If you're not able to make it to Belfast, check out our YouTube documentary looking back at the first few days of the Fleadh.

BBC News NI's Jamie McColgan meets young people from the Ed Sheeran Foundation as well as the band Wilde Rose.

You can watch it below.

Belfast has just come through a week that people are already calling historic.

The Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets for a festival of Irish music and culture hosted in Belfast for the very first time.

On Talkback today, presenter William Crawley brought together guests to ask what it says about Belfast right now, and whether this could be a real turning point for the city.

He spoke to Glenn Miller, from the Belfast Bands Forum, Professor Duncan Morrow from the Ulster University, Irish-language teacher and activist Linda Ervine, and Irish News columnist Chris Donnelly.

You can listen below.

Barry O'Connor
BBC News NI

Music and pints both flowed in the city centre at lunchtime today.

Dry weather allowed this session to spill out onto the cobblestones and even as competitions were happening in venues around the city centre, craic was mighty in and around the pubs.

This weekend is only to get busier!

John Campbell
BBC News NI economics and business editor

At the start of the week, Northern Ireland's economy minister was saying the Fleadh could bring in £53m; by the end of the week, she thought the boost to Belfast would be more than that.

It will take some time to get a full estimate, however.

When assessing the impact of an event like the Fleadh, economists try to work out the ‘additionality’ - the extra economic impact which has only occurred as a result of the event.

That is more complicated than just multiplying the number of estimated visitors by an estimated amount of spending per head.

They have to assess ‘deadweight’ - the tourist spending that would have happened anyway and ‘leakage’ - the spending with leaks away from Belfast to businesses based elsewhere, such as international drinks companies.

There is also the impact of ‘reallocation’ - spending by local people which simply moves from one business to another and ‘displacement’ - spending which doesn’t happen such as people choosing not to do their usual city centre shopping during the event.

The Fleadh has characteristics which means it is good at generating additionality:

• it attracts people from outside Belfast and NI
• it happens over a week which helps drive spending on accommodation
• it is decentralised with spending across multiple businesses

The Fleadh was part of Derry’s Capital of Culture in 2013 and a post-event analysis found that it was by far the most significant event in generating additionality across that year.

Read more on the economic projections here.

Catherine Morrison
BBC News Northern Ireland reporter

There's a queue of people already waiting to get in to the grounds of Belfast City Hall. Those inside have come prepared, with camping chairs and picnics.

This afternoon there's a céilí, some cross-cultural music and two well-known groups: TRIP and Lúnasa - line-up here, external.

The Fleadh is a festival of Irish music and culture, so fiddles, tin whistles, bodhráns and accordions predominate.

But some musicians are bringing a more international flavour to proceedings, with instruments including the rubab and the daf.

The charity Beyond Skin invited some musicians to perform traditional instruments from their home countries.

Soraya Hoesseini, originally from Afghanistan, plays the rubab, which is her country's national instrument.

"It’s not just about music," she says.

"It’s about a connection between people and different cultures here.

In every corner of the city there are musicians from different cultures. I have met with musicians connecting through Persian, Syrian and Irish musical cultures"

Sara Fotros, who's originally from Iran but living in London, plays the daf, a drum that is played with the hand, rather than a stick. She has been learning from local musicians whilst visiting.

"I had the opportunity to meet bodhrán players and play with them and learn some new techniques from them.

"Throughout this week I’ve noticed how much Irish people love music and they’ve been very really welcoming… they’re not only interested in the music that I play but the culture I come from also.”

Patrick Magee
BBC News NI

Image source, Coco Belfast

Ed Sheeran appears to have been making his way around Belfast this week from shaking cocktails behind the counter at a restaurant, to leaving a coffee shop on the Lower Ormeau Road with one of their pastel de natas.

Image source, Nata Coffee House

There’s just one catch… these visits are all AI-generated creations from local businesses joining in on the trend, inspired by rumours the singer could make an appearance at the Fleadh.

So far there's no sign of the real Ed - but the AI version is certainly keeping busy.

Image source, Honey Co. Coffee

As the Fleadh kicked off this week our radio programmes have been out and about taking it all in.

Good Morning Ulster was broadcast live from the gig rig at Belfast City Hall and presenter Sarah Brett was joined by a range of guests including Niall McClean, who has been instrumental in bringing the Fleadh to Belfast, and Lauren Smyth, a former principal lead dancer with Riverdance.

Listen below as Sarah began by asking Niall about the significance of the Fleadh taking place in Belfast.

The city centre has been buzzing since the arrival of the Fleadh last Sunday.

More than 176,000 people were in the city centre for the opening ceremony - an increase of 95% on the same day last year.

Organisers had expected 800,000 to visit but say it looks like they may now pass exceed that number.

Take a look at some of the crowds that have soaked up the atmosphere.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Pacemaker

Finn Purdy
BBC News NI

Mary Jo McCanny from Visit Belfast said she hoped that many of the first-time visitors to Belfast for the Fleadh would return.

“We know already that our visitors when they come they have an amazing time and so many of them say they’ll come back but I think this will really strengthen that.

“I think the experiences that they have on the ground today for a cruise passenger or for a few days for somebody just coming for the Fleadh, they’ll definitely bring people back.

She added that the Fleadh was the “biggest event that the city has ever hosted”.

“We are expecting loads and loads of visitors, an estimation of about 800,000 visitors, but I think already we are ahead of the game with that.

Have you ever heard a trad version of Pink Pony Club?

As Belfast city centre is pedestrianised, pubs have been setting up outdoor stages and crowds have been gathering to listen to musicians.

We took this video of crowds on High Street in Belfast at around 11pm dancing to a trad version of Pink Pony Club.

Less than a week ago, Scottish singer Cammy Barnes performed to millions of viewers across the world when he sang a duet with Australian singer Delta Goodrem at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Glasgow.

Later tonight, he'll perform a free gig at Custom House Square. It's at 18:20BST, tickets are not required and it'll be first come, first served.

"I’m buzzing to get over to Belfast for the Fleadh," he told BBC News NI.

"It's one I've been excited to play for a while.

It's been an incredible few weeks, so to get the chance to keep that momentum going in a city I love is something I'm really looking forward to."

Image source, PA Media

Peter Coulter
BBC News NI live page reporter

A few weeks ago, a lot of people in Northern Ireland probably had never heard of the Fleadh or could tell you anything about it.

But since the festival started last Sunday, the streets have been packed, everywhere you look someone is playing a musical instrument or a session seems to have popped up out of nowhere.

The streets have been pedestrianised and old buildings that have been derelict for decades have been brought back to life for this week as temporary pubs move in. The buses are packed as well, getting a Glider home last night at 11pm felt more like a London tube at rush hour than Belfast at the end of the night.

Northern Ireland's First Minister said everyone she meets says the city is just "buzzing" and things are really just getting started.

There are hundreds of gigs and concerts planned for today and the rest of the weekend. Northern Irish artists like Foy Vance and Ryan McMullan will be performing free gigs in the city centre but that's just sample of what's going on.

Image source, PA Media

The Fleadh, the top all-Ireland celebration and competition of Irish music and dance, had never been held in Belfast before.

So it's maybe no surprise that thousands of people flocked to the City Hall last Sunday to get it officially started.

The opening ceremony featured performances from local musicians and dancers, including Ards CCÉ, the local branch of Comhaltas, which organises the Fleadh, before speeches from Irish President Catherine Connolly, First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Belfast Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly.

President Connolly described it as “very, very special” that the Fleadh is being held in Belfast, saying the festival celebrates “what we have in common and the universality of music, song and dance”.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she couldn't be prouder that Belfast is hosting the event. "It is our Fleadh and we'll celebrate it together," she said.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said culture does not divide people.

"It strengthens the place we all call home," she added.

Image source, Pacemaker Press

The celebrations continued throughout the day with performances on the Gig Rig stage outside City Hall, while traditional music, dance and street performances spilled out across Belfast city centre.

The eight-day festival runs until 9 August, with more than 200 events taking place across the city, including competitions, concerts, workshops and family activities.

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI

One of the faces of the Fleadh, Caitlin, posed beside one of the many posters advertising the event.

She says she has lost count of the number of messages she has received from friends who have spotted her.

Visitors from near and far have been filling Belfast's streets and soaking up the atmosphere. What do they make of Belfast and the Fleadh?

Jonas from Dresden in Germany says he and his family will be back.

“My dad used to be a trad musician back in the day and so I invited my parents to come here and check out the Fleadh for the week.

"There’s so much going on. It’s really great.

We got to walk about a lot and check out a whole bunch of different places. We also took a tour to the Giant’s Causeway. It’s been a fantastic experience so far. We’ll absolutely come back.”

Des Cahill is from Cavan but lives in Dublin. He’s in Belfast for the day, specifically for the Fleadh.

It’s his first visit to the city which he describes the city as “fantastic”.

"People have been very friendly," he said. "It’s mighty.”

His sister-in-law Carmel is from Mullingar.

“The minute we arrived into the train station we were welcomed with open arms. Everybody was very friendly and we haven’t met anybody unfriendly.”

She says: “Belfast is not to be missed. A great place to be. Very positive vibes”.

“I’ll definitely be back next year."

Renee Grandmitre from Ottawa Canada is travelling across Ireland and Scotland. She says Belfast has been on her “bucket list” because the Titanic left from here.

“I wanted to experience the history of it all," she said.

She’s excited to attend the Fleadh and loves Belfast.

“I love the diversity, the vibrancy. There’s always something going on. It’s very different from Canada obviously.” She’d “absolutely” recommend the city to her friends and come back. “I’m still discovering it but I just love how warm the people are.

"The city comes alive at any time of the day.”

Image source, Belfast City Council

As well as the main Fleadh stages in central Belfast, there are plenty of fringe events happening around the city today.

Here are some events worth checking out if you're heading in to town:

For starters:

• Family Fun Day - Whiterock Library (10:00-16:00, free): balloon animals, face painting, games, crafts, stories and a visit from the Amazon Jungle Show
• Play Make-Believe - 2 Royal Avenue (13:00 and 14:00, free): a chance for children to get involved in imaginative play
• MOIRO (Music of Irish Origin) - 2 Royal Avenue (19:00-23:00): live music

• North Blöck Night Market at Crumlin Road Gaol (19:00) and Templehouse Céilí Band at Belfast Castle (20:00), both in north Belfast
• Fleadh flavoured Cabaret Evening at Shaftesbury Bowling Club (19:30)
• Poetry Workshop with Stephen James Smith at Cregagh Library (14:00-16:00)

There's plenty more to explore here, external.

The biggest change in town this week has been the creation of a large pedestrianised zone around Belfast city centre, helping people move safely between performances and events.

More than 176,000 people recorded in the city centre for Sunday’s opening ceremony - a 95% increase on the same day last year and Belfast’s busiest day so far in 2026.

Because of the strong turnout, organisers have extended the pedestrianised zone around City Hall until the Fleadh ends on Sunday.

Many roads will remain closed to general traffic until 07:00 BST on Monday, with drivers being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys.

First things first.

It's an annual arts festival and competition.

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann means the festival of the music of Ireland, and it is run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) - the society of the musicians of Ireland.

The organisation was founded in 1951 by traditional musicians and Gaelic culture advocates from across Ireland who wanted to enhance traditional music, dance and language on the island.

Each year numerous fleadhanna (festivals) are hosted across Ireland, at county and provincial level.

In oversea regions where fleadhanna are also held, they are sometimes known as "féilte".

The best-known of these festivals is Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, often simply known as the Fleadh, which draws thousands of people.

It's been held in Mullingar, Athlone, Sligo, Drogheda, Ennis, Dublin and Derry among others - but never before this year had it been held in Belfast.

Image source, Pacemaker

If you've been in Belfast over the last few days, you will have noticed it's a very different city from usual.

People are meandering down closed roads, pubs have benches outside in the sunshine, and the sounds of Irish traditional music waft out from every corner, bench and stage.

The sixth day of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is now under way, meaning that at the Gig Rig at Belfast City Hall, the first competitions are about to begin.

Over the next three days, competitors from across Ireland and around the world will hope to earn county and provincial honours in the biggest celebration of Irish traditional music, song and dance.

More than 180 competitions are taking place across the city, with everything from traditional instrumental performances and singing to céilí dancing on display.

BBC NI's reporters are speaking to competitors, visitors and organisers as Belfast continues to buzz with music and activity.

If you’re looking for everything you need to know about Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, you can click here for our guide.