Opening Event
Sunday 2 August
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.
Meet the headline artists
Sharon Shannon and Big Band
Sharon Shannon is one of Ireland’s legendary musicians. The genre-defying star shares a brilliance on the button accordion that can only be matched by her musical repertoire. While rooted in traditional Irish music, Sharon redefines and reimagines the boundaries of trad through her collaborations with reggae, rap, country and classical musicians. Her list of collaborators is as extensive as her impressive instrumental technique. Her dynamic stage presence comes as a soloist and alongside her impressive Big Band.
Goitse
This multi-award-winning quintet are a celebrated traditional music ensemble with a signature blend of original compositions and timeless traditional tunes. They continue to redefine what it means to be ambassadors of Irish traditional music, pushing boundaries while honouring the past. The gripping rhythm section of Colm Phelan and Conal O'Kane sets a powerful drive for the music, while the sweet, charismatic voice of County Louth's Áine McGeeney draws audiences into a song the way few performers can. Danny Collins, a multi-instrumentalist All-Ireland Champion, is known for his distinctively rhythmic and expressive piano accordion playing, while Alan Reid features on banjo and bouzouki, drawing from an extensive knowledge of archival collections that enrich the band's repertoire.
Blackwater Céilí Band
The Blackwater Céilí Band from County Tyrone bring boundless energy and passion to every performance, creating fresh musical interpretations with distinctive character and detail, firmly rooted in the Ulster tradition. In 2018, the talented group made history, claiming the prestigious Senior All-Ireland Céilí Band title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda - one of only three Ulster bands to accomplish the feat, cementing their place in the annals of céilí band folklore. Building upon their landmark success, the band have toured extensively, bringing their signature sound and rhythmical musical style to many captivated audiences.
More details about the opening event including times will be shared in the coming weeks.