Greetings from The Wolf & Seahorse
Bounce Arts Festival 2026 runs from Wednesday to Sunday, with comedy, music, theatre, film and talks by d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.
Belfast Coffee Festival is at Carlisle Memorial on Saturday and Sunday, and Late Night Art Belfast opens the city's galleries on Thursday evening.
The week's tribute shows include Queen of the Night, Icons of the 70s Show, Let It Be, while Buffalo Tom are at The Limelight 2 on Tuesday.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Bounce Arts Festival 2026
Wednesday 30 September to Sunday 4 October · Various locations in Belfast
The theme this year is Arts and Activism, and the festival is a collective voice for d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists. The programme includes Emer Maguire's comedy show Perfectly Chaotic on Wednesday, Label Me Live with Joe Kenny and Andrea Begley on Thursday, and a screening of Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore with a post-show discussion on Sunday. Venues include The MAC, The Black Box, Atypical Gallery and the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's.
Belfast Coffee Festival
Saturday 3 to Sunday 4 October · Carlisle Memorial
A weekend celebration of Northern Ireland's speciality coffee scene, with a workshops programme alongside.
Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto
Saturday 3 October · 19:30 to 22:00 · Crescent Arts Centre
Senegalese kora player and singer Ablaye Cissoko teams up with French diatonic accordionist Cyrille Brotto in a show presented by Moving on Music, which the venue describes as a conversation between two masters of their instruments. Cissoko's music links Mandinka traditions with contemporary sounds, and this is the duo's first time in Belfast.
Double Standards Jazz Session
Wednesday 30 September · 17:30 · Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street
The Wednesday jazz session at the Sunflower is built around classics by artists including Miles Davis and Duke Ellington.
Queen of the Night: A Tribute to Whitney Houston
Thursday 1 October · Waterfront Hall
A full live band and vocalists cover three decades of Whitney Houston hits, including I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I Will Always Love You and The Greatest Love Of All, with choreography. The organisers note that it is an independent tribute production and is not associated with the Estate of Whitney Houston.
Icons of the 70s Show
Friday 2 October · 19:30 · Ulster Hall
A tribute to the decade's biggest acts, with the music of The Jackson 5, ABBA, Queen, Earth, Wind & Fire, Blondie, Gloria Gaynor, Diana Ross, the Bee Gees, Donna Summer and Tina Turner, plus costumes and visuals.
Let It Be: The Music of The Beatles
Friday 2 October · 19:45 to 21:45 · Theatre at The Mill
A live concert of Beatles songs, including She Loves You, Help!, Hey Jude and Let It Be. Jake Carter, who was born in Liverpool and is based in Dublin, is among the Irish musicians in the cast.
Nearly Dan: The Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan
Saturday 3 October · Waterfront Studio
The band describes its approach as less tribute and more homage, faithful though not reverential. Now in its 29th year on the road, it plays a set of deep cuts and Steely Dan favourites that runs past two hours, drawing on albums including Countdown to Ecstasy, The Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho, along with Donald Fagen's The Nightfly.
Buffalo Tom
Tuesday 6 October · 19:00 · The Limelight 2
Bill Janovitz, Chris Colbourn and Tom Maginnis have made up the alternative rock band since it formed in 1986.
Late Night Art Belfast
Thursday 1 October · 18:00 to 22:00 · Various Belfast galleries
Galleries across the city stay open in the evening on the first Thursday of the month. The Belfast Art Map, available at cultural and tourism venues, shows where to go.
Banana Block Film Festival
Thursday 1 October · 18:30 to 23:00 · Banana Block, 310 Newtownards Road
Local filmmakers' work is shown on the big screen, and industry judges choose a winner. At the interval there is a live score performance from Paul McCordie, followed by a film-inspired disco.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest
Saturday 3 October · 13:00 · Botanic Gardens
Belfast Film Festival screens the film in the grounds of Botanic Gardens, right next to the Tropical Ravine. A sprite named Crysta shrinks a human boy, Zak, and he vows to help the fairy folk stop a logging company from destroying their rainforest home.
Jarlath Regan: Gas Man
Saturday 3 October · 19:00 · Waterfront Hall
Gas Man is the Kildare comedian's new stand-up show for 2026, with 90 minutes of jokes and stories not seen on stage or screen before. He found a wide audience in 2023 through his Instagram and TikTok videos.
Off The Ball X Bank of Ireland Rugby Roadshow: Ulster
Tuesday 6 October · 19:00 · Affidea Stadium
The Ulster date of the Off The Ball rugby roadshow, run in partnership with Bank of Ireland.
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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