Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Sophie McLaughlin

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival returns with 11 days of events

One of the most hotly anticipated programmes in Belfast’s cultural calendar is back for it's 23rd year.

This year's Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival will deliver over 100 events in just 11 days across the city’s historic Cathedral Quarter and beyond.

Running between April 27– May 7, it is back with a packed programme of live music, comedy, literature, theatre, film, spoken word, visual art and more.

Read more: New tenant announced for reopened Odyssey complex

Events will be taking place in dozens of unique venues and spaces, ranging from the headlining Festival Marquee in Custom House Square to St Joseph’s Church in historic Sailortown.

Highlights from the “CQAF23” line-up include Sister Sledge, Tim Key, Kate Rusby, Ron Sexsmith, Janey Godley, Badly Drawn Boy, Paul Brady Neville Staple, Fern Brady, Joshua Burnside, Zandra Rhodes, Steve Harley and many, many more.

Festival Director Sean Kelly said “It’s a real labour of love putting together this programme, and this year was particularly gratifying. It feels like one of our very best and most diverse line-ups ever.

Decorated walls in Commercial Court (Stephen Rafferty/Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))

"We’re thrilled to be able to bring all these great acts and events to NI audiences, not to mention showcasing some of the very best emerging talent on this island.

"So I recommend that everyone dive in at the deep end, and come join us for possibly the most exciting 11 days in the city’s cultural calendar!"

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: "What an exciting programme of events from Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, an annual highlight in the Northern Ireland calendar of events which helps to bring people and communities closer together through the Arts.

"This terrific festival not only brings world-class performers to Belfast but also offers a vital platform to showcase artists from here, helping to shine a light on the talent that is inherent to NI.

"We wish Sean and the team every success with this year’s festival."

For full programme details and booking info, go to www.cqaf.com

READ NEXT:

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.