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.

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Hit the North 2026 Artist Line Up —

FAQ + PLAN YOUR VISIT!

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.
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.
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.
Absolutely.

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 Library Coppi, Waterman, Bunsen, Orto, The Dumpling Library, Deerah and loads more.
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.
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!.
Yeah we’ve got music. More details to follow…
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.