With just three days to go until Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann arrives in Belfast, Belfast City Council and Translink are urging visitors, residents and commuters to plan ahead, allow extra time for travel and switch to public transport, even for the final leg into the city.

More than 800,000 people are expected to attend between Sunday 2 and Sunday 9 August. A substantial part of the city centre will be pedestrianised to create a safe, welcoming festival zone. Main routes across the wider city will remain open, but drivers should check their journeys in advance and build in additional time.

Road closures, diversions and no-waiting/parking restrictions will be in force from 5am on Sunday 2 August until 7am on Monday 10 August, making it difficult to drive through or near the city centre, including for drop-offs.

Those travelling from outside Belfast are encouraged to use public transport for their whole journey or complete it via free shuttle buses from three low-cost Fleadh Park and Ride sites. Residents, commuters and other visitors are advised not to drive into the city centre. People living in the city are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport.

Motorists heading towards the city for work or the Fleadh can use one of the three Fleadh Park & Ride sites to get into the centre for the day. Two of the sites will also offer overnight parking options.

Public transport

All Metro, Glider, Ulsterbus and train services will operate throughout the event with extra capacity and more frequent services to meet demand. Some bus stops and pick-up points around City Hall will be temporarily relocated; changes will be signposted on site and published on the Translink website and Journey Planner app. Additional late-night bus and rail services will run on Sunday 2 August and again from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August to help people get home safely after evening events. Special Fleadh day-return bus services (subject to demand) from towns and cities across Northern Ireland are available to pre-book online. Services are expected to be very busy, so plan ahead and allow extra time. Visit translink.co.uk/fleadh and download the Translink Journey Planner app.

Park and Ride Three official Fleadh Park and Ride sites will operate at Eikon Exhibition Centre, Sprucefield (near the M1), Giant's Park (near the M2) and Belfast Harbour Estate (near the M3), providing an easy alternative to driving into the centre. Large directional signs will guide drivers to each location. Frequent shuttle buses, running every 10 minutes at peak times, will connect all three sites to the city centre each day of the event, with single-day and multi-day options available (day parking only at Giant's Park). Spaces can be booked in advance at fleadhcheoil.ie/parkandride, or paid for on the day using contactless machines only. All spaces are first-come, first-served.

Walking and cycling

Belfast is compact and most Fleadh venues are within easy walking distance. Belfast Bikes will continue to operate during the festival, though a small number of city-centre docking stations will be temporarily unavailable. Frank and Honest Belfast Bikes by Beryl is offering 20% off 100-minute bundles in the week leading up to and throughout the festival. Secure cycle parking is available in CastleCourt (ground-floor car park), with additional on-street docks across the city centre.

Accessible options

All three Park and Ride sites have disabled parking close to shuttle pick-up points, and shuttle buses will be low-floor for easier access. Dedicated Blue Badge parking, on a first-come, first-served basis, will be available at Dunbar Street (outside Common Market) and Winetavern Street/Smithfield Market. A free city-centre loop service will also operate during the event to assist people with mobility issues, families and those carrying heavy instruments around the event zone.

Taxis and coaches

Taxi services will continue to operate, with dedicated pick-up and drop-off points at Corporation Street, Little Donegall Street, the junction of North Street and Royal Avenue, King Street, Adelaide Street and Chichester Street, around the perimeter of the pedestrianised zone. Main taxi operators have been briefed and will advise users of collection points when booking by phone or app. Public hire taxis will operate as normal where possible, with some temporary relocations at peak times.

Coach and tour bus services will operate from Linenhall Street and three dedicated parking sites throughout the event. Tour operators can book slots to use the free coach terminal or coach parking areas, where comfort and convenience facilities for drivers will be available. For booking information, contact Belfast City Council.

For the latest public transport updates from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 August, visit translink.co.uk/fleadh, follow Translink on social media and download the Journey Planner app. Details of the pedestrianised event zone, road closures and specific guidance for residents and commuters are available at belfastcity.gov.uk/fleadh.