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Hit the North is a phenomenon. A grass roots street art festival based in a formally derelict area of Belfast which, has beatified hundreds of walls in Belfast and demonstrated the transformative power of creativity, entrepreneurship and most of all art.

Hit the North 2026 Artist Line Up —

HIT THE NORTH 2026 EVENTS

Hit the North Street Art Market

We’ll be launching the festival weekend with a Street Artist Market in the magnificent surrounds of the Bullitt courtyard.
30 April | 6 – 9pm
Free Entry
Bullitt

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The Other Lunch

We’re not going to do the full conference this year, but join us for a free Bodega Bagel and let’s talk about big ideas anyway.
1 May | 12pm – 2.00pm
Free
The Sunflower

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Hit the North Student Jam

Hit the North Student Jam brings together this curated group of Belfast School of Art students and Graduates in Residence for a live street art event at the Belfast campus.
1 May | 3 - 6pm
Free
York Street Lane

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The Pre-Block-Party Party

It’s become a tradition at Hit the North that we get the whole gang together the night before the big event in the John Hewitt Bar.
2 May | 8pm – 1am
Free Admission
The John Hewitt

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Hit The North Block Party

This year’s event will feature 50 local and international artists, with an array of styles and techniques on show.
3 May | 2 – 6pm
Free admission
Kent Street and Union Street

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FAQ + PLAN YOUR VISIT!

We are fully programmed for 2026. If you want to be considered for next year’s festival please email info@seedheadarts.com with examples of your mural work.
Please be aware that Hit the North has developed a massive international reputation in recent years but still operates on a tiny budget. We therefore have to make difficult curatorial decisions - we’d love to be able to host 200 artists but we simply can’t. We’ve maximised our site as best we can so please don’t expect that we can find you a wee spot on the day.
By air
Flights from all major UK and European cities arrive at either of Belfast’s two airports. Belfast International is 19 miles from the city centre, and George Best Belfast City Airport three miles from the city centre.
By boat
Stena Line sails up to six times a day between Belfast and Cairnryan, and up to twice a day between Belfast and Liverpool. P&O sails up to nine times a day from Cairnryan to Larne, and twice a day from Troon to Larne from the end of March to end of September.
By bus
In the city, Translink Metro/Glider buses are very regular throughout the day. A single journey bus ticket starts at £2.20. Smartlink day tickets start at £3.70. For most up to date routes and fares, visit translink.co.uk.
By train
Lines run between Belfast and Dublin, Larne, Londonderry and points in between. Contact Translink 028 9066 6630 or visit translink.co.uk for up-to-date timetables and fares
Hit The North takes place in various parts of Belfast City Centre, but the main event, the Block Party on Sunday 3 May takes place on Kent Street outside and around the Sunflower Public House.
You’re right there is a marathon on that day. It will kick off at 9am and be largely done by the time we kick off our Block Party at 2pm. Some road closures will still be in effect at this time though, so please plan accordingly.
Full details on all road closures and their timings are found here.
Ramada by Wyndham
Ramada by Wyndham Belfast is located in Cathedral Quarter Belfast - the most popular part of the city - and barely a five minute walk to all HTN activity.
Bullitt Hotel
Bullitt Hotel is a stylish and cleverly designed hotel with an urban atmosphere, offering top-quality accommodation in Belfast city centre. It has everything you need to eat, drink, work and play.
Premier Inn — Cathedral Quarter
Located in the bustling Cathedral Quarter, Premier Inn Waring Street is the ideal location for a visit to Belfast.
To view the full range of hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and hostels Northern Ireland has to offer visit Discover Northern Ireland.
No, you don’t need a ticket. It’s entirely free, no booking required and all entirely welcome. We will be seeking a suggested donation to help run the festival but that’s up to you
Absolutely.

You’re in luck, we’ll have Oui Poutine and CBCheesy's Mac 'n' Cheese as well as outstanding pizza served inside the Sunflower Pub courtesy of Boxing Hare Artisan Pizza.
It’s a Block Party, outside the Sunflower Pub, of course you can get a drink! And if you’re coming to Belfast for the first time, there are quite frankly few better places to get a drink than the Sunflower. As well as the two bars in the Sunflower, thanks to support from Salty Buoy Beer we’ll be setting up an outdoor bar over the road on Kent Street.

There will be other bars operating in the area BUT the Sunflower help us pay for the festival, the others do not so we’d rather you bought your drink from the Sunflower.
We’ll have the Arcade Coffee truck running alongside all the glorious food on our Block Party site as well as our friends at Established Coffee who are close by.
Yeah we’ve got music.

Timmy Stewart from the Night Institute will be on Kent Street, and the Bang Bike will be back on Library Street.
Yes! As well as Hit The North, this particular Bank Holiday Weekend in Belfast always hosts two of the city’s best Festivals in The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival with a great selection of music, comedy, theatre and talks as well as Festival of Fools, a street outdoor street circus festival free for all to attend.
It might well be one of the best weekends for arts and culture in Belfast throughout the entire year.