In recent years, the name Kneecap has started appearing in media outlets around the world. They are not an ordinary band: they rap in Irish and English, use sharp humour, challenge expectations and have turned hip-hop into a way of exploring identity, culture and memory in Northern Ireland. But to understand why Kneecap exists — and why they attract so much attention — you first need to understand Belfast. And, in many ways, you also need to understand the city’s sense of hum

In August 2026, Belfast will host one of the most important cultural events the city has seen in recent years. For one week, the streets, squares, pubs, and cultural venues of the city will come alive with fiddles, flutes, traditional songs, and Irish dancing as Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann arrives in Belfast — the world’s largest celebration of Irish traditional music. From 2 to 9 August 2026, Belfast will become a meeting point for thousands of musicians, dancers, and lovers o