Ireland's Largest Whiskey Festival · Belfast · July 2026
Belfast Whiskey Week 2026
Nine days. One city. The biggest celebration of whiskey, food, cocktails and craic that Belfast has ever seen.
Ireland's Premier Whiskey Festival
Belfast Whiskey Week returns for 2026 with its most ambitious programme yet — nine days of world-class whiskey experiences, live music, incredible food and genuine Irish craic right in the heart of Belfast, Ireland. Running from Friday 24th July to Saturday 1st August, BWW 2026 is the unmissable highlight of Belfast's summer festival calendar.
Whether you're a seasoned whiskey connoisseur or simply looking for the perfect reason to visit Belfast this summer, Belfast Whiskey Week offers something extraordinary. From intimate masterclasses with master distillers to the legendary Whiskey Expo, Walking Tours of Belfast's finest whiskey bars, and the prestigious Irish Whiskey Industry Awards — every day brings a new adventure.
2026 marks an incredible year to visit Belfast, Ireland. The city plays host to one of its biggest ever summer seasons, with Belfast Whiskey Week kicking off a spectacular run of festivals and cultural events that make Belfast one of Europe's most exciting summer destinations.
New For 2026
Bigger. Bolder. More Belfast.
On top of the whiskey experiences you know and love, BWW 2026 introduces three brand new festivals within the festival. More to see, more to taste, more reasons to spend a week in Belfast this summer.
Belfast Fringe Fest BWW
The fringe festival celebrating whiskey culture right across Belfast city. Expect pop-up tastings, surprise venues, local legends and the unexpected.
Belfast Cocktail City
Belfast's celebration of cocktail culture and mixology. The city's best bartenders meet the world's finest whiskey brands for nine nights of serious cocktail craft.
Belfast Food Fest
The best of Belfast's celebrated food scene, paired with whiskey. Local chefs, artisan producers and whiskey experts come together for an unmissable culinary experience.
Festival Programme
Explore the Festival
Whiskey Tastings
Meet the makers. Taste the whiskies. Learn the stories behind Ireland's finest drams.
Whiskey Expo
The key event of Belfast Whiskey Week — 40+ distilleries under one roof.
Whiskey & Walking Tours
Explore Belfast's vibrant whiskey bar scene on foot with expert guides.
Distillery Days
Go behind the scenes at Ireland and Scotland's finest distilleries.
Whiskey Map
Discover every whiskey venue, bar and event location across Belfast city.
Irish Whiskey Industry Awards
The Oscars of Irish whiskey — celebrating excellence across the industry.
Planning a Trip to Belfast This Summer?
Belfast Whiskey Week 2026 runs 24 July – 1 August, right at the heart of Belfast's biggest ever festival season. Be the first to hear about events, ticket releases and exclusive experiences.
Visiting Belfast
Plan Your Visit to Belfast
Belfast is easier to get to than you think — and once you're here, you'll wonder why it took you so long.
Getting to Belfast
Belfast is served by two airports — Belfast International (BFS) and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD). Direct flights operate from across the UK, Europe and North America. From Dublin, Belfast is just 2 hours by bus or train — making a combined Ireland and Belfast trip simple to plan.
Where to Stay
Belfast city centre puts you right in the heart of the action. The Cathedral Quarter, city centre and Titanic Quarter all offer excellent accommodation options from boutique hotels to serviced apartments. Book early for July — 2026 is going to be busier than ever.
Getting Around
Belfast city centre is compact and walkable — most Belfast Whiskey Week venues are within easy walking distance of each other. The Whiskey Map at belfastwhiskeyweek.com shows every event location across the city.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Belfast is one of Europe's most exciting cities — a place where world-class food, music, culture and nightlife come together in a compact, walkable city centre. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest season Belfast has ever seen, with Belfast Whiskey Week running alongside major festivals and cultural events. Whether you're visiting Ireland for the first time or returning to the north of Ireland, Belfast offers something genuinely different — and Belfast Whiskey Week is the perfect reason to come.
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, sitting on the north-east coast of the island of Ireland. It's served by two airports — Belfast International (BFS) and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) — with direct flights from across the UK, Europe and North America. From Dublin, Belfast is just 2 hours by train or bus with no border checks, making it easy to combine a trip to Belfast with exploring the rest of Ireland. There's never been a better time to visit the north of Ireland.
Belfast is part of the United Kingdom, so UK visa rules apply. EU citizens can travel to Belfast and Northern Ireland without a visa. Visitors from outside the UK and EU should check guidance at gov.uk. Importantly, there is no border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland — travel between Dublin and Belfast is completely seamless, making it simple to explore both parts of the island of Ireland in a single trip.
Absolutely — and we'd strongly recommend it. The Dublin to Belfast Enterprise train takes just over 2 hours and runs multiple times daily. Buses run regularly too, and by car it's around 1 hour 40 minutes via the M1. There are no border checks between the Republic and Northern Ireland. Many visitors fly into Dublin, spend a few days exploring the capital, then head north to Belfast for Whiskey Week. It's the perfect way to experience the best of Ireland.
Tickets are available now at belfastwhiskeyweek.com. Events sell out quickly — particularly Distillery Days, the Whiskey Expo and masterclasses. We recommend signing up to the mailing list for early access to new events as they are added to the programme.
Belfast and Northern Ireland use British Pounds Sterling (GBP £). If you're travelling from the Republic of Ireland or Eurozone countries, you'll need to exchange currency or use a card — most venues across Belfast accept all major credit and debit cards. If you're visiting both Dublin and Belfast on the same trip, it's worth having access to both Euro and Sterling.