Young people and youth-led conversations will take centre stage at the 4 Corners Festival 2026, which returns to Belfast from January 30 to February 8 with the theme Journey.
The festival is a faith-based initiative delivered across venues in all four corners of the city, with events designed to encourage people to step beyond the physical and psychological “corners” of Belfast and encounter new perspectives, new ideas and new connections.
The 2026 youth programme includes schools-based activity, sports and friendship-building, student discussion, youth travel and peacebuilding, and space for honest conversation about masculinity and non-violence.
A key youth event, Passports Ready! takes place at QUB PEC, Botanic Park, Stranmillis at 10am on February 4, bringing primary school pupils from four Belfast schools together with Peace Players NI for a day focused on sports skills and building connections, celebrating friendship and support on the sports field and in life.
The programme also includes a Youth Action-led workshop, Exploring Masculinity With Young Men in Schools, which takes place at Youth Action, 14 College Square North, on the morning of February 4, creating space for honest conversation with young men aged 13 to 18 about how masculinity is shaped and expressed in everyday life, including pressures of proving oneself, gender roles, positive male influences, non-violence and empathy.
A second Youth Action session, Reimagining Masculinity, takes place at 1.15pm on February 4 and is aimed at youth practitioners, educators and community leaders, focusing on young men’s perspectives and how to support respect, non-violence and authentic masculinities.
Students are also specifically included in the 2026 schedule through Out To Lunch With Dr Jemar Tisby at Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, University Street, at 12.30pm on February 5, where students from Queen’s and Ulster Universities will gather for a lunchtime conversation with the activist, historian and author, challenging students to think critically about Christianity, race, faith and justice.
Youth travel and global connection is reflected in A Youth Journey From Belfast To Katanga at Knock Methodist Centre, 17 Knock Road, at 7.30pm on January 31. The event centres on a November 2025 journey by five young people from South Belfast Alternatives who travelled to Kampala, Uganda to explore how youth use vision and resilience to change their communities. Emmanuel Trinity, Founder and CEO of era92 Group, and peacebuilder Tony Macaulay will share how the idea developed and will interview the young participants.
The programme also includes All Aboard at Methodist College’s Whitla Hall, Malone Road, at 7pm on February 5, where Play it by Ear will take audiences on “the journey of a lifetime” with the help of children from some local schools.
The festival’s final day includes Our Corner of Creation at Forthspring Inter-Community Group, 373 to 375 Springfield Road, at 1.30pm on February 8, bringing young people from across Belfast together to explore environmental care and community stewardship of the earth’s resources, with discussion in mixed groups on both the beauty and brokenness of the city and realistic steps that can address the challenges it faces.
Speaking about the importance of youth participation within the festival’s wider ethos, Ed Petersen of Clonard Monastery, representing the 4 Corners Festival, said: “I love the overall ethos of the 4 Corners Festival to encourage all of us to get out of our corner of the city, not only just the geographical corner of the city to experience other parts of Belfast but also just around other ideas and opportunities.
“Young people can meet new people and explore various different subject matters together with people from different areas of Belfast or even beyond.”
The 4 Corners Festival is supported by The Executive Office’s Central Good Relations Fund, The Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund and Belfast City Council Good Relations Fund, St Anne’s Cathedral Sitout and Linen Quarter BID.
All events are free to attend. To find out the full lineup of the festival and to book your tickets go to 4cornersfestival.com
