Belfast · the live music guide
Live Music in Belfast
Belfast, UK
Of the 30 venues that list their live nights, 27 put on music on Saturdays and 25 on Fridays. Of the 23 with a known size, 10 are small rooms under 150, 6 hold up to 500 and 7 are bigger halls.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
BelfastLive music in Belfast
Belfast has 66 venues listing live music, 107 gigs in the next 30 days and 17 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
Northern Ireland's music capital. From The Limelight to the Cathedral Quarter and Belsonic, Belfast runs one of the UK's most loyal grassroots scenes alongside a serious arena and festival circuit.
Belfast's scene is small, fierce and disproportionately influential. The Limelight (1 & 2), Empire Music Hall, Ulster Hall, The Black Box, Voodoo and Oh Yeah Music Centre run live music most nights. Cathedral Quarter is the spine — Madden's Bar holds nightly trad sessions, the Sunflower keeps the rock circuit alive, and Belsonic / Belfast TradFest / Open House Festival pull serious touring acts every summer. Queen's University and Ulster University drive a steady student gig market. For new acts breaking in, Belfast's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Belfast | 107 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Belfast | 17 |
| On GigXchangeBelfast acts · with a profile you can browse | 4 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Belfast100
| Artists | 25 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms that anchor the Belfast circuit — from iconic concert halls to Cathedral Quarter grassroots. The city that produced Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, Stiff Little Fingers, Ash and Two Door Cinema Club.
| 750 + 450 cap · flagshipThe LimelightBelfast's flagship indie/rock venue since 1987. Two main rooms plus Katy's Bar — strong history of breaking new bands alongside touring acts. Books: indie, rock, metal, alternative.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 290 cap · development hubOh Yeah Music CentreMore than a venue — Belfast's music development hub with rehearsal rooms, recording studios and the NI Music Prize. Hosts the city's only all-ages under-18s open mic. Books: all genres, showcases, youth.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~450 cap · Botanic AveThe Empire Music HallThree-floor venue on Botanic Avenue combining live music with Belfast's longest-running comedy night — The Empire Laughs Back, every Tuesday since 1992. Tiered seating gives excellent sightlines. Books: indie, rock, tribute, comedy.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 1,650 cap · iconicUlster HallGrade A listed concert hall dating to 1862, extensively refurbished 2009. Led Zeppelin famously debuted Stairway to Heaven here in 1971. Belfast's premier large-scale live music venue. Books: rock, classical, comedy, heritage.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| ~150–200 cap · Cathedral QtrThe Dirty OnionFree-entry live music seven nights a week in a restored 1780s building. One of Belfast's biggest beer gardens makes it a summer fixture on Hill Street. Books: folk, indie, acoustic, singer-songwriter.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 200 cap · city centreVoodooRed-walled venue opened 2011. Programmes emerging local acts alongside alternative club nights. Long-standing Thursday open mic. Intimate room that rewards high-energy performance. Books: alternative, indie, punk, metal.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 240 cap · Cathedral QtrThe Black BoxNot-for-profit arts venue established 2006, anchor of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Programmes innovative grassroots work across music, theatre and visual art. Books: experimental, folk, jazz, spoken word, cabaret.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 1,000 cap · Queen's QuarterMandela HallQueen's University-owned venue completely rebuilt in 2022 with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and acoustics. The go-to 1,000-cap room for mid-level touring acts and major Belfast bills. Books: rock, indie, electronic, touring acts.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Saturday is the big night in Belfast: 27 venues list live music every week. Monday is the quietest, with 13 regular nights. Across the week, 30 venues list regular live nights and 15 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Belfast.
Regular live music nights in Belfast
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday11 venues · 2 open mics - Sunflower Public House, Lavery's |
| Tuesday14 venues · 0 open mics |
| Wednesday16 venues · 6 open mics - Ulster Sports Club, The Black Box |
| Thursday19 venues · 4 open mics - Accidental Theatre, The Reporter |
| Friday25 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday27 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday21 venues · 3 open mics - Oh Yeah Music Centre, The American Bar |
05 — The scene
BelfastThe Belfast sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Belfast is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Cathedral QuarterThe epicentre — The Dirty Onion (free live music 7 nights), Oh Yeah Music Centre (290 cap, the symbolic home of Belfast music), The Black Box (240 cap, anchor of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival), The Harp Bar, McHugh's basement and Voodoo. |
| Queen's QuarterStudent-driven bigger rooms — The Empire Music Hall (~450 cap, comedy Tuesdays since 1992), Mandela Hall (1,000 standing, fully rebuilt 2022 with state-of-the-art sound), and Lavery's (1,700 total cap across 7 bars). |
| Function & wedding workBelfast wedding/function fees typically run 10–20% below equivalent GB mainland cities. Browse Belfast bands to book. |
| South Belfast & OrmeauThe Errigle Inn (est. 1935, Arbele Lounge upstairs considered one of Ireland's best music rooms) and The Sunflower (60 cap, live music 7 nights, legendary Monday open mic) anchor a neighbourhood circuit with loyal local audiences. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 10 · mid-size up to 500: 6 · bigger stages: 7 - 23 rooms in Belfast with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Belfast venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Newry, Derry and Ayr.
| NearbyLive music in Newry | |
| NearbyLive music in Derry | |
| NearbyLive music in Ayr |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
66 rooms in Belfast put on live music, from 2 Royal Avenue and 39 Gordon Street to the back rooms of its pubs. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 300 cap 2 Royal AvenueBelfast 
39 Gordon StreetCathedral Quarter · BelfastHouse PA 60Cap 
5th Element NIBelfast Cap tbc 
Accidental TheatreShaftesbury Square · BelfastHouse PA 100Cap 
Bert's Jazz BarBelfast Cap tbc 
Boucher Playing FieldsBelfast Cap tbc 
Brennans' BarBelfast Cap tbc 
Bullitt HotelBelfast Cap tbc 
Crescent Arts CentreSouth Belfast · Belfast Cap tbc 
Custom House Square BelfastCathedral Quarter, Belfast · Belfast 5,000Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Belfast venue directory, see what is booked on the Belfast gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Belfast |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Belfast
107 gigs are listed in Belfast for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:00 Susy Good Album LaunchThe Black Box Belfast · Duncairn · Belfast 
Matt LangVoodoo · Central · Belfast 19:00Tonight 
Jack SavorettiUlster Hall Belfast · Central · Belfast 19:00Tonight 
Alison MoyetWaterfront Hall Auditorium · Central · Belfast 19:00Tue 3 Nov 
Hail the SunThe Limelight 2 · Central · Belfast 19:00Tue 3 Nov 
Sorcha RichardsonEmpire Music Hall · Central · Belfast 19:00Wed 4 Nov Every listing is a real Belfast date, rebuilt nightly from the Belfast gig directory. See the Belfast venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Belfast gigs | |
| What's on in Belfast this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Belfast
Whoever you are, Belfast has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
| FansWhat's on in Belfast this weekthe Belfast gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigs in Belfastpay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Belfastfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live music in Belfastprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Belfastbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Belfastclaim yours free and keep it current |
09 — Pay
GX IndexWhat acts earn
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
| What it costs to book live music in Belfastthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Belfastthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Belfast compares
The Belfast area ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Preston, Carlisle, Derry and Newry. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
| # | Area | Venues |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs | 168 |
| 02 | Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs | 118 |
| 03 | Belfast This city 17 open mics · 300 upcoming gigs | 76 |
| 04 | Blackpool 22 open mics · 75 upcoming gigs | 46 |
| 05 | Preston 17 open mics · 82 upcoming gigs | 27 |
| 06 | Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs | 19 |
| 07 | Derry 6 open mics · 21 upcoming gigs | 14 |
| 08 | Newry 3 open mics · 13 upcoming gigs | 6 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
BelfastMore of Belfast
More live music resources for Belfast and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| Find a Band in BelfastFind and hire local bands, solo artists, and DJs for your venue or event in Belfast. | |
| How to Get Gigs in BelfastA guide for artists — where to play, what venues pay, and how to get booked in Belfast. | |
| Live Music in GlasgowA short flight away, Scotland's biggest live music market — natural touring partner for Belfast acts. | |
| Live Music in Liverpool60 minutes by ferry, the closest English mainland market and a regular cross-over destination. | |
| Belfast Rate BenchmarkSee live percentile data on what Belfast bands actually charge across pubs, weddings and corporate. | |
| UK City-by-City Booking GuideA detailed walkthrough of how booking works across every major UK city — prices, scenes, and local tips. |
Everything live in Belfast — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Belfast. Artists and bands available around Belfast.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Belfast — sorted by dateWhat's on in Belfast — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Belfast, by date. One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages. Sorted by date, refreshed continuously. Free and ticketed shows both listed. Every gig links its venue.Belfast gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in BelfastCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Belfast venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Belfast. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Belfast venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Belfast open mic nightsJust starting out? Belfast open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Belfast. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Belfast open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in BelfastStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Belfast. How to get gigs in Belfast. How to book live music in Belfast. Find a band in Belfast. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in BelfastLive Belfast rate benchmarks from the GigXchange Index. Median fees by act size and event type. City-level benchmarks, updated nightly. Never a misleading average — real percentiles. Free to cite under CC BY 4.0.GigXchange Index · Pay-rate guide |
Belfast city-centre outdoor concert square.
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Belfast
Northern Ireland's music capital. From The Limelight to the Cathedral Quarter and Belsonic, Belfast runs one of the UK's most loyal grassroots scenes alongside a serious arena and festival circuit.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Belfast: the Short Answer
Belfast has 66 venues listing live music, 107 gigs in the next 30 days and 17 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
Of the 30 venues that list their live nights, 27 put on music on Saturdays and 25 on Fridays. Of the 23 with a known size, 10 are small rooms under 150, 6 hold up to 500 and 7 are bigger halls.
Belfast's scene is small, fierce and disproportionately influential. The Limelight (1 & 2), Empire Music Hall, Ulster Hall, The Black Box, Voodoo and Oh Yeah Music Centre run live music most nights. Cathedral Quarter is the spine — Madden's Bar holds nightly trad sessions, the Sunflower keeps the rock circuit alive, and Belsonic / Belfast TradFest / Open House Festival pull serious touring acts every summer. Queen's University and Ulster University drive a steady student gig market. For new acts breaking in, Belfast's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Belfast Rooms to Know
Eight rooms that anchor the Belfast circuit — from iconic concert halls to Cathedral Quarter grassroots. The city that produced Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, Stiff Little Fingers, Ash and Two Door Cinema Club. Each card below names the room, the nights it runs live music, what it tends to book and the way acts usually get on the bill.
Belfast's flagship indie/rock venue since 1987. Two main rooms plus Katy's Bar — strong history of breaking new bands alongside touring acts.
More than a venue — Belfast's music development hub with rehearsal rooms, recording studios and the NI Music Prize. Hosts the city's only all-ages under-18s open mic.
Three-floor venue on Botanic Avenue combining live music with Belfast's longest-running comedy night — The Empire Laughs Back, every Tuesday since 1992. Tiered seating gives excellent sightlines.
Grade A listed concert hall dating to 1862, extensively refurbished 2009. Led Zeppelin famously debuted Stairway to Heaven here in 1971. Belfast's premier large-scale live music venue.
Free-entry live music seven nights a week in a restored 1780s building. One of Belfast's biggest beer gardens makes it a summer fixture on Hill Street.
Red-walled venue opened 2011. Programmes emerging local acts alongside alternative club nights. Long-standing Thursday open mic. Intimate room that rewards high-energy performance.
Not-for-profit arts venue established 2006, anchor of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Programmes innovative grassroots work across music, theatre and visual art.
Queen's University-owned venue completely rebuilt in 2022 with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and acoustics. The go-to 1,000-cap room for mid-level touring acts and major Belfast bills.
Live Music Nights in Belfast
Saturday is the big night in Belfast: 27 venues list live music every week. Monday is the quietest, with 13 regular nights. Across the week, 30 venues list regular live nights and 15 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Belfast. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Belfast
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 13 11 venues
2 open mics Sunflower Public HouseLavery's - Tue 14 14 venues
0 open mics - Wed 22 16 venues
6 open mics Ulster Sports ClubThe Black Box - Thu 23 19 venues
4 open mics Accidental TheatreThe Reporter - Fri 25 25 venues
0 open mics - Sat 27 27 venues
0 open mics - Sun 24 21 venues
3 open mics Oh Yeah Music CentreThe American Bar
The Belfast Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Belfast is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
The epicentre — The Dirty Onion (free live music 7 nights), Oh Yeah Music Centre (290 cap, the symbolic home of Belfast music), The Black Box (240 cap, anchor of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival), The Harp Bar, McHugh's basement and Voodoo.
Student-driven bigger rooms — The Empire Music Hall (~450 cap, comedy Tuesdays since 1992), Mandela Hall (1,000 standing, fully rebuilt 2022 with state-of-the-art sound), and Lavery's (1,700 total cap across 7 bars).
Belfast wedding/function fees typically run 10–20% below equivalent GB mainland cities. Browse Belfast bands to book.
The Errigle Inn (est. 1935, Arbele Lounge upstairs considered one of Ireland's best music rooms) and The Sunflower (60 cap, live music 7 nights, legendary Monday open mic) anchor a neighbourhood circuit with loyal local audiences.
Small rooms under 150: 10 · mid-size up to 500: 6 · bigger stages: 7 - 23 rooms in Belfast with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Belfast venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Newry, Derry and Ayr.
Where Live Music Happens in Belfast
66 rooms in Belfast put on live music, from 2 Royal Avenue and 39 Gordon Street to the back rooms of its pubs. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights. Browse by area or by night, then open a room to see its upcoming gigs.
Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Belfast venue directory, see what is booked on the Belfast gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Belfast
107 gigs are listed in Belfast for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory. Every listing links to the gig's own page, with the date, the doors time and where to buy a ticket.
Every listing is a real Belfast date, rebuilt nightly from the Belfast gig directory. See the Belfast venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Belfast
Whoever you are, Belfast has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
What Acts Earn in Belfast
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
How Belfast Compares
The Belfast area ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Preston, Carlisle, Derry and Newry. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
- #1 Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs 168
- #2 Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs 118
- #3 Belfast This city 17 open mics · 300 upcoming gigs 76
- #4 Blackpool 22 open mics · 75 upcoming gigs 46
- #5 Preston 17 open mics · 82 upcoming gigs 27
- #6 Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs 19
- #7 Derry 6 open mics · 21 upcoming gigs 14
- #8 Newry 3 open mics · 13 upcoming gigs 6
Frequently Asked Questions
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