About

Junior Competition - 3pm

The Belfast TradFest Solo Piping Competition will feature an invitational selection of Ireland's leading young pipers under the age of 25, showcasing the next generation of talent at the highest level of the tradition.

Bringing together outstanding players from across the island of Ireland, the competition will celebrate technical excellence, musical depth and individual style across the piping tradition. Each invited piper represents the very forefront of contemporary piping, combining deep respect for tradition with exceptional artistry and promise.

This prestigious event offers audiences a rare opportunity to hear some of the finest young pipers performing in a focused, high-level solo setting, while providing an important platform for emerging artists at a formative stage in their careers. The BelfastTradFest Solo Piping Competition reflects the festival's ongoing commitment to nurturing young talent, supporting artistic excellence, and celebrating the vitality of piping within Ireland's living musical heritage.

Senior Competition - 5pm

The Belfast TradFest Solo Piping Competition will bring together a select group of Ireland's leading pipers, each performing a 6–8 minute Irish-inspired medley in a high-level solo showcase of musicianship, style and tradition. This prestigious competition offers competitors the opportunity to earn a coveted place at the internationally renowned MacCrimmon Trophy Competition at the Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2025, one of the most respected piping stages in the world.

Drawing on Ireland's rich piping heritage while engaging with the wider Highland piping tradition, the competition highlights both technical excellence and individual musical expression. Audiences can expect powerful performances that balance tradition, innovation and personal interpretation, as these outstanding musicians compete at the highest level.

Whether you are a devoted piping enthusiast or new to the tradition, this event offers a rare chance to hear some of the finest Highland piping currently being played in Ireland, presented in an intimate and focused concert setting.

Sit back, relax, and experience a thrilling celebration of piping at its very best— bold, expressive and unforgettable.