Belfast International Arts Festival returns with a new season of contemporary arts and cultural events from 16 October – 23 November in over 30 venues across the city, featuring the very best in international and homegrown artists across theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature and film.

Belfast International Arts Festival Events

Naomi Alderman
Naomi Alderman
International Arts Festival

Naomi Alderman

Fri, 18 Oct 2024, 6:00pm

From the best-selling author of The Power comes a lightning-fast thriller confronting the technology that rules our lives.

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The Chancellor’s 175 Address
The Chancellor’s 175 Address
International Arts Festival

The Chancellor’s 175 Address

Mon, 18 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

Ulster University’s Chancellor and Belfast School of Art alumnus Colin Davidson reflects on his journey from student to…

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The Vanishing Elephant | Cahoots NI
The Vanishing Elephant | Cahoots NI
International Arts Festival

The Vanishing Elephant | Cahoots NI

0.66 KM
31 Oct - 02 Nov 2024

Cahoots NI’s moving story of friendship, belonging and adventure - In the heart of Bengal, a young boy…

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Cultural Walking Tours: A Penny For Your Thoughts and Sleeping Jesus’
Cultural Walking Tours: A Penny For Your Thoughts and Sleeping Jesus’
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: A Penny For Your Thoughts and Sleeping Jesus’

Tue, 29 Oct 2024, 11:00am

A unique tour in which you will stroll through the streets of Belfast with your guide and discover…

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Cultural Walking Tours: The Linen Yarn – A Different Look at the Linen Industry
Cultural Walking Tours: The Linen Yarn – A Different Look at the Linen Industry
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: The Linen Yarn – A Different Look at the Linen Industry

22 Oct - 05 Nov 2024

Explore a vibrant and distinct quarter of Belfast, to hear entertaining ‘yarns’ or stories of people and events…

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Neil Jordan: A Journey Through Cinema and Literature
Neil Jordan: A Journey Through Cinema and Literature
International Arts Festival

Neil Jordan: A Journey Through Cinema and Literature

1.31 KM
Tue, 22 Oct 2024, 6:30pm

An evening with Academy Award-winning filmmaker and novelist Neil Jordan as he discusses his vivid, moving, and strange…

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Iron and Wine
Iron and Wine
International Arts Festival

Iron and Wine

Tue, 22 Oct 2024, 7:00pm

Iron & Wine makes a long-overdue return to Belfast, following the release of his seventh full-length album Light…

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They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
International Arts Festival

They Might Be Giants

Fri, 08 Nov 2024, 7:00pm

Following 70+ sold-out shows in the US, They Might Be Giants bring their hugely popular “Evening with” performance…

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Fite Fuaite
Fite Fuaite
International Arts Festival

Fite Fuaite

Fri, 25 Oct 2024, 8:00pm

An electrifying evening of experimental, electronica, indie-rock, and traditional music, performed by some of the most innovative modern…

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David Park
David Park
International Arts Festival

David Park

0.27 KM
Wed, 23 Oct 2024, 6:00pm

Marking his literary archive becoming part of The Linen Hall’s collections, acclaimed novelist David Park joins in a…

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Róise ní Bhaoill
Róise ní Bhaoill
International Arts Festival

Róise ní Bhaoill

3.57 KM
Thu, 24 Oct 2024, 7:00pm

Róise Ní Bhaoill joins us to discuss her award-winning collection of short stories Imram agus Scéalta Eile.

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Joseph Beuys and The Belfast School of Art
Joseph Beuys and The Belfast School of Art
International Arts Festival

Joseph Beuys and The Belfast School of Art

Tue, 19 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

This session takes place exactly fifty years to the day Beuys visited the then College of Art and…

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Losing It + In Between
Losing It + In Between
International Arts Festival

Losing It + In Between

0.82 KM
25 - 26 Oct 2024

An electric evening of performance from Palestine exploring the trauma of war through movement and sound.

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Gurriers
Gurriers
International Arts Festival

Gurriers

0.68 KM
Thu, 21 Nov 2024, 7:30pm

Described as “raw as a butcher’s cut, and just as fresh” by the Irish Times, Gurriers have been…

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Jon Savage The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Resistance shaped culture 1955-79
Jon Savage The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Resistance shaped culture 1955-79
International Arts Festival

Jon Savage The Secret Public: How LGBTQ Resistance shaped culture 1955-79

0.4 KM
Fri, 08 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

One of Britain’s best chroniclers of music and social history comes to Belfast International Arts Festival to mark…

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The John Hewitt Society Birthday Readings
The John Hewitt Society Birthday Readings
International Arts Festival

The John Hewitt Society Birthday Readings

Wed, 30 Oct 2024, 8:00pm

Three critically acclaimed poets read from recent work to mark the birth date of the celebrated Belfast-born poet,…

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The Gate House
The Gate House
International Arts Festival

The Gate House

01 - 02 Nov 2024

The Gate House will bring you to a Belfast you’ve never before experienced.

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Aurora: A Modern Myth
Aurora: A Modern Myth
International Arts Festival

Aurora: A Modern Myth

0.82 KM
24 Oct - 02 Nov 2024

Brought to you by the multi-award-winning Prime Cut Productions, this World Premiere of a new work by Dominic…

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The Piece with the Drums
The Piece with the Drums
International Arts Festival

The Piece with the Drums

0.82 KM
18 - 19 Oct 2024

Pulsating with theatrical magic, The Piece with the Drums is a joyous, driving dance narrative between dancer and…

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Tom McRae
Tom McRae
International Arts Festival

Tom McRae

0.99 KM
Fri, 01 Nov 2024, 7:30pm

The Mercury and Brit nominated artist Tom McRae returned this year with his 9th album Étrange Hiver, which…

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Cultural Walking Tours: Blue Plaque Tours
Cultural Walking Tours: Blue Plaque Tours
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: Blue Plaque Tours

Tue, 12 Nov 2024, 11:00am

A stroll around the centre of Belfast that focuses on the lives of important citizens of the city…

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Introducing The Savage Five: Contemporary Art Song for voice and string ensemble.
Introducing The Savage Five: Contemporary Art Song for voice and string ensemble.
International Arts Festival

Introducing The Savage Five: Contemporary Art Song for voice and string ensemble.

1.93 KM
Fri, 25 Oct 2024, 7:30pm

Charismatic Belfast-born soprano and jazz singer Suzanne Savage collaborates with string ensemble the Savage Five to create genre-defying…

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Toner Quinn: How Ireland Thinks About Music
Toner Quinn: How Ireland Thinks About Music
International Arts Festival

Toner Quinn: How Ireland Thinks About Music

0.68 KM
Sat, 09 Nov 2024, 4:00pm

Toner Quinn is a fiddle player, writer on music, editor of the online publication Journal of Music, and…

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Austin Duffy and Phil Harrison
Austin Duffy and Phil Harrison
International Arts Festival

Austin Duffy and Phil Harrison

Tue, 05 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

Writing about the turning points of the Troubles and the legacy of masculinity.

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Cultural Walking Tours: Talking Heads – Keep Looking Up
Cultural Walking Tours: Talking Heads – Keep Looking Up
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: Talking Heads – Keep Looking Up

Tue, 19 Nov 2024, 11:00am

A fascinating look at the roundels/sculptured heads high on the Victorian buildings that we pass every day, what…

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Monique Roffey, Kevin Jared Hosein & Safiya Sinclair
Monique Roffey, Kevin Jared Hosein & Safiya Sinclair
International Arts Festival

Monique Roffey, Kevin Jared Hosein & Safiya Sinclair

1.14 KM
Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 6:00pm

Continuing their collaboration with BOCAS Litfest, Belfast International Arts Festival welcome three celebrated writers from Trinidad and Jamaica.

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Les Amazones d’Afrique
Les Amazones d’Afrique
International Arts Festival

Les Amazones d’Afrique

Mon, 28 Oct 2024, 7:00pm

Les Amazones d'Afrique are a collective of supremely talented female musicians from West Africa.

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Music and Stories
Music and Stories
International Arts Festival

Music and Stories

Sun, 27 Oct 2024, 3:00pm

A family-friendly concert for an autumnal Sunday afternoon, informal and welcoming for all ages.

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Fat Dog
Fat Dog
International Arts Festival

Fat Dog

0.99 KM
Fri, 08 Nov 2024, 7:30pm

Fat Dog are one of London’s most exciting new bands, conjuring the sort of frenzied live shows not…

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Touch, Hear, Feel
Touch, Hear, Feel
International Arts Festival

Touch, Hear, Feel

01 - 04 Nov 2024

Touch, Hear, Feel is both an interactive installation and an immersive dance performance by choreographer and visual artist…

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Ingrid Persaud and Sunjeev Sahota
Ingrid Persaud and Sunjeev Sahota
International Arts Festival

Ingrid Persaud and Sunjeev Sahota

Tue, 12 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

Ingrid Persaud’s latest book, The Lost Love Songs of Boysie Singh, tells the unforgettable story of four incredible…

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Cultural Walking Tours: Old Belfast
Cultural Walking Tours: Old Belfast
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: Old Belfast

Thu, 31 Oct 2024, 11:00am

Take a tour of Belfast’s cultural quarter for a thorough and fun exploration of the heart of old…

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Blues & Ballads: An Evening with Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, and Freddie White
Blues & Ballads: An Evening with Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, and Freddie White
International Arts Festival

Blues & Ballads: An Evening with Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, and Freddie White

0.66 KM
Tue, 29 Oct 2024, 7:30pm

Belfast International Arts Festival presents blues legends Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, & the incomparable Irish singer-songwriter Freddie…

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Michael Longley
Michael Longley
International Arts Festival

Michael Longley

Wed, 06 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

Michael is welcomed to Belfast International Arts Festival for a special event to mark his 85th birthday in…

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Lisa Hannigan
Lisa Hannigan
International Arts Festival

Lisa Hannigan

Tue, 26 Nov 2024, 7:00pm

Belfast International Arts Festival welcomes Lisa to Belfast’s Mandela Hall on 26 November for a fully seated show.

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Väsen
Väsen
International Arts Festival

Väsen

Sun, 20 Oct 2024, 7:30pm

Swedish folk royalty Väsen present an evening of new and traditional folk music within the immersive sound environment…

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Cultural Walking Tours: Churches in Belfast
Cultural Walking Tours: Churches in Belfast
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: Churches in Belfast

Thu, 24 Oct 2024, 11:00am

In their various forms, Churches have been part of the life of Belfast people for a long time.

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The Persian, Kurdish, Celtic Connection
The Persian, Kurdish, Celtic Connection
International Arts Festival

The Persian, Kurdish, Celtic Connection

1.93 KM
Mon, 11 Nov 2024, 7:30pm

A cultural weave story with the sounds of Persian, Kurdish and Irish instruments and vocals.

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Granny Jackson’s Dead
Granny Jackson’s Dead
International Arts Festival

Granny Jackson’s Dead

31 Oct - 03 Nov 2024

Granny Jackson’s Dead... but her story isn’t.

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Impasse
Impasse
International Arts Festival

Impasse

0.82 KM
Wed, 06 Nov 2024, 7:45pm

Impasse is a compelling exploration of ethnicity, identity and the experience of the Black diaspora.

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Bridging Beats: From Kansas City to Belfast
Bridging Beats: From Kansas City to Belfast
International Arts Festival

Bridging Beats: From Kansas City to Belfast

0.56 KM
Sat, 09 Nov 2024, 7:00pm

Prepare for a night of genre-defying performances with the phenomenal Kadesh Flow and the enchanting Jasmine “Jass” Couch!

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Celebrating The Past – MFA Fine Art
Celebrating The Past – MFA Fine Art
International Arts Festival

Celebrating The Past – MFA Fine Art

Wed, 20 Nov 2024, 6:00pm

The MFA Fine Art was the first of its kind on the island of Ireland and one of…

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Cultural Walking Tours: Anti-slavery Belfast Tour
Cultural Walking Tours: Anti-slavery Belfast Tour
International Arts Festival

Cultural Walking Tours: Anti-slavery Belfast Tour

14 - 21 Nov 2024

This tour reveals the story of Belfast’s involvement in this shameful transatlantic trade and the inspiring role of…

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BBC Introducing LIVE
BBC Introducing LIVE
International Arts Festival

BBC Introducing LIVE

Fri, 25 Oct 2024, 6:00pm

BBC Introducing LIVE returns to the Festival for a second year, showcasing unmissable performances from Northern Ireland’s rising…

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The Fidelio Trio
The Fidelio Trio
International Arts Festival

The Fidelio Trio

Sat, 26 Oct 2024, 7:30pm

Shortlisted for the 2016 Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, the Trio broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3 and…

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David Peace
David Peace
Festivals

David Peace

1.14 KM
Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 8:00pm

BIAF are delighted to welcome David Peace to Belfast for the publication of Munichs, the third novel in…

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