Northern Ireland’s leading festival celebrating traditional music, song and dance.
Due to unprecedented demand, northern trad wizards Four Men and a Dog and internationally acclaimed Irish-American ensemble Cherish the Ladies have been added to the Belfast TradFest 2026 programme, joining an already stellar line-up featuring Solas, Flook, Michael McGoldrick Big Band, Kim Carnie, Peter Street, Cuas, Barry Kerr, Bríd Harper, Cúig and many more ahead of the full festival launch on 25 June.
Belfast TradFest has officially unveiled its 2026 festival poster, giving audiences a first glimpse of what promises to be another landmark celebration of traditional music and culture across the city from 26 July – 2 August. The full Belfast TradFest 2026 programme will be officially launched on 25 June, featuring an exciting mix of concerts, sessions, workshops, talks, screenings and cultural events throughout Belfast. Festival organisers say anticipation is already building, with strong early ticket demand and growing excitement surrounding this year’s programme.
One of Ireland’s most influential traditional bands, Four Men and a Dog return to Belfast with their trademark energy, humour and groundbreaking fusion of traditional Irish music with jazz, rock and blues influences. Renowned for their electrifying live performances, the band remain one of the most exciting acts on the folk and trad scene. The band will perform at Mandela Hall on Saturday 1 August at 1pm as part of the festival’s headline concert series.
Also joining the festival are the celebrated Cherish the Ladies, the Grammy-nominated Irish-American group whose blend of virtuosic musicianship, stunning vocals and captivating stage presence has earned them international acclaim for more than four decades. Cherish the Ladies will take to the stage at Mandela Hall on Sunday 26 July at 1pm, opening this year’s headline concert programme.
Speaking about the announcement, Dónal O’Connor, Artistic Director of Belfast TradFest, said:
“We’re delighted to reveal this year’s festival poster and announce these two additional headline performances. Four Men and a Dog and Cherish the Ladies are iconic names in traditional music, and their addition to the programme reflects the energy, diversity and international spirit of Belfast TradFest. We can’t wait to officially launch the full programme on 25 June and welcome audiences from near and far for another unforgettable summer celebration.”
Belfast TradFest continues to establish itself as one of Ireland’s leading celebrations of traditional music and culture, bringing together world-class artists, emerging talent and audiences from around the globe.
The festival is supported by key partners and funders including Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Tourism NI, Ulster University, Maritime Belfast, Cathedral Quarter BID, Linen Quarter BID and Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland, whose continued support helps Belfast TradFest deliver a dynamic and internationally recognised cultural programme for the city.
Tickets for headline events are available now, with organisers encouraging audiences to book early as demand continues to grow.
For tickets and festival updates visit:
www.belfasttradfest.com
