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seasonal · Friday 24 July 2026 · Various 
EastSide Arts Festival Belfast 2026
At Various venues, east Belfast · Eastside, Belfast, Co. Antrim
At Various venues, east Belfast · Eastside, Belfast, Co. Antrim
East Belfast has its own creative identity, and once a year the EastSide Arts Festival makes that impossible to miss. Celebrating its 15th year in 2026 under the theme Uniquely East, the festival runs for 10 days - 24 July to 2 August - and fills more than 100 events into a string of authentic east Belfast venues. Music, comedy, theatre, visual arts, film, circus, talks and walking tours all feature. The mix of ticketed shows and free outdoor events means it suits everyone from serious arts-goers to families looking for a summer afternoon out.
The 2026 programme is built around east Belfast’s own artists, places, and stories. CS Lewis Square - named after the author who grew up in the area - hosts headline performances including music concerts and large-scale shows. ParkFest returns to Orangefield Park on 1 August with a free family programme delivered in partnership with Belfast Circus. The Strand Arts Centre and Templemore Baths join as indoor venue hosts, while more intimate spots like Boundary Taproom and Titanic Distillers Pumphouse are used for smaller shows.
Among the confirmed events: Belfast singer-songwriter Gareth Dunlop plays an intimate set at the Titanic Distillers Pumphouse on 1 August; the EastSide Choir - marking its own 10th anniversary - pairs with author Jan Carson for a new show inspired by Carson’s novel Few and Far Between; and a site-specific installation at the George Best House reimagines a forgotten avant-garde film. The Nightingale Singing Session brings traditional Belfast street songs to Boundary Taproom, paired with stout and food. Tickets for individual shows are available at eastsidearts.ticketsolve.com and in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, 9 Donegall Square North (phone 028 9024 6609, Mon - Sat 9am - 7pm, Sun 11am - 4pm). Door sales are available where events have not sold out.
East Belfast lies just east of the city centre across the River Lagan. The Newtownards Road is the main artery running through the Eastside area, served by several Translink bus routes from Belfast city centre - journey times are typically under 15 minutes. Most festival venues sit within reasonable walking distance of each other once you are in the area. If you are driving, street parking is generally available on residential side streets around the Newtownards Road, though it fills quickly on busy event evenings.
East Belfast is worth time beyond the festival itself - the C.S. Lewis Trail, the Titanic Quarter, and the Eastside Visitor Centre on the Newtownards Road all reward an explore. There is more to see in Belfast and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Various venues, east Belfast in Belfast? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Belfast area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.