Belfast is embarking on an ambitious cultural celebration in 2024 which will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives.

Under the theme of Our People, Our Place and Our Planet, Belfast 2024 will present a year-long programme of exciting projects and events that will celebrate the city’s people, unleash creativity, embrace nature and connectivity, and put a spotlight on Belfast as a culturally vibrant city.

A number of art installations will be created across the city to highlight key themes. Sustainability is the theme of Power Plants by Oliver Jeffers, a forest of sculptural chimneys topped with flowers that will appear at Belfast City Hall in July. In the autumn, the dry dock where the Titanic was built will be the location of Shadow Dock, an immersive installation using light, shadow, colour and sound.

Titanic dry dock, Belfast © Tourism Ireland

As a UNESCO City of Music, Belfast will continue to develop and strengthen its musical credentials. In August, the city will celebrate its black culture in a musical journey that spans the years from 1845 to 2024 performed by So Lab Collective in the city centre. Later in the year there will be a major concert featuring the Ulster Orchestra and contemporary headliners.

Since the River Went on Fire will be a spectacular summer outdoor event featuring music, dance and puppetry, and in November Tuartha will present dance theatre combining arts and dance with poetry and Irish music and language.

The mermaid statue at the entrance to Titanic Belfast

Other events include Are you on the Bus, a theatrical journey through Belfast’s queer pasts, presents and possible futures and Hear, Touch, Feel, which will explore touch through choreography, fabrics, audio and video narratives.

The city’s maritime heritage, most famously as the birthplace of Titanic, will be celebrated in a number of events including a project that aims to build 10,000 boats of all sizes. The creation of a floating, inhabitable pavilion on the River Lagan will aim to stimulate conversation about the river’s potential to be a vital public space.

Big Fish, River Lagan, Belfast

Lots of other initiatives will invite locals and visitors alike to get involved in exploring and reimagining the city’s spaces for the future, engaging in creative projects and enjoying a wide range of cultural events. These will include the annual Belfast International Arts Festival and the Belfast Film Festival, which both take place in the autumn.

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, said: “Belfast 2024 looks set to shine a global spotlight on the vibrant creative culture of one of the UK's fastest growing travel destinations. Belfast is a fabulous place to visit with so much to see and do and it really shouldn’t be missed on a tour of the island of Ireland.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour of Northern Ireland, including a visit to the bustling capital Belfast, please do contact our friendly team today.