Cross-community performances celebrate shared musical traditions ahead of Belfast Fleadh 2026

Pictured at an event in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026were the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA with dancer Laila Hendrick and musicians Riley McAuley and Michael McErlane; Labhrás Ó Murchú, Director General of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann and Attracta Ní Bhrádaigh, President of Comhaltas Ceóltóirí Eireann.

Traditional music and dance from across Northern Ireland took centre stage at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday as the Northern Ireland Assembly marked the countdown to Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, highlighting the event’s potential to bring communities together as well as attract thousands of visitors.

Performers from Ballynafeigh School of Irish Dancing, Belfast Bands Forum and Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann took part in the showcase, reflecting the cross-community collaboration that organisers say will be a defining feature of next year’s Fleadh in Belfast.

The event also featured remarks from Labrás Ó Murchú, Director of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, as preparations continue for one of the largest celebrations of Irish traditional music and culture.

Celebrating shared traditions

Dancers from the Ballynafeigh Irish Dance School at an event hosted by Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026

A central theme of the event was the growing collaboration between musicians from different cultural traditions.

Among those taking part were performers from Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the Belfast Bands Forum, who previously performed together during the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Belfast earlier this year.

The Assembly event showcased that partnership as an example of how music can build connections across communities while celebrating different traditions.

Speaker highlights benefits for Northern Ireland

Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA with members of the Belfast Bands Forum.

Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA said the Fleadh would deliver benefits extending well beyond the cultural sector.

“Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 is a significant event which will attract thousands of visitors from across these islands and much further afield to Belfast and Northern Ireland. It is right that it should be marked in Parliament Buildings before the festivities begin at the weekend.

“As a former Culture Minister, I am a firm believer in the potential of our cultural traditions and our creative sector. The Fleadh will have substantial economic benefits with opportunities for local business including the hospitality sector. In that sense it is an opportunity for Northern Ireland as a whole.”

He also stressed the wider cultural importance of the festival and the volunteers who help preserve traditional music.

“Of course, the value of the Fleadh goes well beyond economics. Musical traditions flow through the veins of the community across Northern Ireland. Keeping those traditions alive relies on the dedication of volunteers and supporters.

“The Fleadh will allow those traditions to bring the city to life this summer. It is positive that performers from different backgrounds and traditions featured at the event in Parliament Buildings and in the Fleadh programme as a whole.

Pictured at an event in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings to mark Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026were the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA with Laila Hendrick from the Ballynafeigh Irish Dance School, Riley McAuley from the Belfast Bands Forum and Michael McErlane from Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

“This is an opportunity to celebrate all the different traditions that have been passed from one generation to the next and to share them with new audiences, and for Belfast to open its doors and demonstrate the warmth of its welcome.”

Why it matters

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Belfast during its 2026 run, providing a major boost for tourism, hospitality and local businesses while placing Northern Ireland’s musical heritage in the international spotlight.

The event at Parliament Buildings underlined organisers’ ambition for the festival to showcase not only Irish traditional music but also the value of cultural collaboration across communities as Belfast prepares to welcome visitors from across Ireland and beyond.