NI Hospice Europa Abseil Challenge

What to Expect

Participants abseil down the outside of Belfast’s Europa Hotel to raise money for Northern Ireland Hospice, with two 2026 sessions on offer, Sunday 20 September and Sunday 4 October, each starting at 9.00am and running for around two hours. It is one of NI Hospice’s best-known challenge fundraisers, taking participants over a dozen storeys down the front of one of Belfast’s most recognisable buildings under the supervision of qualified abseil instructors from Belfast Activity Centre, who run the rigging and safety side of the event. Entrants must be at least 14 years old, with anyone under 18 needing parental or legal guardian consent, and places are open to first-timers as much as experienced abseilers, since full safety briefing and equipment are provided on the day. It is a popular event for workplace teams, families and individuals looking for a one-off physical challenge in aid of hospice care. Because the Europa is one of Belfast’s tallest and most central hotels, the abseil offers a genuinely dramatic view over the city centre rooftops on the way down, which has helped make it one of NI Hospice’s most talked-about annual fundraisers. Participants are fitted with a full harness and helmet and briefed thoroughly by instructors before starting, and previous abseiling experience is not required, though the charity does recommend a reasonable level of general fitness given the height involved.

Good to Know

• Dates: Sunday 20 September and Sunday 4 October 2026, both starting at 9.00am, roughly two hours.
• Venue: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria Street, Belfast.
• Registration fee: £40, with a minimum sponsorship requirement of £150.
• Minimum age 14, with under-18s requiring parental or legal guardian consent.
• Book a place at belfastactivitycentre.cinolla.com/course/europa-abseil-3.
• All funds raised support Northern Ireland Hospice’s in-patient and at-home care services.

Getting There

The Europa Hotel is on Great Victoria Street in Belfast city centre, directly beside the Grand Opera House and a short walk from Belfast Great Victoria Street train station and the main Europa Buscentre, making it one of the most accessible venues in the city by public transport.