resilience in terms of the Metro offering in the city centre as well, that's in addition to park and ride offerings.

"In totality we have a good package that should cater for people coming to the city, from wherever and however they're getting here."

More than 1,300 volunteers have signed up to support the Fleadh.

They will be stationed throughout the city, helping visitors find venues, navigate transport links and access information about events.

Volunteers will in bright yellow clothing.

Instead of the usual street bins, 40 on-street recycling stations will encourage visitors to sort and bin their waste, with collections for mixed dry recycling and food waste, alongside an additional 200 general waste bins at key footfall sites.

There will also be enhanced street cleaning during the week with dedicated night-time crews maintaining the city centre to ensure the area is refreshed and ready each day.

Organisers have said public safety remains a top priority, with ongoing engagement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, emergency services and local businesses to ensure a safe, well-managed event.

As well as attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors, organisers have said the Fleadh represents a major opportunity to showcase Belfast's culture, heritage and hospitality.

The event will "provide an amazing platform to highlight our people, diversity, traditions and stories," according to the Lord Mayor of Belfast Róis-Máire Donnelly, and is expected to create benefits "which will be felt for years to come".

"We have a unique opportunity to really engage communities in the staging of one of Europe's biggest cultural events and encourage visitors to explore everything we have to offer, right across our city," the Sinn Féin councillor added.

The city centre will host events, while local communities across Belfast will play a key role through the wider fringe programme.

For many visitors, it will be their first experience of Belfast.

The event is expected to deliver a significant boost to the city's economy, TourismNI has estimated around £60m, supporting local businesses, hospitality and tourism during one of the busiest weeks Belfast has experienced.

For families already living in the city, organisers hope it will provide a packed week of free and accessible entertainment on their doorstep.

Details of all events can be found here.