Belfast city centre will be largely pedestrianised and motorists are being told to stay away as the city prepares to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for the first time.

Detailed traffic and travel plans for the eight-day event, running from Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 August, were announced by Belfast City Council and partners including Translink, the Department for Infrastructure and the PSNI.

Road closures and diversions will be concentrated in the city centre, where an event zone will restrict vehicle access. Organisers strongly discourage driving through the area and instead urge the use of public transport, walking or cycling.

Three dedicated Park and Ride sites will operate on the outskirts: at Eikon Exhibition Centre near the M1, Giant's Park near the M2, and Belfast Harbour near the M3. Pre-booking opens on 6 July at £10 per day, with free shuttle buses running to Grand Central Station and Laganside Bus Centre.

All Metro, Glider and Ulsterbus services will run as normal, though some bus stops may be altered. NI Railways will operate a revised timetable with extra capacity. Translink Belfast Area Manager Sean McGreevy said services would be very busy and recommended contactless payment for speed.

City centre businesses will receive deliveries via an overnight window between 4am and 8am, coordinated through a 24-hour Accreditation and Logistics Hub set up by the council. The hub will also manage commercial waste collections.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Gavin Kirkpatrick confirmed increased uniformed and plain-clothed patrols around venues and transport hubs. Project Servator deployments and a Safer Transport Team will form part of the policing operation.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said traffic conditions would be monitored in real time from the Traffic Information and Control Centre to minimise disruption. Temporary parking and waiting restrictions will accompany the road closures.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Rois-Maire Donnelly, called on visitors to pre-book parking and avoid driving into the centre. She said pedestrianisation would create a festival atmosphere and a safer experience.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said hosting the world's largest celebration of Irish music and culture would bring economic, cultural and tourism benefits across the north.

Three official campsites at Titanic Quarter, Ormeau Park and Falls Park are all within walking distance or close to public transport. Most Fleadh venues are within a 15-minute walk of the city centre. A free accessible shuttle bus will loop the centre for those with mobility needs or heavy instruments.