The annual festival, which celebrates traditional Irish music, dance, and culture, is celebrating its 73rd year this summer in Wexford. However, next year will mark only the second time the event has taken place in the north of Ireland. The Fleadh has been held every summer since 1951, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Fleadh Cheoil's only previous northern presence took place in Derry in 2013, attracting an impressive 430 thousand people to the north-west. That year, the festival also created significant engagement with the unionist community, including loyalist flute bands, a notable moment in the event's history.

The 2026 edition of Fleadh in Belfast is set to be one of the largest arts festivals the city has ever witnessed, with more than 180 competitions across music, singing, dancing, and storytelling.

These events will be spread across a range of venues throughout the city. In addition to the main competitions, Belfast’s streets and pubs will come alive with traditional music sessions, and a special programme will highlight the Irish language throughout the week-long festival.

Belfast City Council has confirmed that an official announcement will be made in March. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann has also been approached for comment, but further details are expected to be revealed soon.