Ticket Deal 2022

Belfast International Arts Festival returned for our 60th edition from 5 October to 6 November with an extensive programme featuring over 320 imaginative, inspiring and intriguing events spanning across the artistic disciplines of music, theatre, dance, film, visual arts and discussion hosted throughout the city of Belfast for all to engage with and enjoy.

The autumn programme followed an earlier-than-usual festival opening in April 2022, when BIAF celebrated the beginning of its anniversary year with a major free event; the spectacular outdoor production Cristal Palace by French company Transe Express, featuring a local community cast.

The festival’s autumn season opened with the UK premiere of Dinner With Groucho, a new play by renowned Irish writer Frank McGuinness, and a special focus on Canada and the Middle East and North Africa, supported by BIAF’s leading international partner, the British Council of Northern Ireland.

Check out the Festival Programme 2022

This year’s programme was made possible thanks to our principal funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and to Belfast City Council, British Council, the Government of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Tourism NI and a range of project funders and sponsors, including Belfast Harbour and the Halifax Foundation. Find out more

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BIAF 2022 Trailer

The Official Launch

What you missed

Cristal Palace by Transe Express. Photographer Fred Collier. A young child sits on top of father's shoulders and looks in amazement at gigantic chandelier suspended in the night sky

Cristal Palace (booked up)

Date
Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 April
Time
8.30pm | Gates open 6.30pm
Outdoor
Opening Event
Embrace
Irish Premiere
Free
Simon Armitage Web

Simon Armitage

Date
Wednesday, 4 May 2022
Time
7pm / Doors open 6.30pm
Talks & Ideas
Irish Craft Heroes Web

Irish Craft Heroes

Date
29 July - 7 November 2022
Time
Botanic Gardens opening times
Visual Arts
IN-visible ID-entities 4
Free
Taking Liberties

Taking Liberties!

Date
26 September - 26 November 2022
Time
Mon - Sat 9am to 8pm | Sun 10am - 6pm
Visual Arts
Free
Emma Berkery

Making Space to Soar

Date
5 October - 20 October 2022
Time
Mon to Fri: 10am - 3pm | Sat: 10am - 4pm | Closed Sun
Visual Arts
IN-visible ID-entities 4
Free
Dinner With Groucho by Frank McGuinness. A waitress is showing a bottle of wine to a seated gentleman. The gentleman is Groucho Marx. In the background, there is a large image of T.S. Eliot

Dinner With Groucho By Frank McGuinness

Date
5 October - 9 October 2022
Time
Wed - Sat: 7:45pm | Sat - Sun: 3pm
Theatre & Dance
IN-visible ID-entities 4
PREMIERE PICK N MIX
UK Premiere
On Balance

Here

Date
6 October - 17 December 2022
Time
Tues to Sat 11am - 5pm | Closed Sun & Mon
Visual Arts
Free
More Info Here
Too Late
How To Fail As A Popstar. A pop singer poses licking an icecream cone as if it were a microphone. She is dressed in an 80's style light pink fake crocodile leather jacket. She wears large neon diamond earrings and bright pink and yellow eyeshadow.

How To Fail As A Popstar

Date
Thursday 6 & Saturday 8 October
9:00pm
Theatre & Dance
Focus on Canada
PREMIERE PICK N MIX
UK & Ireland Premiere
Biaf22 Website Images (22)

Propaganda: A New Musical

Date
8 October - 5 November 2022
Time
Tues - Sat: 7.30pm | Sat - Sun: 2.30pm
Theatre & Dance
World Premiere