Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Belfast 2026
23rd Jul 2026
2–9 August 2026
Business readiness checklist
Before the Fleadh starts:
☐ Check if your premises are in the pedestrian event zone.
☐ Review your delivery, servicing and parking arrangements.
☐ Apply for any access passes needed for your deliveries or waste collections.
☐ Share travel guidance with your staff and customers.
☐ Use our free Fleadh-friendly resources to promote your business and maximise opportunities during the event.
Need further help?
fleadhcheoil26@belfastcity.gov.uk
belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh
Celebrating Together.
Deliveries and waste collections
Access passes will be required for all deliveries and waste collections within the pedestrian event zone during the Fleadh.
We have appointed The Traffic Management Company to manage this process on our behalf.
Deliveries inside the pedestrian event zone will take place from 4am to 8am each day during the Fleadh. They must be completed by 9am each day.
To request an access pass, scan the QR code, complete the form and the team will contact you to discuss your requirements.
An Accreditation and Logistics Hub (21 Duncrue Street, BT3 9AQ) will operate to manage same-day accreditation pass requests and provide refrigerated and general storage.
Access passes must be collected in advance from the hub and displayed on authorised vehicles.
If you are unsure about what you might need, email:
fleadhALH@trafficmanagementcompany.com
or call:
07501 386203
There will be some changes to Belfast City Council commercial waste collections in the pedestrianised event zone during the Fleadh.
If you use another commercial waste provider, contact the provider directly to discuss arrangements. An access pass will also be needed to complete deliveries inside the pedestrian event zone during the event.
Fleadh-friendly resources
The All-Ireland Fleadh is the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, attracting visitors from across Ireland and beyond.
To help hospitality and tourism businesses make the most of the opportunity, a practical guide is available to download. This includes access to posters, bunting and other assets to help welcome visitors and promote offers.
Find out more at:
belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh
Is your business within the pedestrian event zone?
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, will bring over 800,000 people to the city between Sunday 2 August and Sunday 9 August 2026.
If your business is planning to operate during the Fleadh and is within the main pedestrian event zone, it will impact deliveries, parking and how your staff can get to and from work.
Please check the map to see if your business is within the yellow and purple boundary. If so, there are actions you will need to take. Planning ahead will help keep your business running smoothly. This applies to all businesses, whatever your sector.
Road closures
Full Duration of Fleadh
Phased Closures
Other map key locations
Train/Bus Station & Pick-up/Drop-off Points
Glider Stops
Glider Services
G1 East/West Belfast
G2 City Centre/Titanic Quarter (Monday–Friday)
Belfast Bikes
Pick-up & Drop-off Zones 1–6
Park & Ride Sites
Car Parking
Coach Pick-up/Drop-off Zone / Sightseeing Tours
Food & Drink Village
Food & Drink Market
Medical Hub
Accessibility Hub (CastleCourt)
Volunteer Hub
TG4 Media Hub
RTÉ Media Hub
The pedestrian event zone
Belfast city centre will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6am on Sunday 2 August to 7am on Monday 10 August. There may be some limited closures outside these times.
These closures are a critical safety measure to manage crowd flow safely while maintaining access for authorised vehicles, residents, businesses and emergency services.
The area outlined in yellow will be fully closed during the event. Road closures in the purple area will operate on a phased basis during major activities at City Hall.
If your business is in the pedestrian event zone, there are ways that you can prepare to minimise the impact on your staff and customers.
For more information go to:
belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh
Accessing the city centre
Everyone is strongly encouraged to avoid driving into the city centre during the Fleadh. Walking, cycling and public transport will be the easiest ways to access the city centre.
Everyone should plan ahead and leave extra time for their journey, including staff travelling to and from work.
Translink services
All Ulsterbus, Metro and Glider services will operate as normal during the event, with increased capacity and frequency on key services, as well as minor alterations to some bus stops and pick-up points.
NI Railways will also operate a revised timetable with enhanced capacity designed to meet the needs of both Fleadh visitors and regular customers.
Full information is available at:
translink.co.uk/fleadh
Park and Ride sites
Three dedicated Park and Ride sites will operate:
- Eikon Exhibition Centre, Sprucefield (near M1)
- Giant’s Park (near M2)
- Belfast Harbour (near M3)
These sites are available to people accessing the city centre for work. Parking costs £10 a day and includes a free bus trip to and from transport stations.
For information and booking:
fleadhcheoil.ie/ParkandRide
City centre car parks
If public transport is not an option, most city centre car parks outside the pedestrian event zone will remain open.
For staff or customers with mobility issues, dedicated Blue Badge car parks will be available at Dunbar Street and Smithfield/Winetavern Street.
If your business uses a private parking facility, contact your parking provider to check arrangements.
If you have private parking inside the pedestrian event zone, displacement parking may be provided.
For more information email:
kristenh@trafficmanagementcompany.com
Belfast Bikes
Some docking bays in the event zone will be closed (Castle Place, Royal Avenue/Castlecourt and Cotton Court/Waring Street). See the map for nearest bays. Minute bundle discounts will also be available during the Fleadh.
For more information or to sign up:
belfastbikes.co.uk
View more information here
