Belfast to host All-Ireland music festival in 2026
The world's largest festival of Irish music and dance is to take place in Belfast in 2026.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the All-Ireland Fleadh - is held for a week during August and, in the past, has welcomed up to 600,000 visitors to the host town or city.
Organisers Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Belfast City Council officially made the announcement at an event in City Hall on Saturday.
It will be the second time the event will be held in Northern Ireland.
In 2013 Londonderry hosted the event, attracting an estimated 400,000 people and 20,000 performers.
At the 2024 All-Ireland Fleadh in Wexford, more than 500,000 people visited and more than 1,500 people took part.
The 2025 event is scheduled to take place between 3 -10 August in Wexford.
Dr Labhrás Ó Murchú, the director general of Comhaltas, told BBC News NI he has "been looking forward to this for many years".
"It is the Olympics of culture and friendship, and with Comhaltas organised across 22 countries worldwide, I believe this will be one of the greatest gatherings of all time.
"The fleadh belongs to everyone and everybody will put their own mark on it."
The chairperson of Ards Comhaltas has described the announcement as a "historic day for Belfast" and a "historic day for the north".
Niall McClean said Belfast is the ideal city to host
"For the event, this city has got everything; the venues are incredible, and the streets will be buzzing with music."
Fleadh Cheoil is an annual Irish arts festival and competition run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - the society of the musicians of Ireland.
The organisation was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across Ireland.
They sought to enhance traditional Irish music, dance and language in Ireland.
Each year Comhaltas hosts numerous fleadhanna (festivals) across the island at county and provincial level.
In oversea regions where fleadhanna are also held they are sometimes known as "Féilte".
The best-known of these festivals is Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, often simply known as the Fleadh.
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