On Thursday 24 September 2026, Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter turns into a free evening music trail as Output Belfast — Ireland’s largest one-day music conference — unveils its full showcase line-up for what organisers call the biggest edition yet.
The daytime conference sits with Belfast City Council / Belfast City of Music and Score Draw Music. After hours, the city gets the free artist showcases organisers have just confirmed — stages from early doors through the small hours, no ticket required. Photos: Jeff Robinson / Output Belfast.
LoveBelfast has tracked Output across recent editions, from the 2025 evening showcase trail and David Arnold closing keynote to earlier Gary Lightbody closing nights — this year’s free trail is the next chapter for the UNESCO City of Music calendar.
Free showcases — 7.30pm to 2am
Showcasing starts at 7.30pm and runs until 2am. Venues named so far include Bullitt, Ulster Sports Club, Oh Yeah Music Centre, Tetto, The Deer’s Head, The National, The Dirty Onion and more. All evening showcase events are free to attend.
The trail culminates in a DJ set from Northern Ireland band CHALK — freshly announced for Fontaines DC’s 2026 autumn arena tour. 2026 also brings a new partnership with J Music, putting a full house of showcasing into the Ulster Sports Club after their All Together Now Festival arena run.
Who’s on the trail
Artists named for the 2026 showcases include: Áine Gordon, Aoibha, Banshee, Cosign, Croíthe, Cuisle, Delivery Service, DISORDER, Dog Swim, Donnrua, Eimíle, Ellie Brétéché, ghoulgirl, Gush, Madrai, Matt Benson, Mucker, Nerves, Niall McDowell, OSG, :Panic :Over, Pinsleep, Plum Texes, Reevah, Ria Maguire, Róise, Shamrock Showband, SILK, THE HAND, The Thing Is…, Touzai and YIN YANG.
Who’s hosting
Showcase hosts include New Champion Management, Oh Yeah Music Centre, J Music, Output, Craic magazine, PRS, IMRO, Chordblossom, The Thin Air, SHINE, Shindig, With A Fada Magazine and Problem Promotions.
What the conference is for
Output Belfast runs as Ireland’s biggest annual one-day music conference and showcase — workshops, masterclasses, panels and talks aimed at creative and business skills for NI’s music community, with partners including PRS for Music and Belfast City Council. Support listed by organisers includes Jameson Music, The Lightbody Foundation and Shine Promotions.
For anyone working the industry side by day and chasing new acts by night, 24 September is the date: free Cathedral Quarter showcases, CHALK on the decks to close the trail, and Belfast’s music business ecosystem in one place.
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