Entertainment

First acts announced for new Belfast summer festival at Custom House Square

Set right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, the festival promises a run of feel-good gigs from international favourites and homegrown heroes

Isle of Wight Festival 2017
The Kooks will play Belfast's new Summer Series festival in 2026. (David Jensen/PA)

The first two acts have been unveiled for a brand-new music festival set to light up Belfast city centre next summer.

Launching in June 2026, The Summer Series will bring a fresh programme of open-air shows to the iconic Custom House Square, adding another major highlight to the city’s growing summer entertainment calendar.

Set right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, the festival promises a run of feel-good gigs from international favourites and homegrown heroes.

Organisers have now confirmed the first names on the bill: The Beach Boys and The Kooks - two acts whose landmark albums continue to resonate with fans across generations.

California legends The Beach Boys, who have soundtracked more than half a century of pop history, will headline Custom House Square on Sunday, June 21.

Known worldwide for their sun-soaked harmonies and timeless hits, the group will celebrate 60 years of their groundbreaking album Pet Sounds with a special Belfast performance as part of the new Summer Series.

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The Beach Boys have announced a date at the SSE Arena next May
The Beach Boys have announced a date at CHSQ in June 2026.

Meanwhile, British indie favourites The Kooks will return to Belfast on Saturday, July 4, marking 20 years of their debut album Inside In / Inside Out.

Packed with tracks that helped define mid-2000s indie, the record remains a fan favourite, and the band’s July show is expected to be one of the festival’s biggest crowd-pleasers.

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More artists for The Summer Series are expected to be announced in the coming months as Belfast gears up for a vibrant new season of outdoor live music.

Tickets for both concerts go on sale Friday, November 28, with The Kooks tickets going on sale at 9am and the Beach Boys at 10am via ticketmaster.ie.