The Ballymena Festival of Music, Speech and Dance takes place each February and March at the beautiful Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena. We offer young performers the chance to take part in music, speech, drama, and dance, celebrating talent and a shared love of the performing arts.

Join us for a special celebration evening, the Festival Showcase, on Saturday 27 February 2027 at 7pm in the Main Theatre at the Braid. This free event features performances from across all sections and brings together the wonderful talent showcased throughout the festival.

The 2027 Syllabus for Music, Speech & Drama, and Modern Dance will be published on 21 September 2027, when the online entry system will also open.

2027 Festival (Provisional Dates)

• 6 February: Traditional Music & Irish Dancing (Confined)

• 8–13 February: Irish Dancing

• 15–20 February: Vocal Music

• 22–27 February: Instrumental Music

• 27 February: Festival Showcase (7pm, FREE entry!)

• 23 February – 2 March: Speech & Drama

• 4–13 March: Modern Dance

• 29 May: Modern Dance Championship