Celebrations taking place to mark the end of the Fleadh

Musical processions are making their way from east and west Belfast towards the city centre as the largest celebration of Irish music and culture in the world, the All-Ireland Fleadh, marks its final day.

This was the first time Belfast had hosted the event and is only the second time it has been held in Northern Ireland, having been hosted in Londonderry in 2013.

It is thought this year could end up being the biggest Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann ever, with visitor numbers expected to exceed one million over the course of the festival.

More than 200 events have taken place across the city in the past week, alongside competitions, concerts and street performances.

Musicians and music fans gathered at An Chultúrlann on the Falls Road in west Belfast and on the Beersbridge Road in east Belfast at 13:00 BST to make their way to the city centre.

The processions are stopping along the way to invite people to bid a fond farewell to the Fleadh until it returns to Belfast next year.

Performances for the final day of the Fleadh are also underway at Belfast City Hall.

Áirdan kicked off celebrations on the Gig Rig outdoor stage at City Hall, with the Shankill Road Defenders Flute Band, Celtic Roots and Foy Vance performing later.

The closing ceremony will begin at 18:00 BST, kicking off with a performance from singer-songwriter and harpist Niamh Noade, and it will close at midnight with a performance from the winners of the Senior Céilí Band Competition.

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The final day of judging began at 10:00 at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall, the Assembly Buildings, The Mac and Ulster University.

The judging will finish with the senior céilí bands competition at the ICC/Belfast Waterfront Hall at 17:30.

The winning senior céilí band will then take to the Gig Rig as the finale performance for the 2026 Fleadh.

Aside from the performances at City Hall on Sunday, a range of activities are taking place across the city centre.

The Seamus Heaney centre at Queen’s University Belfast is hosting an exhibition, called Something to Say that looks at the personal and professional friendship between Seamus Heaney and David Hammond.

You can visit an Irish language craft and culture market at Conway Mill and there will be plenty of sessions, external going on with workshops and arts activities available.

Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One Business Improvement District said the overall visitor number was expected to pass one million by the end of Friday. Numbers have been recorded by footfall cameras at six locations.

“Since the beginning of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, our Belfast One footfall cameras have recorded 900,020 visitors in the city centre up to Thursday,” she said.

Friday, she said, was the first of the three biggest days for the Fleadh as the main competitions kicked off and even more visitors arrived to soak up the atmosphere.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has said the festival is expected to exceed £53m terms of an economic boost to the city.

Visitors to the festival have been immersed in live music sessions, interactive workshops, dance classes and pop-up pubs for the past seven days.

Last Sunday, more than 176,000 people were in Belfast City Centre for the opening ceremony at Belfast City Hall.

More than 1,300 people also gave up their time to volunteer this week.