Gathering 2026
Now in its 20th edition, The Gathering has become a landmark event in the performing arts calendar. We’re thrilled to be bringing The Gathering to Belfast on 26 & 27 May, marking an exciting moment for artists, arts workers and organisations from across the island.
On This Page You Will Be Able To…
- Save Your Seat: Book Your Ticket
- Opportunity Knocks: Bursaries for Independent Artist & Arts Workers
- Get The Inside Track: The Programme
- Lay Your Head: Have a Look At Our Accommodation Deals
- By Land Or By Sea Or By Foot: Travel Options
- Come On In, All Welcome: Accessibility
Book Your Ticket
We’re delighted to be partnering with Ticketsolve again to sell our tickets this year.
Our Early Bird Ticket prices are now live and on sale up until 5pm Friday 20 March and then the Standard Rates will be available until 5pm Monday 18 May, or until we are sold out. We completely sold out the last two years, so early booking is advised.
Ticket Prices:*
- Non-member €290 (early bird) / €310 (standard price)
- Organisation member €150 (early bird) / €160 (standard price)
- Freelance artists/arts worker €110 (early bird) / €120 (standard price)
*Your ticket includes access to all the day sessions, artistic programme, coffee breaks, lunch on both days and evening dinner.
Your Bursaries For Independent Artists & Arts Workers
Now in its fourth year, this bursary initiative has gone from strength to strength. Last year, the programme offered 75 bursaries to attend The Gathering from over 25 arts organisations and local authorities. This year, we are happy to announce that the programme has gone all-island, providing opportunities for local artists and arts workers to attend our event.
Please find the list below of the local authorities and arts organisations we are working with this year.
The Programme
Following an Open Call in August, Performing Arts Forum is thrilled to announce that Ruth McGowan and Alice Malseed will deliver The Gathering 2026, with Ruth as Curator and Alice as Creative Producer.
Accommodation
We have tried to create a sense of community with our hotel selections, a PAF Village so to speak, setting up base close to Belfast Grand Central Station (for ease of access and convenience) in a quadrangle between, Maldron Hotel Belfast City, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Moxy Belfast City & voco Belfast by IHG – these hotels have offered discounted rates especially for our members. You can view the full list of accommodation here.
We are very aware that budget can be a defining factor in whether or not your attendance is possible, so we have included alternative accommodation choices to ease this decision. There are also other options close to the above hotels, offering the best available rates at the time of booking, should you prefer to stay there:
Getting There
We encourage attendees to use public transport where possible.
By Train: There are direct train services from Dublin, Dundalk, Drogheda, Wexford, Sligo (all via Connolly Station) to Belfast Grand Central Station: See Irish Rail for full details.
By Bus: There are direct services to Belfast from Dublin: See Bus Eireann for full details, as well as connecting travel nationwide.
By Car: For those wishing to travel by car, we have set up a carpool for this event. Either log your interest in availing of a lift or that you have a car and willing to take passengers interested in attending.
For Multi-Connecting Travel: over the border travel routes and directions try Rome2Rio website for options, pricings and booking.
Parking:
Most of the accommodation options listed on our Gathering page either have on-site parking or offer discounted rates with nearby car parks.
For individual hotel parking, please see hotel notes on accommodation page
The Lyric:
There is no car park at the theatre, however, there are a number of parking options available nearby:
- Free car parking at Stranmillis Road Car Park BT9 5DT (87 spaces, including accessible bays, max stay 12 hours)
- There are two extended parking bays with dropped kerbs for attendees with disabilities outside The Lyric’s front door
- Queen’s Sport PEC Car Park at £1.80 per hour is a short walk away on Stranmillis Embankment BT9 5YR
- Limited on-street parking along Stranmillis Embankment
Accessibility
Performing Arts Forum is committed to making this Gathering as inclusive as possible. we are working closely with your venues to ensure accessibility support is at the forefront of our scheduling. We will be adding to this list as more venues are confirmed. For now please see:
Venues
The Lyric Theatre all fully accessible. You can find detailed accessibility information for each venue via the provided links.
- We have a designated quiet space near both auditoria at The Lyric if you’d like take a break at any point.
- We are offering captioning for the sessions in The Lyric as well as ISL & BSL interpreting.
- Infra-red audio enhancement is available in both auditoria, to assist customers with hearing and visual impairments.
- Seating is unreserved in all our venues, so you’re free to sit where you like. If you need an accessible seat, let us know and we can reserve one for you.
Additional Supports
Accommodation
- For individual hotels accessibility facilities please see notes on our accommodation page here.
Bursaries
- For accessibility support for our bursary recipients please see notes on our main bursary page here.