![Web Header Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Web-Header_web-1440x810.png)
2021 Festival
Belfast International Arts Festival returned for our 59th edition from 6 October to 7 November with an extensive programme that gave audiences opportunities to both experience live performances again whilst also enjoying a selection of online events at home!
Northern Ireland’s largest contemporary arts festival and cornerstone of the annual cultural calendar, the 2021 edition continued to explore contemporary matters of interest to our audiences such as gender equality, multi-culturalism, representation, the climate crisis, and democracy.
Check out the At a Glance Guide.
You may also want to read our Director’s Introduction to the programme, and foreword by our prinicipal funder Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
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 Irish News. Find out more
Be sure to sign up to our e-newsletter to be the first to know about the latest Festival news and announcements!
BIAF21 Trailer
The Official Launch
What you missed
![Roddy Doyle Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Roddy-Doyle-_web-480x270.png)
Roddy Doyle
![2046 Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/2046_web-480x270.png)
2046
![Sestina Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Sestina_web-480x270.png)
Sestina – In Guilty Night: Dialogues of a distracted mind
![The Grandmaster Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/The-Grandmaster_web-480x270.png)
The Grandmaster
![Jhs Birthday Readings Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/JHS-Birthday-Readings_web-480x270.png)
The John Hewitt Society Birthday Reading
![Rua Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/RUA_web-480x270.png)
140th RUA Annual Exhibition
![Alena Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Alena_web-480x270.png)
Rustioni conducts From Russia to Hollywood
![Paul Muldoon Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Paul-Muldoon-_web-480x270.png)
Paul Muldoon
![Trio Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Trio-_web-480x270.png)
Trio Cantare
![Nikesh And Musa Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Nikesh-and-Musa-_web-480x270.png)
Nikesh Shukla & Musa Okwonga
![Nathanalex Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/NathanAlex_web-480x270.png)
Nathan Sherman and Alex Petcu
![On Blueberry Hill Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/On-Blueberry-Hill_web-480x270.png)
On Blueberry Hill
![Bragg Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Bragg_web-480x270.png)
Billy Bragg
![Acts Of Commission 2 Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Acts-of-Commission-2-_web-480x270.png)
Acts of Commission 2 – The Spirit, The Psyche, The Body
![Kerrical Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/KerriCal_web-480x270.png)
Kerri ní Dochartaigh & Cal Flyn
![Bbc Radio 3 Web (1)](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/BBC-Radio-3_web-1-480x270.png)
The Mithras Trio with Eivind Ringstad
![Fly The Flag Belfast 2021 1](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/Fly-the-Flag-Belfast-2021-1-480x270.jpeg)
Fly The Flag For Human Rights
![Gisb Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/GISB_web-480x270.png)
The Great Irish Songbook (Audio Broadcast) New Year’s Eve (plus January)!
![The Staves Web](https://belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/assets/uploads/The-Staves_web-480x270.png)