What's On in Belfast

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival — One of Ireland's most beloved comedy institutions rolls into the Waterfront Hall Auditorium, and if the name alone does not have you reaching for your wallet, the calibre of laughter on offer certainly will. Expect sharp, polished stand-up in one of Belfast's grandest and most atmospheric venues, the kind of night where your sides genuinely ache by the time you spill out into the evening air. Doors from 7:00pm — check the website for lineup details and tickets before they vanish.

Malin Lewis Trio — For something a little more intimate and soulful, the Duncairn Centre hosts the Malin Lewis Trio at 7:30pm — and at just £10, this is one of the finest-value tickets in the city tonight. The Duncairn is a gorgeous, characterful space that has a knack for making live music feel genuinely special, the kind of room where you can actually hear every note breathe. Perfect if you want to lose yourself in something heartfelt and beautifully crafted rather than just loud.

United Rugby Championship - Ulster V Edinburgh — The Affidea Stadium erupts at 7:45pm as Ulster take on Edinburgh in what promises to be a fierce and exhilarating United Rugby Championship clash under the lights. There is nothing quite like a packed Belfast crowd roaring Ulster on — the atmosphere is electric, tribal, and completely intoxicating even if you only half-know the offside rule. Check the website for tickets and get there early to soak up the pre-match buzz.

Thumper — The Ulster Sports Club plays host to Thumper from 7:00pm, and if you are not already familiar with this act, tonight is the perfect chance to get on board before everyone else catches up. Expect the kind of urgent, fizzing indie energy that makes a small venue feel like the most important place on earth, walls practically vibrating with it. Check the website for tickets — this is the sort of gig people talk about for months afterwards.

Just Like Heaven: Alt 80s Night (Belfast) — When the clock strikes 10:30pm, the Limelight Belfast transforms into a glorious, guilt-free celebration of alternative 1980s music — think post-punk, new wave, and all the gloriously strange corners of the decade that mainstream radio forgot. At just £7–£9, it is an absolute steal for a night that will have you singing along to songs you had not thought about in years, surrounded by people who feel exactly the same way. This is the rare club night that feels like a communal joy rather than an obligation.

Happy — If you want to push the night even further, Happys Belfast opens its doors at 10:00pm for Happy, a club night with a name that really does set the tone correctly. At £7, it is an accessible and unpretentious way to see Friday out properly, in a venue that knows exactly how to keep a dancefloor alive. Sometimes the simplest pleasures — good music, good people, a dark room — are the ones that stick with you longest.