BELFAST MELA TAKES TO THE STREETS OF DUBLIN TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR’S CULTURAL DIVERSITY FESTIVAL

The Belfast Mela Festival took to the streets of Dublin today (Thursday 7 August 2025) with an impromptu performance by Jiggy’s Robbie Harris playing bodhran alongside Bollywood dancers Lauren Martin and Reeshika Mukheijee with Belfast Mela founder Nisha Tandon to encourage more people to visit Belfast for this year’s festival.

The largest celebration of cultural diversity in Ireland kicks off in Belfast on Saturday 16 August and runs until Sunday 24 August with an exciting line-up of global music, dance, theatre, wellbeing, foods, art and immersive experiences.

Jiggy, the Irish musical collective known for their infectious energy and unique mix of Irish traditional music with world rhythms will be headlining the World Stage at this year’s Mela Day on Sunday 24 August, followed by a spectacular Bollywood finale by ArtsEkta’s South Asian Dance Academy.

Nisha Tandon, Founder of Belfast Mela and Director of ArtsEkta said: “We are delighted to take the Belfast Mela to Dublin this year for the first time to announce our most ambitious programme of events yet – a vibrant celebration of the many cultures that now call this island home. It’s also great to have our friends from Q102 onboard to help us celebrate Mela as we look forward to welcoming even more visitors from across the country to experience the magic of Mela—a powerful showcase of diversity, unity, and the transformative power of the arts.”

Fiona Cunningham, ROI Market Manager, Tourism NI said: “Tourism NI is delighted to support the Belfast Mela for the first time through our International Tourism Events Fund. This recognition reflects the festival’s growing appeal to visitors from across the island of Ireland and further afield, and its unique role in showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of our culture. We applaud the ambitious evolution of this event across the years which strongly aligns with our goal of supporting experiences that have the potential to attract international visitors and enhance the North’s reputation on the global tourism stage.”

The 19th Belfast Mela Festival starts on Saturday 16 August at Writer’s Square, Belfast at noon as the Mela Carnival lights up the streets of Belfast with colour, rhythm and joy as hundreds of artists and community participants in traditional dress parade to City Hall, accompanied by world beats, dazzling floats and infectious energy. The celebration continues at City Hall with a free Mini Mela from 1pm to 4pm and there’s also a new Cathedral Quarter Mini Mela this year from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. With events taking place across the city all week, the festival’s grand finale, Mela Day, returns to Botanic Gardens on Sunday 24 August from 12 noon to 6pm—an unforgettable party in the park where tens of thousands will flock to enjoy the global sights, sounds, tastes and traditions that truly capture the spirit of Belfast’s vibrant multicultural community.

Mela Carnival is free with no tickets required. Mela Day tickets cost £12 adults, £9 concession (children aged between 5 – 15 and over 60s) £24 family (2 adults and 2 children under 16) Children under 5 go free. Tickets for Mela Day must be booked in advance. Booking and tickets for other events vary. Full information on all events and booking information is available online at www.belfastmela.org.uk