Opening Ceremony

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 – Opening Day Gig Rig

Expect lively entertainment, stirring performances and contemporary collaborations as Belfast welcomes Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to the city for the first time.

With Belfast City Hall as its impressive backdrop, the main Gig Rig stage will be at the heart of the opening day's celebrations. Cross-community and multicultural performances will set the tone for a week of music, culture and multi-generational celebration across the city.

Join musicians, dancers and performers as they welcome visitors from across Ireland and around the world for a special showcase of the very best in traditional music, song and dance.

The opening event of Fleadh 2026 will feature a special collaborative performance from host branch Ards CCÉ, the South Asian Dance Academy and Belfast Bands Forum, alongside an array of Highland pipers and champion Irish dancers led by Riverdance lead Lauren Smyth.

The impressive outdoor stage will also welcome more than 100 children from primary and secondary schools across North Down and Belfast as part of a special Schools Choir Project.

The energy builds into the evening with performances from the Blackwater Céilí Band, Shaer, Moss & Warnock Trio and Goitse, before legendary accordion virtuoso Sharon Shannon and her Big Band bring the opening day's Gig Rig programme to a spectacular close.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of traditional music or experiencing the Fleadh for the first time, join us in the heart of Belfast for a landmark moment for the city and for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Tickets for the accessible viewing area can be booked here.

Event Schedule

12:00 — Ards CCÉ Welcoming Set & Multicultural Showcase
12:30 — Speeches & Official Opening VIPs
13:40 — Ards CCÉ Schools Performance
14:00 — Hothouse Flowers 14:40 — Annalise Whyte 15:00 — Ards CCÉ
16:00 — Blackwater Céilí Band
17:20 — Shaer, Moss & Warnock Trio
18:40 — Goitse
20:00 — Sharon Shannon