Celebrate culture, discover the world and experience the Mela
The countdown is officially on to the 19th annual Belfast Mela Festival later this month— the largest celebration of cultural diversity across the island of Ireland.
The annual cultural spectacular was officially launched this week by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly and Stormont’s Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald.
Guests at Thursday’s colourful launch event at Tetto in Belfast city centre, attended by more than 100 supporters and friends of the festival, were treated to vibrant live performances by Kenyan-born musician Njambi as well as an exclusive preview of a special cross-cultural collaboration between the South Asian Dance Academy (SADA) and Irish Entertainment Group.
READ MORE: In photos: Belfast Mela returns with new events celebrating city’s growing cultural diversityREAD MORE: Belfast Mela: Event details as tickets go on sale for 19th multicultural festival finale
Following a record-breaking year in 2024 that welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors, this year’s nine-day cultural spectacular returns with an even more exciting line-up of global music, dance, theatre, well-being, food, art and immersive experiences.
The festival kicks off on Saturday, 16 August at 12.30pm as the much-loved Mela Carnival lights up the streets of Belfast for its fourth consecutive year.
Expect an explosion of colour, rhythm and joy as hundreds of artists and community participants in traditional dress parade from Writer’s Square to City Hall, accompanied by world beats, dazzling floats and infectious energy.
Once the carnival reaches City Hall, the celebration continues with a free Mini Mela from 1pm to 4pm, hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Paul Reilly, featuring live performances, workshops, and family-friendly fun.
A centrepiece of the Mela Carnival is ‘When Worlds Collide’, a moving outdoor theatre production taking place at 2pm and 3pm on the City Hall lawns . This poignant tale follows two young girls – one from the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the other from Belfast’s rivers – who unite through themes of climate crisis, ancestral heritage and digital activism.
It blends storytelling, original music and dance into a stirring call for environmental action created and performed by young people from across the city and beyond.
And for the first time, organisers are bringing the magic of Mela to the Cathedral Quarter, supported by CQ BID as St Anne’s Square, Commercial Court (Hill Street), and Cotton Court come alive with high-octane performances from Dhol drummers, Chinese Lion and Dragon dancers, Bollywood and Mexican dancers and the electrifying SPARK drummers from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
On Wednesday, 20 August at 7pm, firm festival favourite, the Silk Road Supper Club will make a return to Holohan’s Pantry for a journey to Tunisia. Led by Carthago Head Chef Sabeh Cyndi, this five course feast invites guests to gather around the table for a rich and soulful dining experience inspired by Tunisia’s diverse culinary landscape.
A further exciting addition to this year’s programme is the Mela International Residency Programme with an exchange between renowned artists from India and Northern Ireland supported by the Arts Council of NI and the Prabha Khaitan Foundation in Calcutta.
The Lyric Theatre will host, Tāla, a dynamic performance on Friday, 22 August at 7pm featuring acclaimed Kathak dancer Shinjini Kumar alongside percussionist Rishiraj Kulkarni.
Supported by residency and masterclasses, this work merges classical South Asian dance with local artistry under the vision of choreographers Lauren Martin from SADA and Ciaran Connolly from Irish Entertainment Group, offering an exchange of movement, rhythm and cultural insight.
The Ulster Museum will host, Shared Words, Shared Worlds, a collaborative storytelling experience on Friday, 22 August at 2pm bringing together writers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, including award winning Indian poet Dr. Sanjukta Das Gupta and local writer Alicia McCauley.
Through shared narratives, participants explore identity, community and the many worlds within our words—revealing the transformative power of language and connection.
And of course, the festival’s grand finale, Mela Day, returns to Botanic Gardens on Sunday, 24 August from 12 noon to 6pm—an unforgettable party in the park where tens of thousands will flock to enjoy the global sights, sounds, tastes and traditions that truly capture the spirit of Belfast’s vibrant multicultural community.
Nisha Tandon, Founder of Belfast Mela and Director of ArtsEkta,says the 19th Belfast Mela features the most ambitious programme yet—a vibrant celebration of the many cultures that now call Belfast home.
“Mela continues to flourish as a shared space of creativity, connection and belonging. This year, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors from across the island of Ireland and beyond to experience the magic of Mela—a powerful showcase of diversity, unity, and the transformative power of the arts.”
Mela Carnival is free with no tickets required. Mela Day tickets cost £12 adults, £9 concession (children aged between 5 – 15 and over 60s) £24 family (2 adults and 2 children under 16) Children under 5 go free. Tickets for Mela Day must be booked in advance.
Booking and tickets for other events vary. Full information on all events and booking information is available online at www.belfastmela.org.uk
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
#Belfast #Mela #Bold #programme #cultural #celebration #festival
