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heritage · Monday 27 July 2026 · Various 
Scoil Eigse Traditional Music Summer School Belfast 2026
At Ulster University Belfast · York Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT15 1AP
At Ulster University Belfast · York Street, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT15 1AP
Each summer, the week before Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, hundreds of traditional musicians converge on the host city to study together at Scoil Eigse - Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s flagship music summer school. In 2026 that city is Belfast, and the school runs at Ulster University’s York Street campus. Between 700 and 900 students attend each year, from young beginners aged seven to adult players in their seventies, arriving from across Ireland, Europe, North America, and further afield. If you have ever wanted a week of intensive, focused tuition from some of the finest traditional musicians alive, this is it.
Tuition covers virtually every corner of the tradition. Instrument classes run in fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes, button accordion, piano accordion, concertina, banjo, bodhrán, harp, and whistle. There are dedicated classes in traditional singing, amhranaiocht, sean-nos dance, Irish language conversation, piano accompaniment, and foundation sessions for younger or newer learners. Masterclasses are also on the schedule. Classes are kept deliberately small so students get genuine time with their tutor rather than sitting in a crowd.
The evenings are as much a part of the experience as the daytime. Club Eigse runs nightly sessions - typically 8pm to 9.30pm - where tutors gather to play tunes at a pace students can follow and join in. Students suggest the tune selections, which keeps it lively. The week ends with Seisiun Mor na hEigse, a big celebratory session bringing together all students and tutors.
The school runs at Ulster University Belfast’s modern York Street campus, a substantial purpose-built building opened in recent years with lecture theatres, large study spaces, and several catering outlets on site.
Belfast is well served by road and rail. From Dublin, the Enterprise train runs directly to Belfast Grand Central Station, which is a short walk from the York Street campus. Bus Eireann and GoBus services also connect Dublin to Belfast. Within Northern Ireland, Translink operates frequent Metro bus services throughout the city, with several stops near York Street. If you are driving, the campus sits just north of the city centre; paid parking is available nearby in the Cathedral Quarter and along York Street itself.
The Fleadh takes over the wider city in the days that follow Scoil Eigse, so arriving early for the school means you are already in position for one of the biggest Irish music festivals in the world. There is more to see in Belfast and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Ulster University 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.