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 2025 Artist Line Up —
Hit the North 2025 Artist Line Up —
HERA
Slim Safont
My Dog Sighs
Taxis
Asbestos
Joe Caslin
Louis Masai
Dan Leo
Philth
Jack Lack
Friz
Ona Salvador
EMIC
ADW
Skyhigh
Ed Hicks
Wee Nuls
Claire Prouvost
David McMillan
Holly Pereira
Zippy
Molly Hankinson
NOYS
Roo
Ana Fish
KVLR
Fesa
Hixxy
Kerrie Hanna
FGB
Alana McDowell
Rob Hilken
Dani Simpson
Shane Ha
Niall O
Kayde
HMC
Ajax Paper
Fenz
Ohhi Ohno
Joke
Jamtwo
Sanchai
JMK
Glen Molloy
Kaos
Codo
Luck
Alexandra
Silly Me
Gabriela Joyce
Mel Carroll
Lost Lines
Jacky Sheridan
Imogen Donegan
Leo Boyd
HIT THE NORTH 2025 EVENTS
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Hit the North Street Art Market
Something new to launch the festival this year as part of Late Night Art Belfast. Street artists don’t just do murals.
Free Entry
2 May | 6 – 9pm
Bullitt -
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The Other Place
‘The Other Place’ is a day-long conference in the heart of Belfast.
Artists: £10 | Other: £75
2 May | 10am – 4pm
2 Royal Avenue -
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Street Art Bus Tour
Once a year at Hit the North we like to mess with our world famous street art tour with a pub crawl. Like something amazing made better.
£20.00pp
3 May | 2 – 5pm
Starting and finishing at the Sunflower -
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We Shelter Here Sometimes
Filmed and Directed by Paul Gonella of Strong Island Media, this intimate, up-close-and-personal documentary follows the internationally acclaimed British street artist known only by the moniker My Dog Sighs as he embarks on his most ambitious project yet.
£6.50
2pm
University of Ulster (Belfast Campus) -
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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.
Free Admission
3 May | 8pm – 1am
The John Hewitt -
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Beginner Street Art Workshops (U18 + Adults)
Join Peaball for a crash course in graffiti, street art and stencil where you’ll learn…
£30
11am (U18) 2pm (Adults)
Belfast Central Library -
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Hit The North Block Party
This year’s event will feature 60 local and international artists, with an array of styles and techniques on show.
Kent Street and Union Street
2 – 6pm
Free admission
FAQ + PLAN YOUR VISIT!
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We are fully programmed for 2025. 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.
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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 5 May takes place on Kent Street outside and around the Sunflower Public House.
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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.
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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.
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No, you don’t need a ticket. It’s entirely free, no booking required and all entirely welcome.
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Absolutely.
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You’re in luck, we’ll have a curated selection of pop up street food vendors at our Block Party on Kent Street as well as outstanding pizza served inside the Sunflower Pub courtesy of Boxing Hare Artisan Pizza.
Alongside that there’s also several restaurants within the area of he site including The Dumpling LibraryCoppi, Waterman, Bunsen, Orto, The Dumpling Library, Deerah and loads more.
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It’s a Block Part, 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.
You can make a day of it by checking out these fantastic establishments as well, only a few minutes walk away from the Block Party site — The John Hewitt, The Black Box, the Ulster Sports Club and The Reporter.
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We’ll have a coffee truck running alongside all the glorious food on our Block Party site as well as Established Coffee, less than a five minute walk away, from the site and Neighbourhood Cafe for those dying for their caffeine fix!.
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Yeah we’ve got music. More details to follow…
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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.
