Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival

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Arts & CultureBelfast
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
Duration11 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsCathedral Quarter Arts Festival's 2002
LanguageEnglishCurrency: GBP
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival fills Belfast's Cathedral Quarter with roughly eleven days of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature each May. Founded in 1999 by Sean Kelly and playwright Martin Lynch, the festival has built a reputation for socially engaged programming and platforming new Northern Irish work since its first edition in 2000.

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival was established in late 1999 by former teacher Sean Kelly together with playwright Martin Lynch, staging its first edition in May 2000 in the small, then largely overlooked district around St Anne's Cathedral that gives the festival its name.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival's 2002 literary programme brought Zadie Smith, Nick Hornby and Irvine Welsh to Belfast in a single edition, and the same year saw the festival debut of Martin Lynch's play History of the Troubles According to My Da before it transferred to the Grand Opera House, giving the festival a documented track record of incubating work that moved on to larger stages

02

The mystery stays covered

Its early programming deliberately tackled subjects, including gay rights, trade unions and interfaith marriage, rarely represented in Northern Ireland's more socially conservative arts scene at the time, a consciously international and socially engaged approach its founders have credited with reshaping what Belfast audiences expected from a local arts festival

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival runs annually over roughly eleven days each May in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter

Water and renewal

Living ritual

Its sister event

The sacred route

Living ritual

Out To Lunch

The local code

Living ritual

extends the same organisation's programming into January

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Programming deliberately blends major names

Tradition 6

Living ritual

emerging performers and fringe acts within a single festival

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Use Belfast transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Dress for an evening out moving between compact indoor venues in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, with a light layer for the short outdoor walks between them.

Safety

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Belfast, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

GBP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map54.60 N, 5.93 WOpen in Google Maps

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Nearest airportBFS — Belfast
TransportUse Belfast transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Belfast, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Belfast via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Belfast, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearDress for an evening out moving between compact indoor venues in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, with a light layer for the short outdoor walks between them.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United Kingdom and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival?

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is listed for Past edition: 1–11 May 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Belfast, United Kingdom. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

11 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbelfastlive.co.uk
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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