Lord Mayor Launches 18th Belfast Mela Festival

The 18th Belfast Mela Festival has been officially launched by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, at Ulster University, Belfast.

Now recognised as one of Northern Ireland's largest arts festivals, Belfast Mela, sponsored by Sensata Technologies, brings together music, dance, art, theatre, wellbeing and food from around the world to celebrate the city's growing cultural diversity. This spectacular multicultural festival, which attracted more than 60,000 people last year, will once again take place over nine-days.

Starting on Saturday August 17 at 12.30pm at Writers' Square, the city centre will be awash with a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity as the spectacular Mela Carnival featuring more than 1,000 participants makes its way to City Hall for a wonderful free Mini Mela from 1pm to 4pm.

With extended MELA+ events all week, including a mesmerising fusion of Irish and Indian folk music at the Citadels of the Sun concert; a Caribbean themed Silk Road Supper Club at The Academy Restaurant and Baba Bollywood at the Grand Opera House, the traditional Mela Day then returns to Botanic Gardens on Sunday August 25, bringing a spectacular party in the park to close the festival once again.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray said: “Belfast Mela is always a real highlight in our cultural calendar, but this year, during Belfast 2024, our biggest ever city-wide celebration of creativity, I think it takes on even greater significance, as so many more people are discovering – or remembering, the joy that creativity and the arts can bring to our everyday lives.

“This beautifully diverse and vibrant programme, so carefully curated by the expert ArtsEkta team is going to bring a lot of magic and fun to the city for eight days. The Mela really resonates with my priorities this year as First Citizen – helping to make Belfast a place where everyone feels welcomed and included; a more inclusive, diverse and kinder city where we can shine a light on all that's good about our people and our place.” Dr. Nisha Tandon, OBE, Founder of Belfast Mela and Director of ArtsEkta said: “The Mela has become the city's favourite annual get together and a firm cultural highlight of the summer where we can all celebrate as one. In a world full of darkness and despair, it has never been more important that we embrace the individuality and cultural heritage of our communities and find strength in our diversity. I look forward to welcoming you all to festival events as we approach the end of the summer and encourage you all to learn, share, talk and celebrate everything that is good about our city and its people.”

ArtsEkta is also delighted to announce its first ever Wellbeing Sponsor for 2024 in a new partnership with Allstate NI to introduce Mela's Wellbeing Week with sound baths across the city, as well as a new Allstate NI World of Wellbeing at Mela Day in Botanic Gardens' Rose Garden with activities to suit all ages including a new tranquil retreat with soothing sounds at the Tropical Ravine; sound escape sessions, magical sounds with stories for children and grown-ups, Qi-Gong sessions, yoga and meditation, Reiki, massages and mindful art, amongst many more workshops and activities.

Highlights of the 2024 18th Belfast Mela Festival include:

Saturday August 17: Spectacular Free Mela Carnival through Belfast city centre from 12.30pm at Writers' Square to City Hall at 1pm. 1,000 participants representing more than 15 different cultural groups will be taking part with pulsating world music and dance and amazing sculptures finishing at City Hall for Mini Mela, where live global on-stage performances will be hosted by U105's Carolyn Stewart and UTV's Paul Reilly, along with arts workshops. 

Tuesday August 20: Silk Road Supper Club, 7pm at Academy Restaurant, York Street. Experience the flavours of the Caribbean, prepared with locally sourced ingredients Tickets: £50 Booking required.

Wednesday August 21: Baba Bollywood Show at Grand Opera House - several performances at 10am; 11.30am; and 1pm - Bollywood dancers and special early years facilitators, children and their parents can enjoy and experience the vibrant sounds and colours of India. Tickets: £8 Booking required. 

Thursday August 22: Citadels of the Sun Concert 7pm at The MAC - a coming together of diverse, but connected voices in a collaboration of warm, yet exquisite music; joyously bringing together some of the best musicians from the North West of Ireland and Rajasthan. Tickets: £15 Booking required.

Sunday August 25: Mela Day at Botanic Gardens 12 noon until 6pm. The city's annual celebration of global cultures hosted by U105's Carolyn Stewart and UTV's Paul Reilly. Tickets: £10 adults, £8 concession (children aged between 5 - 15 and the over 60s) £20 family (2 adults and 2 children under 16) Children under 5 go free. Booking required via www.belfastmela.org.uk

The full Mela 2024 programme is available at belfastmela.org.uk