Economy Minister Dr has announced Tourism NI
funding for the Belfast Mela as it celebrates its 20th
anniversary.
The annual celebration of global cultures will see Belfast come
alive with a festival of music, dance, food and art from 22-30
August, and keep the festival vibe going after the successful
hosting of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Belfast Mela Festival is one of 14 events which has secured
funding through Tourism NI's International Tourism Events
Fund. This year the Belfast Mela will receive £30,000.
It is estimated the event will generate just over £1.5 million
for the local economy.
The Minister said: This vibrant celebration is a real asset to
the city of Belfast. It will once again be supported this
year with funding from Tourism NI as the festival celebrates its
20th anniversary and showcases our cultural diversity.
The Belfast Mela has become one of the north's flagship cultural
events but it is so much more than a festival. It is a
catalyst for understanding, bringing people together, helping us
see the world through each other's eyes and creating a sense of
belonging for everyone who calls this place home.
Just days after the successful delivery of Fleadh Cheoil 2026,
Belfast Mela will draw both domestic and international visitors,
generating economic benefits for local businesses and creating
memorable experiences for everyone.
An estimated 65,000 visitors are expected to attend this year's
event, 15% of whom will be from outside of Northern
Ireland. The festival is expected to result in almost 2,700
bed nights being booked.
Nisha Tandon, Founder of Belfast Mela and CEO of ArtsEkta, said:
Celebrating 20 years of Belfast Mela is an incredibly special
milestone for everyone at ArtsEkta.
We're delighted that Tourism NI is continuing to support Mela in
2026, helping us welcome even more visitors from across the
island of Ireland and beyond to experience the warmth, creativity
and diversity that make modern Northern Ireland so special.
"This year, we're planning to throw the biggest birthday party
Belfast has ever seen and everyone is invited.
Siobhan McGuigan, Head of Events at Tourism NI, said: Belfast
Mela showcases and celebrates our diversity to our
visitors, and strengthens Northern Ireland's reputation as a
vibrant, inclusive place to live, work, study and
visit.
We applaud the ambitious evolution of this event across the years
which stronglyaligns with our goal of supporting experiences that
have the potential to attract international visitors and enhance
the region's reputation on the competitive global
tourism stage.
