Belfast International Arts Festival is Northern Ireland’s premier international arts event and has been the annual highlight of the local cultural calendar for over 60 years. Each October, the Festival presents the very best artists and performers from across the globe; bringing Belfast audiences a world class programme of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature and film, in some of the city’s most iconic venues.
Additional special and one-off events are also held at other times of the year. A recent global survey by the British Council found that Belfast International Arts Festival is better known in G20 countries than both Edinburgh Fringe and Hay Festivals.