Out To Lunch Arts Festival

Out to Lunch Arts Festival returns to Belfast this January with a packed programme of music, comedy, theatre, talks and special events running from 9 to 31 January. Presented as part of the wider Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Out to Lunch has become a fixture of the city’s cultural calendar, offering an accessible mix of daytime and evening performances across some of Belfast’s best-loved venues.

The festival is known for its distinctive format, with lunchtime concerts and talks sitting alongside evening headline shows and late-night performances. This structure allows audiences to experience live culture at different times of day, whether dropping in during a work break or planning a full night out. Programming spans genres and disciplines, with established names appearing alongside emerging artists in settings that keep performances close and informal.

Events take place throughout the Cathedral Quarter and beyond, using venues that range from intimate rooms to larger halls. Music, spoken word, comedy and conversation are all central to the programme, with many shows selling out well in advance. The festival’s scale makes it easy to attend multiple events over the month, building a personal route through the programme rather than committing to a single weekend.

Out to Lunch is supported by a wide network of cultural partners and funders and is recognised for its role in bringing high-quality live performance into the city during the winter months. By combining strong curation with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, the festival offers a chance to experience Belfast’s creative life at its most varied and engaging.

Taking place across January, Out to Lunch provides a consistent rhythm of live events in the heart of the city, inviting audiences to return again and again over the course of the month rather than treating the festival as a one-off visit.