Belfast is turning classrooms, libraries, cafes, cultural venues and waterfront spaces into places to try something new as the Belfast Learning Festival returns for its ninth year.
The festival runs from Monday 8 June to Sunday 14 June across various venues in Belfast. Events are free, registration is required, and the programme is aimed at everyone, regardless of age, experience or talent. Individual event times vary by activity and should be checked when registering.
Free learning across Belfast from 8 to 14 June
The Belfast Learning Festival is built around a simple idea: learning does not have to sit behind a formal course, a qualification or a classroom door.
This year’s programme includes lessons, classes, workshops and events across the city, with activity taking place in community centres, libraries, lecture theatres, cafes, cultural venues, workplaces and waterfront spaces.
For residents, that means the week can be used in different ways. Some may choose one practical workshop. Others may use the festival as a low-pressure way to test a new interest before committing to a class, club or course later in the year.
The event is organised by the Learning City Collective and Belfast City Council, with community organisations and academic institutions including Belfast Met, Queen’s University and Ulster University involved in delivering parts of the programme. The festival is also co-funded by the Public Health Agency, with the source notice linking it to learning as one of the five steps to wellbeing.
What visitors can try during the festival
The programme ranges from quiet, reflective sessions to hands-on creative work and more unusual one-off activities.
People looking for a slower start can choose from activities such as meditation, yoga and sound baths. Those who want movement can look for exercise and dance classes, as well as guided walks.
There is also a strong practical strand. The source programme highlights opportunities to mend and sew, paint, weave willow, work with wood, garden or try a new instrument. These are the kinds of sessions likely to appeal to people who prefer learning by doing rather than sitting through a talk.
For those who want discussion or a mental challenge, the festival includes talks, discussion groups and chances to try a new language. The more unusual listings include combat robotics, destroying old cameras for an art project, and learning about the feminist history of Belfast.
Key details for planning a visit
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Belfast Learning Festival |
| Dates | Monday 8 June to Sunday 14 June 2026 |
| Location | Various venues across Belfast |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | Registration required for events |
| Audience | Open to everyone, regardless of age, experience or talent |
| Times | Vary by event; check when registering |
The source notice does not list one central venue or a single daily timetable, so readers should treat the festival as a citywide programme rather than a single-site event.
That also means planning matters. Anyone interested in a specific workshop, class or talk should check the full programme before travelling, confirm the venue for that individual event and register for the sessions they want to attend.
Registration is required for free events
Although all festival events are free, entry is not described as drop-in for every activity. The council notice says people need to register for the free events they want to attend.
High Sheriff of Belfast Alderman Frank McCoubrey welcomed the festival’s return, saying Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Learning brings a commitment to access to lifelong learning. He described the festival as a “taster menu” of choices and encouraged residents to look through the programme.
The full Belfast Learning Festival programme and registration details are available through Belfast City Council’s Belfast Learning Festival page.
Source: Belfast Scraper
Source check Source trail
This preview is based on the Belfast City Council source notice and the verified event brief supplied for the festival.
- Confirmed festival dates as 8 to 14 June 2026.
- Confirmed the event is free and registration is required.
- Confirmed the programme is spread across various venues in Belfast.
- Checked that no single venue address or fixed event time was provided in the source notice...
- Source
- Belfast City Council
- Scope
- Belfast
- Updated
- 2026-06-04 16:02
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