Belfast City Council and its strategic partners have unveiled comprehensive traffic and travel arrangements ahead of this summer's Comhaltas Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The multi-agency strategy, developed alongside Translink, the Department for Infrastructure, and the PSNI, aims to maintain safe and efficient transit across the city during the eight-day festival.

The announcement confirms the complete pedestrianisation of Belfast city centre to establish a secure and welcoming event zone. The city is hosting the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture for the first time from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 August. Directional signage is being erected across Belfast to inform residents and commuters of the incoming changes.

Organisers are strongly discouraging the use of private cars in the city centre due to extensive road closures and diversions. Visitors, city centre workers, and businesses are urged to plan ahead, factor in extra travel time, and utilise public transport, walking, or cycling.

All Ulsterbus, Metro, and Glider services will maintain normal operations, with minor amendments to bus stops published online and via the Translink Journey Planner app. NI Railways will run a revised timetable featuring enhanced capacity.

To minimise daytime disruption, city centre business deliveries will be restricted to an overnight window between 4:00am and 8:00am. This will be managed by a 24/7 Accreditation and Logistics Hub operated by the council, providing a central coordination point for stock replenishment and commercial waste collections. Access passes and delivery slot booking information are being distributed directly to affected premises, including licensed venues, banks, and pharmacies.

The transport layout has been designed in close cooperation with emergency services to ensure rapid access through the pedestrianised zones. Specific provisions include establishing a coach hub on Linenhall Street, allocating designated pick-up and drop-off points for taxis around the event zone, and setting up two dedicated car parks for blue badge holders.

800,000 people anticipated over the course of the event, three dedicated Park and Ride facilities will be established outside the city centre:



Eikon Exhibition Centre (accessible from the M1)



Giant's Park (accessible from the M2)



Belfast Harbour (accessible from the M3)



These sites will cost £10 per day, and pre-booking opens on Monday 6 July via fleadhcheoil.ie/travel. Fully accessible free shuttle buses will connect these car parks directly to Grand Central Station or Laganside Bus Centre. Blue badge holders will receive allocated disabled parking slots upon pre-booking.



Official Fleadh campsites located at the Titanic Quarter, Ormeau Park, and Falls Park are positioned within short walking distance of the city centre or key public transport links. The vast majority of official venues sit within a 15-minute walk of the city centre. Additional wayfinding signs and volunteers will be stationed at transit hubs, including Belfast Grand Central Station and Lanyon Place Station. A daily, fully accessible city centre loop shuttle bus will also serve individuals with accessibility requirements or those transporting heavy instruments.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, said: "Hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Belfast for the first time will bring significant crowds to our city and we want everyone to enjoy the event, with as little disruption as possible.

"Pedestrianising the city centre will create a safer and more enjoyable experience for residents, visitors and performers alike, and enable us to create the festival atmosphere the Fleadh is famous for.

"Our message is simple - don't drive into the city centre while Fleadh is in town. Walk, cycle or use public transport instead and make sure to leave extra time for your journey, whatever your plans. If you're travelling into Belfast for the Fleadh, pre-book your parking in advance for one of our dedicated Park and Ride sites, or take the bus or train instead.

"By working together, and heeding this travel advice, we can all help the event to run smoothly and ensure everyone moves with the rhythm of the Fleadh this summer." Frequent connections will also be maintained via airport services alongside cross-border coach and rail links.

Translink Belfast Area Manager Sean McGreevy said: "Public transport has a vital role to play in showcasing the city and beyond this summer, and we have worked closely with our Fleadh event partners to provide a tailored transport plan, providing convenient and good-value journey options.

"Translink has extensive experience of delivering successful transport plans for major events and we want to help everyone get to where they need to be, reducing congestion and ensuring Belfast stays on the move with all available resources in operation.

"Our services and facilities will be bustling over the summer, especially Belfast Grand Central Station, which will be a welcoming main gateway into the city. We're looking forward to welcoming thousands of additional visitors on board our buses, coaches and trains during Fleadh, as well as ensuring we meet the needs of our regular customers.

"Customers should expect Translink services to be very busy, so using on-board bus contactless payment options is recommended for speed and convenience and everyone is advised to plan their travel in advance, leaving extra time for journeys."

Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick said: "Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will be one of the largest events taking place in Belfast in recent times.

As part of our proactive policing operation, the public will see increased police visibility and patrols across Belfast, with uniformed and plain-clothed officers focusing on key leisure and event spaces and venues, plus transport hubs, to reassure the public, deter criminal activity and support local businesses.

"Colleagues from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Safer Transport Team will be on hand across the public transport network, with Project Servator deployed as part of our strategic operation.

"We are working closely with key transport partners to ensure that everyone stays safe and enjoys the events taking place. By working together, this will ensure safety for all those using public transport and the increased traffic expected during the Fleadh.

"The Fleadh is set to be a world-class event, and we hope that both performers and spectators enjoy Belfast as a vibrant and welcoming city."

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said: "The Fleadh is a landmark event for Belfast, and the Department is supporting Belfast City Council's extensive traffic management measures to ensure their event runs safely and smoothly.

"City centre road closures, pedestrianisation, temporary parking and waiting restrictions will be in place, and motorists are urged to follow all signage and comply with these arrangements.

"With significant visitor footfall expected, we would strong encourage people to use public transport, Park and Ride and active travel options, rather than driving into the city centre.

"Throughout the event, our Traffic Information and Control Centre will monitor traffic conditions in real time, enabling a coordinated response to minimise disruption across the wider network."

Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister, said: "Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is set to be an incredible celebration of music, culture and community.

"Hosting this major event will deliver wide‑ranging economic, cultural and tourism benefits across the north, driving regional spend, strengthening our global profile and creating lasting legacy impact.

"This transport plan offers a wide range of options for those travelling to the Fleadh and we encourage visitors to use public transport, where possible, to support a more sustainable journey. We want to ensure everyone enjoys their experience, including those who will extend their visit to explore what we have to offer beyond the Fleadh."

Comprehensive travel details, booking options, and route logistics are hosted at fleadhcheoil.ie/travel. Specific transit, ticketing, and bus stop variations can be found at translink.co.uk/fleadh, while business logistics and maps of the pedestrianised zone are accessible via belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh.