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

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BIAF21 Trailer

The Official Launch

What you missed

Roddy Doyle Web

Roddy Doyle

Date
Tuesday, 26 October 2021
7:00pm
Talks & Ideas
IN-visible ID-entities 3
2046 Web

2046

Date
27 October - 28 October 2021
Time
6.00pm (Wed 27) / 12.10pm (Thurs 28)
Film
More Info 2046
Too Late
Rua Web

140th RUA Annual Exhibition

Date
29 October - 9 January 2022
Time
Tuesdays to Sundays – 10am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
Visual Arts
Free
On Blueberry Hill Web

On Blueberry Hill

Date
1 November - 7 November 2021
Time
7.30pm (1 Nov). Available on demand to 7 Nov
Theatre & Dance
IN-visible ID-entities 3
Digital Pass
Bragg Web

Billy Bragg

Date
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
Time
8.15pm show | Doors 7.00pm
Music