Join Sister Cities on a trip to the remarkable Belfast, Northern Ireland – Nashville’s third sister city. Belfast is vibrant city shaped by a complex history and a remarkable journey of renewal. Once at the center of the conflict known as the Troubles, Belfast has emerged as a dynamic, creative city known for its arts, music, culture, maritime heritage, and strong sense of community. Today, Belfast continues to build connections across cultures and communities while celebrating its past and looking toward the future.

**This trip is only available to members of Sister Cities of Nashville** Memberships are essential to our organization because they support the planning and implementation of all our programming, including trips like this! If you are not yet a member, you can add your membership when sending your registration by choosing the "non member" pricing. The "givebutter tip" you will see upon checkout is optional.

Trip Dates: Sunday, October 18 - Thursday, October 22, 2026

(Must arrive by 12pm on October 18, 2026, which means booking your ticket to leave BNA on October 17th or before. Departure from Belfast is Oct 22 or beyond. Official programming ends the evening of Oct 21)

Activities: The schedule will include visits to local universities, with a focus on their engagement with the broader community; arts, entertainment, and cultural venues and the ways they connect with residents; and possibly a new production company they are hoping to introduce us to. We will also visit the Ulster Academy, which produced the formal portion of the Fleadh, the major music festival the city hosted last week. The trip will also provide opportunities to connect directly with city and local government officials, community leaders, and individuals who are actively working to shape and strengthen their communities. These conversations will give us a chance to learn from the people on the ground about what is working, what challenges they face, and how they are using arts, culture, education, and other community-based initiatives to create a positive impact. Activities recommended for Oct 22 will not be part of the official itinerary, are not included in the pricing structure, and are optional. These include Black Cab tours, Coastal tours (Giants Causeway), Titanic Museum, Titanic Distillery, etc.

Registration Deadline: September 15, 2026

Program Price: $300/person for members and $400/person for non-members (don't worry - you'll receive a membership for one year!) and includes group meals, on-site transportation and administrative costs) – does not include airfare, accommodation, some meals, incidentals, and add-ons including but not limited to tours booked outside the official itinerary

Flights: SCN recommends booking your flight to one of the following airports:

Belfast City Airport (airport code BHD) which typically has a connection through London, Heathrow. City buses and cabs are affordable and almost always available from the Belfast airport directly into the city center. Please be aware when you are booking, that there are TWO Belfast airports. You want to book through the City Airport (BHD) NOT Belfast International Airport (BFS) which is about 13 miles outside of the city.
Dublin, Ireland, which can be reached direct from Nashville through Aer Lingus (or with connections through most major airlines). If you book to Dublin, it is easy and affordable ($25-$31) to the Dublin Express bus direct from Dublin Airport to Belfast city center. The bus ride is about 2 hours and runs regularly from 6:30am to 1:30am. (PLEASE MAKE SURE TO DOUBLE CHECK THE TIMES AS THEY ARE LISTED IN MIILTARY TIME ON THE WEBSITE). You can book it in advance HERE or at the airport upon arrival

Accommodations: SCN will be sharing recommended hotels with discounted rates for our trip very soon. However, if you have a preferred hotel or would like to go ahead and book, SCN requests you please stay within a few minutes walk of Belfast City Hall. You are responsible for getting to and from the designated meeting point each day.

Fee is due upon registration.

Entry/Exit Requirements for U.S. citizens to the U.K. and Ireland:

U.S. citizens need a valid passport AND an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for the United Kingdom before travel.
You can apply for an ETA and find information on new requirements on the UK Government website.
U.S. citizens with expired or damaged passports may not be allowed to enter and could be sent back to the United States at their own expense.
Please visit the U.S. State Department's United Kingdom or Ireland page for more information.

Please review the entry and transit requirements for every country included in your flight itinerary. Depending on your routing to Belfast, you may pass through customs in either Ireland OR the United Kingdom. Travelers are responsible for verifying necessary requirements or documents pertaining to their particular situation, including if traveling on a non-U.S. passport before departure.

Helpful resources: https://apply.joinsherpa.com

Belfast Delegation Visit 2026