TWO WEEKS OUT, AVA BELFAST ANNOUNCED ITS LINEUP, NEW COMMUNITY TALKS, AND INFO FOR ALL ITS STAGES.

AVA returned to the Titanic Slipways for its 11th edition, and once again Belfast showed up in full force. 20,000 music lovers joined AVA across our festival, the talks, the ‘Seanchoiche’ evening of storytelling & our afterparties; with the kind of energy only this city can bring. As Belfast’s iconic docklands became a world stage for sound and culture, AVA 2025 reaffirmed its position as a defining independent force in global music.

With over 70 artists, four distinct stages, immersive visuals, and a cultural programme of talks, workshops, and storytelling, AVA delivered a pivotal weekend rooted in community, progression, and bold creativity.

Overmono’s live set on Friday night was a standout moment, made even more powerful by a surprise guest appearance from Dublin-born artist For Those I Love, performing “I Have A Love”. On Saturday night, Underworld’s monumental live set was a spiritual closer, with Born Slippy reverberating across the Slipways to a sea of raised hands. Across the weekend, VTSS, KI/KI, Jazzy, and Funk Tribu kept the audiovisual main stage, The Slipways, at full tilt.

This year also marked the debut of The Dock — a striking, amphitheatre-style stage co-curated with Resident Advisor — which quickly became a crowd favourite with its tiered dancefloor and cutting-edge audiovisual production. High-energy sets from Job Jobse, Sally C, Spray, 999999999, Bashka, Minna-no-Kimochi, and more made it one of the most talked-about new additions. Several sets have been recorded and will be released soon.

The enclosed rave haven of The Pumphouse pulsed all weekend, with heavyweight moments from Ewan McVicar, Clouds, AK Sports, X CLUB., and live performances from Chalk, Fcukers, and Sloucho. Artists like DJ Time of the Month, AR1AH, and OK Williams brought the underground energy, reaffirming AVA’s ongoing commitment to platforming the next generation.

Newly redesigned for 2025, The Yard platformed the best from Northern Ireland and the Republic with packed-out sets from Jordan Nocturne, EMA, Swoose, Ponyhawke, Twitch, Reger and more from open ‘til close.

At the AVA Talks Programme, Belfast’s cultural fabric came into sharp focus — from an open and inspiring fireside chat with Sally C, to the next generation of creative talent, to a packed Nightlife Industry Forum exploring the challenges and future of the city’s late-night economy. With over 20 leading voices in the room, there was a clear consensus: Belfast urgently needs a sustainable late-night transport system, especially on weekends.

Belfast’s Night Czar, Michael Stewart, emphasised the need for safe, planned routes home as part of licence renewals, while AVA Founder Sarah McBriar, who spearheaded the forum, highlighted that a vibrant night-time ecosystem relies on audiences being able to get to and from venues safely. Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Music Centre, summed up the collective feeling: “We need to just get on with doing something — we need to find a way to pilot and further prove the need.”

The programme closed with an emotional evening at AVA x Seanchoíche’s My Love for Belfast — an intimate storytelling night that powerfully captured what the city means to those who shape it.

This year also saw the launch of The Hot Spot, AVA’s new hospitality hub with Wing-It, offering surprise games, ice-cold drinks, wings and a proper bit of craic.

As always, production was centre stage. AVA levelled up across the board with new lighting and visuals from Pitch Studios and Visual Spectrum Studio, a Funktion-One system by Hertz-U Audio, and powerful design across every stage. The Dock’s tiered structure, backdropped by golden hour skies over Belfast, made for some of the weekend’s most iconic moments.

“We’re absolutely blown away by how special this year’s festival was. Not only did we sell out, but we showed the world just how powerful a place Belfast is — with unforgettable performances from global headliners to the most exciting emerging talent, an elevated hospitality experience, and sunshine across both days. From our industry conference and Seanchoíche storytelling night, to our new broadcast partnership with Resident Advisor and the incredible support from local businesses and partners lighting up the Slipways — this year was a true celebration of music, community and place. With over 20,000 attendees across the weekend, it was our biggest year yet. Thank you to everyone who made it happen. Roll on 2026.” — Sarah McBriar, AVA Festival Founder