Greetings from The Wolf & Seahorse
Culture Night takes over the city on Friday, with more than 100 events across Belfast and themed nights at venues including The National and Oh Yeah Music Centre.
The same week has Anastacia at Waterfront Hall, Lisa O'Neill's Ulster Tour visiting Empire Music Hall and Bangor, and Comic Con Northern Ireland's two-day run at the Eikon Centre.
Red Devils legend Eric Cantona closes out the week with an evening of conversation at Waterfront Hall on Tuesday.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Belfast Culture Night 2026
Friday 18 September · Citywide
Belfast's citywide celebration of arts and culture spans more than 100 events covering music, theatre, art, dance and family activities, as part of the all-Ireland Culture Night. The Black Box, Oh Yeah Music Centre and The National are among the venues running their own programmes for the night.
Comic Con Northern Ireland
Saturday 19 & 20 September · 09:00 · Eikon Exhibition Centre
The two-day pop culture convention returns to the Eikon Centre in Lisburn with celebrity guests, live panels, cosplay, gaming and merchandise traders. The show runs from 9am to 6pm on both days.
Eric Cantona
Tuesday 22 September · 19:00 · Waterfront Hall
Manchester United great Eric Cantona takes the Waterfront Hall stage for an evening of live, unscripted conversation about his career, hosted by Jed Stone with live music throughout the night.
As It Is
Tuesday 15 September · 19:00 · Limelight 2
Seven years since their last Belfast show, the British-American pop-punk band headline Limelight 2 with their melodic, emotionally charged catalogue.
Manouche Gypsy Swing
Thursday 17 September · 17:30 · Sunflower Public House
Manouche transport the Sunflower back to 1920s Paris for a weekly gypsy swing jazz session with the venue's regular musician friends.
Anastacia
Thursday 17 September · 19:00 · Waterfront Hall
The US pop star marks 25 years since her debut album, Not That Kind, with an NTK tour date at Waterfront Hall. Special guests join her for a night of hits including I'm Outta Love and Left Outside Alone.
Culture Night 2026: Soultrane Block Party
Friday 18 September · 17:00 · Oh Yeah Music Centre, Yard Stage
Emerging acts Polar Bolero, Ying Yang and EtrA open this Culture Night block party on the Yard Stage, before DJs Ciara Brennan and Problem Patterns close out the night with indie, pop, post-punk and power ballads.
Meteora (Linkin Park tribute)
Friday 18 September · 18:30 · Limelight 2
Part of the Nu-Revolution tribute tour, Meteora recreate Linkin Park's anthems on a bill with three more tribute acts: Limp Biscuit (Limp Bizkit), Evanescent (Evanescence) and Papas Roaches (Papa Roach).
Culture Night: Back to the 80s!
Friday 18 September · 20:00 · The National
The National goes full 80s for Culture Night, with decade hits, themed decor and fancy dress encouraged, from shoulder pads to leg warmers.
Happy Days Fest
Saturday 19 September · 19:30 · Oh Yeah Music Centre
The independent music showcase, established in Dublin, expands to Belfast's Oh Yeah Music Centre with a lineup of carefully chosen emerging acts, an early look at the city's next wave of alternative talent.
Lisa O'Neill
Saturday 19 September · 19:30 · Empire Music Hall
Sunday 20 September · 19:30 · The Court House, Bangor
The Cavan folk singer-songwriter plays two local stages this weekend as part of her Ulster Tour, following the example of her influence Margaret Barry by visiting all nine Ulster counties. The tour comes after her chart-topping album, All Of This Is Chance.
Springsteen – A Tribute
Saturday 19 September · 19:45 · Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey
A tribute show recreating the catalogue of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, performed by a band of professional musicians who are fans themselves.
In the Air Tonight
Tuesday 22 September · 19:30 · Grand Opera House
This tribute show recreates Phil Collins' solo and Genesis-era hits with a full live band, powerhouse vocals and the songs' signature drum breaks.
Tony
Tuesday 15 September · 18:00 · Queen's Film Theatre
Wednesday 16 September · 13:15 · Queen's Film Theatre
Dominic Sessa stars as a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain in this 2026 drama, based on his formative summer in a chaotic Provincetown restaurant kitchen. Emilia Jones and Antonio Banderas round out the cast, directed by Matt Johnson.
Shared Reading
Tuesday 15 September · 19:00 · The Duncairn
Marnie Kennedy hosts this weekly shared reading session, where listening to short stories and poems leads to conversation and reflection.
Everybody Digs Bill Evans
Wednesday 16 September · 13:00 and 18:00 · Queen's Film Theatre
Thursday 17 September · 15:45 and 20:45 · Queen's Film Theatre
Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlin, this biographical drama follows jazz pianist Bill Evans in 1961 as he grapples with the sudden death of his bassist and musical partner, Scott LaFaro. Anders Danielsen Lie stars alongside Barry Ward and Bill Pullman, in a film based on Owen Martell's novel.
Dolly Bearton Presents: A Summit at Mount Doom
Wednesday 16 September · 20:00 · The Black Box
Six of Belfast's queer comedians pitch their schemes for world domination in this comedy summit from Dolly Bearton, created with Trans Pride NI. The audience votes for the winning plan.
Exhibition On Screen: James McNeill Whistler
Thursday 17 September · 12:30 · Queen's Film Theatre
Saturday 19 September · 15:30 · Queen's Film Theatre
This documentary profiles the 19th-century painter James McNeill Whistler, admired by contemporaries including Van Gogh and Manet for an approach that connected painting with music through works titled as arrangements, harmonies and nocturnes.
Killian Sundermann – Killian Dollar Baby
Friday 18 September · 19:30 · The Court House, Bangor
Irish sketch comedian Killian Sundermann, a member of the Young Hot Guys podcast, brings his new stand-up show to Bangor after a run of UK and Ireland dates that included the Edinburgh Festival.
Pizza & Pottery Nights (BYO)
Thursday 17 September · 18:00 · Loaf Pottery, Crawfordsburn
Shape a piece on the wheel or by hand with Loaf's resident potters, then tuck into wood-fired artisan pizza in the same evening, with wine or bubbly welcome to bring along.
Base Arcade Belfast
Friday 18 September · 19:00 · Banana Block
Sunday 20 September · 11:00 · Banana Block
More than 40 classic arcade and pinball machines return to Banana Block for this pop-up retro gaming weekend, with dance games, racers, shooters and consoles alongside a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 tournament.
The Girls Groupchat Podcast Live
Friday 18 September · 20:00 · The O2 Belfast
Hosts Diona Doherty, Jordan Arnold, Shannon Mitchell and Olivia McVeigh bring their popular podcast to the stage with special guests B*Witched, for an evening of stories and unfiltered chat.
Breakfast Show: Live & Unfiltered
Saturday 19 September · 13:30 · Limelight 1
Q Radio's Andrew Ryan, Connor Brennan and Amy McGuckin turn their breakfast show into a live, unscripted podcast on stage, with this matinee added after strong demand for the evening show.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Belfast check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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