What's on in Belfast, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Busy — February half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Busy — St Patrick's Day, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  St Patrick's Day

  1–17 MarMajor festivalCrowded

  The city runs a programme through the first half of March, ending with the parade and a concert in the centre on the 17th. It is a public holiday here, so the shops keep Sunday hours. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Belfast City Marathon, Easter / spring holiday in United Kingdom

• Festival

  Belfast City Marathon

  28 Apr – 8 May · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Usually the first Sunday in May, running from Stormont into the centre and taking a long east-west line of the city out of use for most of the morning. Rooms go with the bank holiday weekend. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Belfast City Marathon, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Belfast City Marathon (28 Apr – 8 May (usually))

Busy — Late-May half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Peak crowds — The Eleventh Night and Twelfth, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

• Holiday

  The Eleventh Night and Twelfth

  10–14 JulNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  Bonfires on the evening of the 11th and Orange Order parades on the 12th, with a festival zone at the City Hall. Much of the city closes and bus routes change; it is worth knowing which streets you are near. Source ↗

Busy — Summer holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Belfast Mela

  22–30 AugMajor festival

  The city's multicultural festival builds over a week in late August around a carnival parade and a day in Botanic Gardens. Free, and the food stalls are the point. Source ↗

Busy — Culture Night, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Culture Night

  18 SepMajor festivalCrowded

  One Friday evening in mid-September when a couple of hundred free events open across the Cathedral Quarter and beyond. Everything is walkable and everything is full by seven. Source ↗

Busy — October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Belfast International Arts Festival

  14 Oct – 8 NovMajor festival

  Three and a half weeks of theatre, dance and music across thirty-odd venues from mid-October. It is the reason to be here in the worst month of the year for daylight. Source ↗

Busy — Christmas market at City Hall, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas market at City Hall

  14 Nov – 22 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  Chalets fill the City Hall lawns for five weeks from mid-November. It draws the whole province rather than just the city, so weekday lunchtimes are the only calm ones. Source ↗

Still on: Belfast International Arts Festival (14 Oct – 8 Nov)

Peak crowds — Christmas market at City Hall, Christmas holidays in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas market at City Hall (14 Nov – 22 Dec)