Footfall of more than 1.6 million was recorded in Belfast between August 2 and August 9 for the 2026 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, making this year's festival of Irish music, song, and dance the biggest ever.
“This has been a week like no other for Belfast and has once again put our city firmly on the international stage," Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One Business Improvement District, said in a statement on Monday.
Connolly said that footfall across the Belfast One BID area reached 1,653,999 from Sunday, August 2, to Sunday, August 9.
Figures for the same week in Belfast in 2025 show footfall of 874,925 – meaning the Fleadh has boosted visitor levels into the city core by 89%, when compared to the same time last year.
Saturday, August 8 was the busiest day of 2026 to date with 289,560 visitors recorded in the area.
The figures wildly exceeded original predictions of around 800,000 for the entirety of the Fleadh. It has also more than doubled the figures achieved by the 2025 Fleadh in Wexford, which saw 750,000 people enjoy the eight-day event.
August 8, 2026: Scenes from Belfast on the busiest day of Fleadh 2026. (Belfast City Council)
“This success has been a true partnership," Connolly said on Monday, thanking her team at Belfast One BID as well as the Fleadh organizers, PSNI, and partners across the city.
“Our business community and their teams also played a vital role, with creative activations, pop-up venues, performances and surprises, working behind the scenes to help create the vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that made the streets of Belfast come alive and drove even more visitors to the festival as a whole," she commented.
“Most importantly, this success belongs to the people of Belfast. They embraced the experience, came into the city in huge numbers and created a truly positive and welcoming atmosphere."
It has previously been confirmed that Belfast will play host to the Fleadh again next year, from August 1 - 8.
“We know there is more work to do next year to build on this success and ensure a lasting legacy," Connolly added on Monday.
"What we have seen so far, and the excitement and hope for next year’s event already, has been incredibly positive for the city.”
August 8, 2026: Scenes in Belfast during the Fleadh. (Belfast City Council)
Among the throngs of people who descended on Belfast for the Fleadh over the past week were more than 5,000 competitors from 22 countries in 180 categories.
Outside the main competitions, the Fleadh hosted 438 official events, including 107 acts on the main Gig Rig stage alone.
Over 90 venues took part in the official programme overall, including more than 50 in the city’s neighbourhoods, as part of a fringe festival.
The Fleadh's competitions concluded on Sunday evening with the hotly contested Senior Céilí Bands competition at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall.
Ultimately, the Lissadell Céilí Band, whose members hail from Sligo, Mayo, Cavan, Westmeath and Tipperary, came out on top. As the winners, they went on to perform on the Gig Rig outside Belfast City Hall as part of the Fleadh's closing ceremony.
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