Belfast Coffee Festival 2026

What to Expect

Belfast Coffee Festival is the city’s first dedicated celebration of speciality coffee, taking over the restored Carlisle Memorial church building for a weekend of trade stands, cuppings and tastings. The programme brings together roasters, cafes and equipment suppliers from across Northern Ireland and further afield, alongside barista competitions and live music running through both days. It is built for coffee enthusiasts who want to taste widely and talk to the people behind the beans, but the trade-show format and range of ticket prices also make it an easy first visit for anyone who just likes a good cup and wants a day out in north Belfast.

Carlisle Memorial itself is worth a mention on its own terms - a striking Gothic Revival former church on Carlisle Circus that stood derelict for years before restoration work brought it back into public use, and hosting a coffee festival inside its restored interior gives the event a setting well beyond a standard exhibition hall. As a first edition, expect the organisers to lean on Northern Ireland’s existing speciality roasters and cafes rather than a huge international line-up, with cuppings (guided tasting sessions comparing beans side by side) running alongside the more straightforward trade stalls. The staggered ticket pricing, from £1 general entry slots up to £40 for fuller access, is designed to let people drop in for an hour or commit to the whole day.

Good to Know

• Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026, from 9am

• Carlisle Memorial, Carlisle Circus, Belfast

• Tickets from £1 up to £40 depending on entry type and time slot

• Trade show, cuppings, tastings, barista competitions and live music across the weekend

• Book in advance through the festival website; this is the festival’s first edition so early booking is sensible

Getting There

Carlisle Circus is on the edge of north Belfast city centre, around a 15-minute walk from Belfast Central and Great Victoria Street stations. Multiple Metro bus routes run along the Antrim Road and Crumlin Road close to the venue.