AVA Festival Belfast will take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th May 2026 at Titanic Slipways, Belfast.

The festival opens at 13:00 and closes at 23:00 on both days.

We recommend arriving early to avoid queues. The entrance area is typically busiest from 3:00 PM onwards.

Last entry is 7:00 PM. Entry will not be permitted after this time.

The festival site is accessible by foot, taxi, train, or bus, with regular services running from Belfast City Centre.

Yes. Please use the official taxi drop-off and pick-up point.

There is no customer car park. We strongly advise arriving on foot or via public transport, as there may be significant traffic disruption around the site.

The team at Crewfare have hand-selected a range of nearby hotels, with low-cost festival rates already applied.

Book your stay now

Yes. Official afterparties take place across Belfast in some of the city’s most iconic venues, hosted by festival artists and special guests.

Yes. Afterparties are ticketed separately and are not included with festival tickets.

Afterparty announcements will be made in Spring 2026.

Yes. Apparel can be purchased on-site during the festival or online year-round via the AVA Store. Festival apparel will be announced in 2026.

Yes — AVA Festival is strictly 18+.

You must bring one of the following:

• Photo driving licence
• Valid passport
• Yoti CitizenCard

No other forms of ID will be accepted. Please ensure you have valid ID in good time before the festival.

Yes.

• Student tickets: you must show valid student ID
• Resident tickets: you must show proof of a qualifying address (see Resident Tickets section)

If you have a pre-3pm ticket, you must arrive before 3:00 PM. Arrivals after this time will be required to pay a £10 surcharge.

No — re-entry is not permitted.

Yes. Alcohol will be served throughout the day and night to over-18s only. ID may be required.

No. AVA does not permit attendees to bring their own alcohol on site.

AVA Festival is a cashless event.

We accept the following payment methods across the site:

• Debit and credit cards
  
• Apple Pay
  
• Google Pay

Yes. There will be a range of food traders on site throughout the festival.

We aim to cater to a wide variety of dietary requirements, including:

• Vegan
  
• Vegetarian
  
• Gluten-free

Hospitality tickets include:

• Fast-track entry via the Hospitality lane
• Access to the Hospitality bar and seated area
• Access to hospitality toilets

Yes — the hospitality area is strictly 21+.

If you are under 21 but over 18, you may still enter the festival, but you won’t be granted access to the hospitality area.

Yes — you can purchase a Hospitality upgrade at the Merchandise stand, subject to availability.

Student tickets are available exclusively via FIXR. You must present a valid student ID on entry.

Resident tickets are limited, first-come, first-served, and cover the Docklands catchment area only.

To apply, email a utility bill as proof of address to info@avafestival.com with the subject line “Resident Tickets”.

Yes. We offer PayPal Pay Later, alongside Deposit Tickets offered in previous years.

Pay Later allows you to spread the cost across three interest-free payments:

• First payment at purchase
• Two automatic monthly payments taken from your linked account on the same date each month

No hidden fees apply.

1. Select your ticket(s) on the RA event page and click Buy Tickets
2. At checkout, under Payment details, select PayPal Pay Later
3. Under Basket, select Pay Later
4. You’ll be transferred to PayPal — choose Pay in 3 and continue

You’ll need a PayPal account and should ensure you are logged into your Resident Advisor account before purchasing.

Yes. The site is accessible and includes multiple accessible toilets.

Yes — please email info@avafestival.com to pre-book the accessible viewing platform or to discuss access requirements.

Yes. We provide a 2:1 ticket scheme for individuals who would be unable to attend without a personal assistant.

After purchasing a full-price ticket, please email info@avafestival.com with one of the following:

• DLA/PIP or equivalent (dated within the last 12 months)
• Medical professional’s letter (reviewed case-by-case)
• Deaf or blind registration
• Nimbus Access Card
• Both sides of your Blue Badge

Personal assistant tickets are free of charge. Please do not buy a separate ticket for your assistant, as these tickets will not be refunded.

Once received, we’ll be in touch regarding access to the personal assistant ticket.

AVA is committed to becoming a more sustainable, inclusive and environmentally responsible event. We aim to reduce negative impact locally and globally, and create a welcoming environment where everyone feels part of the community.

We focus on championing homegrown talent, diversity and inclusion, and actively minimising our environmental impact.

This work is organised into three strands:

• Sustainability
• Community
• Inclusion

We are working on measuring performance and improving year-on-year, with a commitment to publicly reporting progress so we can be held accountable by our audience.

Yes. A cloakroom facility will be available on site and is located beside the merchandise hut.

Please note that space is limited and items are left at your own risk. We recommend keeping personal belongings to a minimum where possible.

Yes. AVA Festival is independently owned and operated.

We are not part of a multinational festival group. This independence allows us to curate our programme, partnerships and community initiatives with long-term values in mind, and to remain closely connected to the local and international communities we work with.