Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has confirmed a funding allocation of more than £40,000 from his department for Belfast Orangefest 2025.

This support aims to modernise the Twelfth of July celebrations, making them more accessible, inclusive, and relevant for contemporary Belfast.

Belfast Orangefest, originally established by the County Grand Lodge of Belfast in 2007, focuses on year-round engagement, addressing concerns, and developing new approaches to deliver a high-quality Twelfth of July event for this year and beyond.

Minister Lyons stated: "I am pleased to confirm funding of more than £40,000 from my department for the 2025 Orangefest. This support will enable Orangefest to engage with other bodies to make this year’s Twelfth of July celebrations an even more inclusive and family friendly event."

The Minister also underscored the significant impact of the celebrations on Belfast. "Orange celebrations are one of the largest, long-standing events of their kind in Belfast, attracting tens of thousands of domestic visitors, and year-on-year, increasingly many more from Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and many other parts of the world. This funding will help maximise the economic, social, and cultural opportunities for Belfast city centre."

The rejuvenation of Belfast Orangefest is being led by a dedicated Board of Directors. Their objectives include increasing city centre footfall, supporting tourism growth, developing a wider community engagement programme, and strengthening inter-community relations. The project, titled "Belfast Orangefest…A New Beginning," is directly supported by the Department for Communities funding, providing critical resources for the organisation's day-to-day infrastructure and operations.