Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festival set for record crowds in Wexford 2024 and Belfast 2026

The world’s largest annual celebration of Irish music, the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, will be hosted in Wexford town, County Wexford, from August 4‑11 2024 and again in 2025. Organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the event is projected to attract over 400,000 visitors, generating tens of millions of euros for the local economy through competitions, concerts, street sessions and cultural workshops.

In 2026 the festival will move to Belfast for the first time, with organisers estimating up to 800,000 attendees across an eight‑day programme that will include traditional music sessions, pub performances and major stage concerts. Belfast, a UNESCO City of Music, expects the influx to boost tourism and showcase its vibrant cultural scene.

Both editions highlight the Fleadh’s role in preserving Irish musical heritage while driving significant tourism revenue in the host towns.