Concerts in Belfast  

Summer is a busy time for Belfast, with a lot of outdoor concerts and music festivals happening – despite the unpredictable weather! Here are some of the upcoming gigs that need to be on your radar: 

AVA

AVA Festival was the first ever grassroots electronic music and visual art festival in Belfast, made for and by Irish artists and promoters. This year, it is taking place on the 30 and 31 May on the Titanic Slipways with Underworld, an electronic duo who are synonymous with UK rave culture headlining.

Image from Tourism Northern Ireland

Belsonic

Belsonic is an outdoor festival held in Belfast in June and for 2025, the festival will be held in Ormeau Park with acts like Charli XCX, Justin Timberlake and Snow Patrol taking to the stage.  

Belfast TradFest

Belfast TradFest is the pinnacle of world-class traditional music concerts, fiery pub sessions and Ireland’s fastest growing summer school of traditional music taking place between Sunday 27 July and Sunday 3 August 2025. 

Belfast Vital

Previously known as Tennent's Vital, Belfast Vital is taking place in Boucher Road Playing fields this year with Sam Fender and Fontaines DC headlining two shows in August. 

CHSq

The CHSq festival this year will run from August to early September. This music festival is the smallest of those hosted in Belfast over the summer and for 2025 will be welcoming Amble, Kingfishr and The Darkness to name but a few to the stage.  

Image from customhousesquare.com

Emerge 

Emerge Musical Festival returns to Boucher Road Playing Fields in August this year, hosting some of the world’s biggest dance acts to Belfast with Fatboy Slim headlining.  

Farmer’s Bash 

Since launching in 2017, the Farmer’s Bash has grown into an annual celebration and this year will be a two-day festival at Boucher Road Playing fields in August. With multiple stages for acts like The 2 Johnnies, The Coronas and Kaiser Chiefs, alongside a Shrek Rave and Bingo Loco.  

Festivals in Belfast

There’s more to summer than just outdoor gigs. Belfast is busy with festivals that celebrate books, culture, creativity and community so whether you’re into powerful stories or parades that light up the whole city, here are some of our suggestions: 

Belfast Book Festival

Hosted in The Crescent each June, not too far from our campus, the Belfast Book Festival gives you the opportunity to watch, meet and listen to storytellers, write your own stories, get crafty and build, borrow or buy your summer reading list.  

Belfast Pride Festival

Belfast Pride is the biggest event of the year for the LGBTQIA+ community here. Our university actively takes part in Belfast Pride, with events on campus and also walking in the parade. For more information on how you can take part in Pride this July alongside the university, keep an eye on What’s On at Queen’s.

Féile an Phobail  

Féile an Phobail is Ireland’s Biggest Community Arts Festival. The Féile provides a programme of inclusive arts, cultural and community-based activities throughout the year, with the August Féile celebrations being the highlight!  

Mela Festival

Mela is one of Northern Ireland’s largest art festivals bringing together music, dance, arts and food from across the world to celebrate our city’s proud cultural diversity. Thousands of visitors will descend on Belfast to revel in a unique carnival of global cultures. The festival will take place in Botanic Gardens (right next door to our campus) from 16 – 24 August.

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What's On at Queen's

Zoe Brankin Staff Writer | Queen's Global Hi, I'm Zoe, and I'm proud to be part of the Queen's Global team.     Over the past six years, I've held roles that let me create content for a variety of audiences, from start-ups to larger organisations. At Queen's, I'm always exploring new and creative ways to bring fresh content ideas to our main website.   Outside of work, I love reading (I even run a local book club), spending time with my dogs, and never missing an opportunity for a coffee or brunch outing.