Belfast has been awarded City of Music status by Unesco, part of the Unesco Creative Cities Network.
The first city in Ireland and the third in the U.K. (after Liverpool, England, and Glasgow, Scotland) to achieve the distinction, Belfast will celebrate by delivering a series of major music events over the next few years.
A sister city of Nashville, Belfast is known for its diverse music scenes and artists, including harpists, counter-culture punks, rock legends, ravers and traditional Irish musicians.
A highlight in the city is the Oh Yeah Music Centre, a performance venue, exhibition space and creative hub for musicians housed in a former whiskey warehouse.
Visitors can also follow the Belfast Traditional Music Trail, which starts in The Dirty Onion bar in the Cathedral Quarter, the EastSide Visitor Centre and the self-guided Van Morrison Trail.