News / 2nd February 2026

LQ BID Invests £160k Into 2026 Events Programme

LQ BID has launched its Events Programme for 2026 revealing a £160,000 investment. Organisations from across the Linen Quarter gathered at The Points on the Dublin Road this week to learn more about the events and experiences that will be on offer throughout the year.

The programme is aimed at enhancing the city experience for employees, residents and visitors, and driving footfall to city centre businesses. This year it follows two primary themes – arts and culture, and wellness – reflecting both the Linen Quarter’s rich heritage in the arts, and Belfast’s role as host city of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, and as a designated European City of Sport for 2026.

Highlights will include participation in the Four Corners Festival in February, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Ulster Hall in March, and a Labor Day weekend BBQ in the Gasworks Estate celebrating the role of US companies in the district during the USA250 Anniversary Year. The Linen Quarter investment will also help extend several existing city-wide festivals into the Linen Quarter for the first time, including Festival of Fools, Belfast Book Fest and Belfast International Horror Festival. Adding to the atmosphere in summer will be a programme of outdoor animation, and live performances and music across the district.

Wellbeing will remain a central pillar of the programme, with initiatives aimed at supporting both physical and mental health in the workplace. These include the launch of Jog Belfast, a beginner-friendly run club delivered in partnership with Active Belfast, free Gym Classes for local employees throughout the winter, and the BID’s acclaimed Health Week in June, now in its seventh year, offering free health checks, fitness classes and training opportunities across the district.

Sport will also feature prominently, with employees from CBRE, SEUPB, Atkins Realis, Financial Times taking part in the Belfast City Marathon and Relay in May in support of charity partner NI Chest, Heart & Stroke. The BID’s popular 5-a-side football league will return over the spring and summer, and the 4th annual Inter-Company Pétanque Tournament at Blackstaff Square will be held from July, which has become a firm fixture in the district’s summer calendar and will see Wilson Nesbitt aim to retain their 2025 win

LQ BID’s Communications and Events Manager, Stevie Maginn, explained why continued investment in the events programme is important.

He said, “2026 is shaping up to be a culturally significant year for Belfast. Investment in this year’s events programme was crucial to ensure that activity across the Linen Quarter aligned with the wider happenings across the city. This year’s program showcases the Linen Quarter as a premier district for business, heritage, culture, and leisure.

“Thousands of people work here and visit here every day, and part of our role is to enhance their experience. We do so by offering new ways they can explore and enjoy the city for longer. This helps us support businesses in the area with midweek footfall, but also creates a greater sense of community and improves workplace culture and relationships.”

The historic Linen Quarter, the area stretching from City Hall to Shaftesbury Square, is fast becoming one of the most vibrant and diverse areas of the city. It is home to 50 per cent of the city’s total hotel rooms, boasts over 40 cafés, bars and restaurants such as Coco and Sweet Afton and three of the city’s major music venues, Ulster Hall, the Grand Opera House and the Limelight. This rich hospitality and entertainment offering shares a space with some 300 organisations such as Deloitte, Invest NI, various Governmental departments, and Kainos’ 14-storey office block due to open next year.

Chris McCracken, Managing Director of LQ BID, said the events programme helps people understand the BID’s vision for the city.

He explained, “At the very heart of our organisation is placemaking, and part of this aim is enhancing vibrancy in Belfast City Centre. The Linen Quarter is an area of the city where business meets pleasure, creating opportunities for thousands of employees to explore and enjoy the arts and entertainment offering, enhancing wellbeing, and creating a greater sense of belonging. This enhanced quality of life supports productivity, which drives economic growth, ultimately delivering a better Belfast for everyone.”

For more information download a copy of the Events Programme below