answers to frequently asked questions

where will this year’s events be?

We are running physical events in venues right across the city as well as a range of virtual events. Directions and map details for physical events are contained in our listings. For online events, these will be hosted on three main platforms:

Zoom
Facebook
YouTube

Most live events will be on Zoom and also broadcast to Facebook so if you have trouble with Zoom please head there. For pre-recorded events they will be on YouTube. When in doubt, look for the links that will be sent out a few days ahead of the event date.

Please check your junk mail & spam folders for messages from Eventbrite, our ticketing partner.

how can i book a ticket?

Due to a lack of funding, we don’t have a box office so please go online to book tickets. Please use our event listings in order to book tickets and reserve places at our events. Many of our events fill up quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment.

All of our events are open to the public and the vast majority are free. There is an option to make a donation when booking our free events to help support our future work. Availability for free events is on a first come, first served basis.

For most events, registration is required through our festival website and ticketing partner Eventbrite. If you have booked a ticket for a free event and are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as you can so we can reallocate a ticket to our waiting list — we hate empty seats!

By registering for a ticket you agree to our terms and conditions. You are welcome to check the policy sections of our website for further information. Please note that all events are subject to change, so please check our website and social media platforms just in case there are any last-minute amendments.

There is no need to print out your tickets – just show on your phone or give your name at the door for our in person events. Unfortunately, we are unable to make refunds or exchange tickets unless the event is cancelled. If this is the case, refunds can be made through the point of purchase. We are keen to support new audience members and community/school groups, so if you would like to discuss opportunities for group bookings, please contact us in advance of events. For any venue that sells alcohol, we have to operate a strict over 18’s admissions policy.

if i have trouble,
who can i contact?

Please email is at he***@im************.com if you have any problems. Unfortunately due to a lack of funding we don’t have an office or box office, so please email us and we will respond ASAP.

For accessing virtual events, if you have tech issues, try turning your PC/laptop/phone etc off and on again. If that doesn’t work, you can email our virtual venue partner Accidental Theatre on: in**@ac***************.uk for assistance.

disabled access

We strive to be as accessible as possible but please let us know your requirements when booking tickets or contact the venue directly with any queries. We are happy to provide a PA (Personal Assistant) ticket at no extra charge for disabled people needing essential assistance. If you have any other special requirements, please contact us in advance of the event.

i can no longer attend an event i’ve registered for

We try to keep as many of our events free but in recent years we have noticed more and more people failing to attend events after registering which can prevent others taking up these places. We don’t want to impose charges to encourage attendance so please let us know if you are unable to use your ticket so we can pass it on.

Just log in to your Eventbrite account, then click your order on the Tickets page and select ‘Cancel Order’ (next to your order details).

i can’t find my ticket

If you have registered or purchased a ticket for one of our events, confirmation is always sent by email shortly after you have made your booking. Search for an email from or****@ev********.com. Your tickets are available as a PDF attachment.

You could also check your account at eventbrite.co.uk or use the Eventbrite app on your mobile.

If you do not see this email, check your junk or spam folder for this email sent by Eventbrite or one of our partners. If you don’t see an email from Eventbrite, there may be a typo in the email address you entered on your tickets. If you have still not received confirmation, please email: he***@im************.com. Unfortunately, we don’t have a box office or a staffed phone line due to our lack of financial resources.

can i make a donation to help keep the festival mostly free?

Yes, please consider making a donation via our website and ticketing system to allow us to run future events. As a registered charity, we don’t have any major administrative costs, so every penny will help keep us running for future years. Imagine Belfast is a not-for-profit event (company number NI 614137, charity number NIC 101004). Please donate here.

how can i keep up to date with festival news?

Please consider registering for our occasional newsletter and/or use the channels below:

Email: he***@im************.com

Twitter: @ImagineBelfast. When tweeting, please use the hashtag #ImagineBelfast

Facebook: Imagine’s Facebook page

Instagram: Imagine’s Instagram Page

YouTube: Imagine’s YouTube Page

about us

The festival is administered by Imagine Belfast Ltd in association with various event organisers and promoters. Many of the events in this programme were proposed as part of a public consultation exercise conducted in October. The views expressed by speakers and participants in the festival do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy positions of Imagine Belfast, the festival funders or associates. Imagine! Belfast Ltd. is a not for profit, limited company (company number NI 614137, charity number NIC 101004).