Skip to content
Inside the GigXchange arena — live music across the UK
What's On · Northern Ireland

What's On in Belfast

Live music in Belfast over the next four weeks — 5 Aug – 2 Sept. 76 gigs listed in Belfast over the next 28 days across 21 venues. Saturday is the busiest night with 23. In total we track 41 grassroots venues and 18 regular open mics here.

Two pubs a day are closing, and last year 78 grassroots venues stopped putting on live music. Get Belfast gigs in your inbox — and go to one.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Belfast

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Belfast. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Updated daily · 76 gigs in Belfast over the next four weeks

Last updated: 5 August 2026

Support grassroots music in Belfast

Grassroots venues are where every act you have ever paid to see started out. Belfast still has 41 of them.

Belfast punches above its size. The Limelight, Empire Music Hall, Ulster Hall, The Black Box and the SSE Arena anchor a circuit that gave the world Snow Patrol, Stiff Little Fingers, Two Door Cinema Club and Therapy?. Cathedral Quarter is where the indie and trad scenes meet.

Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them shut for good. Those are the rooms where new acts learn to hold an audience, where a first support slot happens, and where a Tuesday night can still turn into something.

This page exists to make them easy to find. It lists 76 gigs across Belfast over the next four weeks, pulled from the venues themselves and updated daily — alongside the 41 grassroots venues and 18 regular open mic nights we track in the city. No algorithm decides what you see: it is simply everything we know is on.

The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before. If you would rather be told than remember, the sign-up above sends Belfast listings straight to your inbox. If you run a venue here, claim your page so people can find you.

Venues in Belfast

Where live music actually happens in Belfast.

80
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Duke of York
Belfast Cathedral Quarter★★★★★ (—)
80-cap Cathedral Quarter folk and trad pub.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon11:30–00:00
  • Tue11:30–00:00
  • Wed11:30–00:00
  • Thu11:30–00:00
  • Fri11:30–00:00
  • Sat11:30–00:00
  • Sun13:00–20:00
View venue
150
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Duncairn
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
North Belfast arts centre and concert venue specialising in live folk, acoustic and traditional Irish music since 2014.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon09:00–21:00
  • Tue09:00–21:00
  • Wed09:00–21:00
  • Thu09:00–21:00
  • Fri09:00–23:00
  • Sat11:00–23:30
  • Sun19:30–22:30
View venue
80
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The John Hewitt
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
Belfast pub with Boundary Brewing.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • Tue12:00–00:00
  • Wed12:00–00:00
  • Thu12:00–00:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun13:00–20:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The MAC
Belfast Cathedral Quarter★★★★★ (—)
Cathedral Quarter arts hub with two theatre spaces for intimate shows
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • Tue09:00–17:00
  • Wed09:00–17:00
  • Thu09:00–17:00
  • Fri09:00–17:00
  • Sat09:00–17:00
  • Sun09:00–17:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Nelson Arms
Bangor★★★★★ (—)
A grassroots music venue in Bangor.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Pavilion Bar
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
Ormeau Road bar with regular rock and indie gigs and battle of the bands
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon13:00–00:00
  • Tue13:00–00:00
  • Wed13:00–00:00
  • Thu13:00–00:00
  • Fri13:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun13:00–23:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Reporter
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
Belfast pub with the best local beer.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon14:00–01:00
  • Tue14:00–01:00
  • Wed14:00–01:00
  • Thu14:00–01:00
  • Fri14:00–01:00
  • Sat14:00–01:00
  • Sun14:00–01:00
View venue
50
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Second Fiddle
Belfast 30-42 Waring St★★★★★ (—)
Dirty Onion sister bar with live music.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • TueClosed
  • WedClosed
  • Thu17:00–03:00
  • Fri17:00–03:00
  • Sat13:00–03:00
  • Sun13:00–23:00
View venue
80
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Spaniard
Belfast Cathedral Quarter★★★★★ (—)
Belfast pub with live music.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–01:00
  • Tue12:00–01:00
  • Wed12:00–01:00
  • Thu12:00–01:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun12:00–00:00
View venue
60
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Sunflower
Belfast Cathedral Quarter★★★★★ (—)
Belfast's Monday-night free open mic at 65 Union Street, BT1 2JG — Cathedral Quarter pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–00:00
  • Tue12:00–00:00
  • Wed12:00–00:00
  • Thu12:00–01:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun13:00–00:00
View venue
2,000
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Telegraph Building
Belfast Belfast city centre★★★★★ (—)
Restored former newspaper HQ turned major Belfast live venue
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Union Bar Belfast
Belfast Botanic / Queen's Quarter★★★★★ (—)
Queen's Students' Union bar at One Elmwood — live music and free entertainment seven nights a week
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon11:00–01:00
  • Tue11:00–01:00
  • Wed11:00–01:00
  • Thu11:00–01:00
  • Fri11:00–01:00
  • Sat16:00–01:00
  • Sun16:00–01:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Titanic Distillers
Belfast Titanic Quarter★★★★★ (—)
Working whiskey distillery and event space at Thompson Dock on the Maritime Mile
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon10:00–18:00
  • Tue10:00–18:00
  • Wed10:00–18:00
  • Thu10:00–18:00
  • Fri10:00–18:00
  • Sat10:00–18:00
  • Sun10:00–18:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Tullyglass
London Ballymena★★★★★ (—)
Venue with house, folk and Celtic events.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
1,850
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Ulster Hall Belfast
Belfast Belfast City Centre★★★★★ (—)
Grand Victorian hall on Bedford Street since 1862.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–18:00
  • Tue12:00–18:00
  • Wed12:00–18:00
  • Thu12:00–18:00
  • Fri12:00–18:00
  • SatClosed
  • SunClosed
View venue
100
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Ulster Sports Club
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
Belfast sports club with live events.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon17:00–01:00
  • Tue17:00–01:00
  • Wed17:00–01:00
  • Thu17:00–01:00
  • Fri12:00–02:00
  • Sat12:00–02:00
  • Sun12:00–00:00
View venue
150
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Voodoo
Belfast★★★★★ (—)
Belfast's dedicated live music venue.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–01:00
  • Tue12:00–01:00
  • Wed12:00–01:00
  • Thu12:00–01:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun12:00–00:00
View venue

All 41 Belfast venues →

Open mics in Belfast

Turn up, put your name down, play. Most are free.

Folk · 19th-century dockside
EVERY
Sun
The American Bar
Sailortown, Belfast
Starts 19:00
  • Sign-up20:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, folk
View details
1ST
Sun
The Second Fiddle
30-42 Waring St, Belfast
Starts 19:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
Cathedral Quarter
EVERY
Mon
The Sunflower
Cathedral Quarter, Belfast
Starts 19:00
  • Sign-up20:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • BacklineFull
  • Open tomusic, poetry, comedy
View details
EVERY
Mon
Sunflower Public House
Union Street, Belfast
Starts 19:30
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
1ST
Mon
Lavery's
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Tue
Hop House
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
MONTH
Tue
The Black Box
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots10 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, poetry, comedy
View details
LAST
Wed
Ulster Sports Club
City Centre, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
Oh Yeah Music Centre
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
The John Hewitt
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
The Duncairn
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
The Spaniard
Belfast, Belfast
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details

All 18 Belfast open mics →

What's on in Belfast — FAQs

Common questions about live music in Belfast, answered with this week's live data.

We currently list 76 gigs in Belfast between 5 Aug and 2 Sept, across 21 venues. The listings above are the full set, sorted by date and refreshed daily from the venues themselves — no algorithm decides what you see. For everything beyond this window, browse the Belfast gig directory or every city we cover.
None of the Belfast gigs currently listed are marked free entry, though many venues do not publish a price at all. Belfast open mic nights are your reliable free option — most charge nothing to watch or to play.
Saturday, with 23 gigs listed across the next 28 days. Saturday: 23 gigs · Friday: 12 gigs · Thursday: 11 gigs. Filter by This week or This weekend above to narrow it down.
Right now: Custom House Square Belfast, The Limelight 2, Boucher Playing Fields. In total we track 41 grassroots venues in Belfast, of which 21 have something listed in this window. Capacity, backline and opening times for each are on the Belfast venue directory.
Belfast has 18 regular open mic nights that we verify on a rolling cycle. Each listing carries the sign-up time, slot length, entry fee and whether a PA and backline are provided — see the Belfast open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.
Where a Belfast venue publishes a price, the average ticket is £35.00. Grassroots entry is typically a few pounds on the door, and many nights are free. On the other side of the transaction, the Musicians' Union publishes national gig rates as the recognised floor for live engagements, and the ISM publishes guidance for self-employed musicians. Our own UK gig rate benchmarks show what artists are actually being paid by region and act type.
Grassroots rooms are where every act you have paid to see learned to hold an audience. Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them for good. Belfast still has 41 on our list. Music Venue Trust campaigns for them nationally; venues themselves navigate PRS licensing and local authority licensing to keep putting music on. The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up and buy a drink at the bar.
Listing is free and takes about two minutes — submit through the Belfast gig directory and it is verified within 48 hours. No account is needed and there is no listing fee. If you run a venue here, claim your venue page to keep its capacity, backline and contact details current. Promoters and venues booking acts can also post paid work or find artists directly.

Go to one this month

76 gigs listed in Belfast over the next four weeks, across 41 grassroots venues and 18 open mic nights. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before — it is the single most useful thing anyone can do for a room like these.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Belfast

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Belfast. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Naumaan
Founder & Builder

Live gigs across the UK, kept fresh. Spot something wrong or missing? Let me know and I’ll fix it.

Did you know? The UK is one of the world’s largest music markets, behind only the US and Japan.
Email me directly →