Belfast Awarded prestigious UNESCO City of Music Title

In exciting news, Belfast has become the third city in the UK to be awarded the coveted City of Music status by UNESCO celebrating the city’s rich musical heritage and recognising the importance of music to its future.

Published: 09 November 2021 | 12:43 PM

Belfast City Hall illuminated at night and seen from down a busy street with blurred pedestrians — “Belfast is proud of its music culture. Creativity and resilience are in the very fabric of our city and our people.” Photo credit: Shutterstock

Belfast is only the third city in the UK to become a City of Music with Liverpool receiving it in 2016 and Glasgow in 2008. It is also the first city on the island of Ireland to receive the accolade. As of today, there are 59 Cities of Music forming part of the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “We are thrilled and honoured that Belfast has been bestowed the prestigious UNESCO City of Music title and to have Gary Lightbody and Hannah Peel on board as official patrons. This is wonderful news for Belfast!

“Belfast is proud of its music culture. Creativity and resilience are in the very fabric of our city and our people. Last April, we launched a 10 year cultural strategy which will see a ‘year of culture’ in 2024. The UNESCO accolade is the perfect way to kickstart these plans, much of which revolves around music.”

Find out more about Belfast’s journey to UNESCO status and what it could mean for the future of music in the city, on Belfast City’s Government webpage.

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