Belfast has always been a music town, but this August it becomes the music town. From Sunday 2nd to Sunday 9th August 2026, Belfast hosts Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture — only the second time it has ever come to Northern Ireland, and the first time for Belfast, with over 800,000 people expected across eight days of street sessions, stage concerts and competitions. And after a day soaking up fiddles and bodhráns on the street, there’s no better souvenir than the music itself, pressed onto wax. The good news? Belfast punches well above its weight for vinyl — the city centre is compact, the scene is fierce, and the shops are run by people who have been living and breathing music here for decades. Here’s the full crate-digger’s map.
Sick Records
Start in the heart of the Fleadh action. Sick sits at 78 North Street, right in the Cathedral Quarter, and it’s the city’s home of brand-new releases. When it opened in 2014, it gave Belfast a legitimate independent record store stocking only new releases — something the city hadn’t really seen since the early days of Dragon Records. It was famously championed by Belfast DJ and producer David Holmes, who would crowbar the shop’s name into interviews. Your stop for the latest pressings and Record Store Day exclusives.
Dragon Records
58 Wellington Pl · +44 7437 469732 · 4.9 (56) · Open, closes 6 p.m. A long-running old-school shop up a flight of stairs just off City Hall, like a collector’s living room that got out of hand — rows of well-thumbed rock, punk, metal and indie alongside country and folk. Reviewers call it very well stocked with rare and hard-to-find records.
Voodoo Soup Records
17 Winetavern St · +44 7563 147949 · 4.6 (101) · Open, closes 6 p.m. A friendly second-hand haven near Smithfield Market, behind CastleCourt, run by the welcoming Martin/Fisher family. Praised for a fantastic selection, good prices and friendly staff.
Hectic Records
45–47 Rosemary St · +44 7563 147949 · 4.8 (12) · Open, closes 6 p.m. A tucked-away city-centre spot with a wide selection of records and very nice staff.
Young Savage — Vintage Clothing, Records and Books
22 Church Ln · 4.7 (66) · Open, closes 5:30 p.m. Records mixed in with vintage clothing and books — a fantastic, well-curated shop with friendly people and good music.
Alchemy Vintage And Arts
Above Blue hairdressing, 46 Hamilton St · +44 7717 462893 · 5.0 (23) · Open, closes 5 p.m. A small, lovingly curated collection run by lovely folks (reviewers single out Ian as a gem), with a gloriously curated selection and good prices.
hmv
3–6 Castle Pl, Donegall Pl · +44 843 221 0116 · 4.3 (906) · Open, closes 6 p.m. The high-street option, with serious depth — a great location and a massive stock of vinyl for all tastes.
Sound Advice Belfast
Banana Block, 310 Newtownards Rd · 5.0 (53) · Opens 11 a.m. Wed. A cosy, inclusive space inside the Banana Block that’s become a cornerstone of the east Belfast scene — a proper old-school record shop with friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Banana Block
PortView Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Rd · 4.6 (415) · Opens 10 a.m. Wed. The wider venue housing Sound Advice — a brilliant spot with excellent food retailers and, of course, a brilliant record shop.
First Press
381 Beersbridge Rd · 5.0 (27) · Opens 9 a.m. Thu. A fantastic place for vinyl lovers, with a great selection and very fair prices.
Bread and Records
381 Beersbridge Rd · 4.6 (25) · Opens 8 a.m. Thu. Part bakery, part record shop, sharing the Beersbridge Road address — top coffee, beautiful buns and a wealth of the best records.
Radio Starr
Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15–21 Gordon St · +44 7824 807103 · 4.7 (47) · Open, closes 5 p.m. A small curated shop and hub inside the Oh Yeah Music Centre, with a great selection and a welcoming atmosphere.
Belfast Underground Records
4.5 (67). Owned and operated by legendary local DJ Dilly, this one’s a go-to for crate-diggers — a good shop with helpful, unpretentious staff.
Bending Sound Records
2 Bank’s Ln · +44 28 9122 5510 · 4.9 (283) · Open, closes 5 p.m. Stocked with a good selection of new and pre-owned vinyl at reasonable prices.
VinylMatters
21B Railway St · +44 7548 991982 · 5.0 (6) · Open, closes 4 p.m. A great record shop with knowledgeable and friendly people running it.
Vanilla Records
4 William St · +44 28 8676 6463 · 5.0 (28) · Open 24 hours. Decently priced records and a flawless buying experience.
Go to Joe
+44 7751 175621 · 5.0 (3) · Open, closes 5 p.m. A small CD specialist for completists, with excellent service and top marks.
Cool Discs
Lesley House, 6 Foyle St · +44 28 7126 0770 · 4.6 (201) · Open, closes 5:45 p.m. A Derry institution worth the trip if you’re touring further afield — a great shop with a massive collection and friendly staff.
Richer Sounds Belfast
7 Smithfield Square N · +44 333 900 0070 · 4.7 (450) · Open, closes 5 p.m. Picked up records but need something to play them on? A great store with everything you need for playing vinyl and very helpful staff.
Voodoo
11A Fountain St · +44 28 9027 8290 · 4.5 (1.3K) · Open, closes 1 a.m. Not a record shop but a beloved live music bar to round off a day of digging — fantastic music, great staff and friendly, helpful security.
A few practical notes for Fleadh week: the city-centre shops cluster tightly between Cathedral Quarter, Smithfield and Rosemary Street, so you can cover several in a single stroll. Expect crowds with 800,000 visitors in town, so go early in the day, and as the seasoned diggers say — bring a tote, some patience, and leave space in your suitcase. Belfast’s vinyl scene has spent decades waiting for a week like this. Go give it a dig.
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann takes place in Belfast, August 2–9, 2026. For more information visit fleadhcheoil.ie, visitbelfast.com, and discovernorthernireland.com.