👋 GOOD MORNING BELFAST
Culture Night on Friday is the big one in Belfast this week. Their City Explorer Guide perfectly sums up the past few months:
“It’s been an emotional year on the streets of Belfast. Horrendous scenes that left us all in shock in June, followed by the biggest street party Ireland has ever had just a few weeks later. I guess one thing we’ve learnt is that culture isn’t just important, it’s powerful.”
This week we have lots of Culture Night options and plenty more throughout the week including special events, live music, family options and reasons to get out and about beyond the city centre.
Here’s our best of Belfast this week…
📌 THINGS WORTH KNOWING
1: 🏹 Robin Hood in Belfast
The Death of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, is in cinemas now and was filmed at Belfast Harbour Studios and other local locations including Silent Valley, Tollymore, Murlough Bay and White Park Bay.
Jackman clearly enjoyed his time in NI, “Every town I went to, I was like, ‘I want to live here’.”
We haven’t seen it, so can’t give it the Belfast Brief seal of approval just yet!
2: 🎓 Students Are Back
Most Queen’s and Ulster University students return this week, with freshers events from 14–18 September and teaching starting Monday 21st. Expect more buzz around the city, more activity in cafés and bars - and slightly busier roads.
3: 🏃 Belfast Half Marathon
The Belfast City Half Marathon is back on Sunday, with the route passing through North, South, East and West Belfast before finishing at Ormeau Park. Expect plenty of runners, supporters and some road closures around the city.
⭐ BELFAST BRIEF PICK
Start with Culture Night
18 September · Free
With events taking place all across Belfast, there’s no way to do everything. Use the official programme to search by area, time, venue and type of event.
The best approach is probably to choose one or two things that interest you, then leave room to wander and see what else you find.
One we plan to visit is the Night Market at Writers’ Square, running from 5–10pm. There’ll be local traders, food, drinks, art and music - a good place to wander through if you’re already in the city centre.
Writers’ Square : August 2026
📍 ACROSS THE CITY
We’ve included one Culture Night event and one other event in each part of the city this week.
⬆️ NORTH
Stories from the Poor House
18 September · Clifton House ·
Be welcomed by Mary Ann McCracken for a tour, revealing the social history of the Poor House and it’s legacy of compassion, reform and resilience.
More →
Céilí
20 September · Belfast Castle ·
A Sunday afternoon céilí in the castle ballroom, with music from the Copperplate Céilí Band.
More →
⬇️ SOUTH
New North – New Writing
18 September · Lyric Theatre ·
Five new plays by local female playwrights. It’s free, with individual performances bookable separately.
More →
The Neil Diamond Experience
19 September · Belvoir Players Studio ·
A night of live music with a full band and all the legendary hits including Sweet Caroline.
More →
➡️ EAST
Dance Performances & Taster Classes
18 September · CS Lewis Square ·
Estonian Folk dancing, Salsa, Bachata, Ballroom & Latin plus classes in different dance styles.
More →
Community Culture Fun Day
19 September · Dundonald High School ·
A free afternoon of inflatables, music, crafts, popcorn, candy floss and refreshments.
More →
⬅️ WEST
One Night For All
18 September · McEnany’s ·
Celebrate West Belfast’s music, art, community and culture with circus, samba and children’s activities.
More →
Belfast Brunch Co.
19 September · The Devenish ·
An afternoon party featuring RnB favorites, sing-alongs, club classics, food, and live entertainment.
More →
🎯 CITY CENTRE
Culture Night Market
18 September · Writers’ Square ·
Music Therapy, Nature Explorers, Night Market, Musicals, Ukulele, BEATnDRUM.
More →
Belfast Music Walking Tour
19 September
Explore Belfast’s musical history, with some of the places and stories that shaped the city’s music scene.
More →
🍽️ FOOD & DRINK
1. ✂️ New Opening
The Avenue Brasserie Relaunches
The South Belfast restaurant is relaunching this Friday with a refreshed offering and new dishes from chef Michael O’Connor.
More →
💷 Deal of the Week
£10 Lunch at AMPM
Runs Tuesday–Saturday, 12.30–3pm, with dishes including Vietnamese spring rolls, Irish pork belly bap and Guinness rarebit.
More →
☝️ Don’t Forget
Win one of five x £20 TocToc Vouchers
We shared about this last week. Bonus entries (max 5) when forwarding this email to a friend or family member (c.c. [email protected])
More →
🎵 LIVE MUSIC
🌻 Sunflower Sessions
18 September · Sunflower
A small Friday-night session at The Sunflower, bringing together four local songwriters, Lauren White, Who Is Kalla?, Still Searching and Tom Gee.
MORE MUSIC WORTH KNOWING
🎤 Jordan O’Keefe
17 September · Black Box
Belfast singer-songwriter brings his live show to the Black Box.
More →
🎶 Lisa O’Neill
19 September · Empire Music Hall
One of Ireland’s most distinctive contemporary folk voices comes to Belfast for a Saturday night show.
More →
🎸 Happy Days Fest
19 September · Oh Yeah Music Centre
A selection of emerging and established acts.
More →
🎻 Traditional Irish
Follow Belfast Session Guide for a complete list of traditional Irish sessions and gigs across Belfast.
More →
🧑🧑🧒🧒 FAMILY PICK
Scavenger Hunt Circus
18 September · City Hall Starting Point
Join Scavenger Hunt Circus for a family friendly hunt across Belfast. An interactive adventure that helps families navigate Culture Night while experiencing its vibrant cultural programme.
ALSO WORTH A LOOK
🛼 Roll Into Culture Night
18 September · Shaftesbury Recreation Centre ·
A family-friendly roller disco for all abilities, with skates and safety equipment provided.
More →
🦔 Happy Hedgehogs
19 September · Bog Meadows ·
Storytelling, sensory play and nature activities for ages 4–7.
More →
👕 KIDO Pre-Loved Kids Clothes Pop-Up
20 - 21 September · Lynchpin Holywood ·
A chance to pick up some pre-loved children's clothes while doing a bit of sustainable shopping.
More →
🏃 Get Active
🛶 Free Adult Outdoor Adventure
Belfast Activity Centre is running a free five-week outdoor adventure programme for adults aged 18+, including canoeing, climbing challenges, caving, archery, bushcraft and hill walking.
The sessions take place on selected Thursdays from October to March. There are only 12 spaces, and we’ve been told by the organisers that the spaces are likely to go quickly.
ALSO CHECK OUT
🎾 Belfast Padel League
Open to ‘seasoned pros and complete newcomers’. It’s a competition but mainly for socialising and enjoying the sport. Running 28 September - 29 November, with one match per week. £50 per pair, with men’s, women’s and mixed divisions.
Sign-up deadline is tomorrow, 16 September!
🧘 Yoga in the Gardens
19 September · Belfast Castle
An early-morning outdoor yoga session suitable for all skill levels and surrounded by the beauty of nature.
👀 HIDDEN BELFAST
Clifton House — Belfast’s Poorhouse
Built in 1774, Clifton House was Belfast’s first poorhouse, established by the Belfast Charitable Society to provide food, shelter and care for the city’s poorest people — and it still operates today as a charitable organisation.
For Culture Night, you can take a guided tour of the building. Be welcomed by Mary Ann McCracken and experience the social history of the Poor House and its legacy of compassion, reform and resilience.
Tours are available at 4pm, 4.45pm, 5.30pm and 6.15pm on Friday 18 September.
🗓️ LOOKING AHEAD
We'll share more about these in future editions, but they're worth putting in the diary now.
🏃♀️ European Week of Sport · 21–27 Sept
A week-long celebration encouraging people of all ages to get active.
💻 Belfast Tech Week · 21–25 Sept
60+ events across the city.
🎷 Big Autumn Jazz Weekend · 25–27 Sept
A new festival at Scott’s Jazz Club in East Belfast.
🎨 Bounce Arts Festival · 30 Sept - 4 Oct
A celebration of disability arts and culture.
🎭 Belfast International Arts Festival · 14 Oct – 8 Nov
Belfast’s biggest arts festival, spanning theatre, music, dance and more.
🎬 Belfast Film Festival · 29 Oct - 7 Nov
A celebration of independent cinema, showcasing films and filmmakers from around the world.
📸 YOUR BELFAST
Show us Belfast through your eyes
Seen something happening around Belfast that we should know about?
Send it our way — whether it’s a great new spot, an interesting local story, a brilliant event or simply something that made you stop and look.
👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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Have a great week! Enjoy Culture Night and whatever else you get up to in the week ahead!
"The people are all really sound, the food's good, the craic is good and people are really drawn to it at the minute in producing work here,"