Archibald announces funding for Belfast Mela
Date published:
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald 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 strongly aligns 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.”
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption (L-R) Front row: Tejal Dogra, South Asian Dance Academy; Nisha Tandon OBE, CEO of ArtsEkta; Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald; Siobhan McGuigan, Head of Events, Tourism NI; and Mayte Segura, Mexican Dance Belfast. Back row: Sèamas ŌhabhRadha, ArtsEkta.
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