how to contribute
We want you to participate in our festival by attending an event, joining a webcast, contributing to the online discussion, and/or sharing your ideas and feedback on our website and via your own networks.
We are happy to connect with you on your social media platforms and cross-promote, so:
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Facebook
- Follow us on LinkedIn
- Follow us on Threads
- Follow us on Bluesky
- Subscribe to our festival newsletter.
During festival week please email us highlights of the events you saw so that we can keep people informed about your feedback via the festival website and our social media accounts.
You can follow our activities at imaginebelfast.com. When posting on socials and uploading images related to the festival, please include the hashtag #ImagineBelfast.
It would be great if you can include the website address www.imaginebelfast.com and the hashtag #ImagineBelfast in all your communications about the festival.
The festival’s strapline is ‘The Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics’. Please try to use this strapline on your social media content promoting your involvement with the festival.
Take part in our festival
Every autumn, Imagine! Belfast issues a Call For Events for our upcoming festival the following Spring. The next Imagine Festival of Ideas & Politics runs from 5-11 April 2027.
We aim to encourage participation from under-represented groups and stimulate debate on issues often excluded from local political discourse. We adopt an expansive, imaginative interpretation of ‘ideas and politics’ to give the entire community a direct role in shaping our curated programme.
What We Are Looking For
We are open to all suggestions and welcome proposals for events including, but not limited to talks, debates, discussions, performances, exhibitions, workshops, film screenings, family activities, online and hybrid formats. All events must take place during our festival week either as public events in Belfast and/or online.
Events must be creative, engaging, thought-provoking, and accessible, encouraging active audience participation and discussion, and we prioritise original proposals over repeat events.
All submitted events must directly align with our core festival values and adhere to our Open Call Guidelines.
We can provide further information and advice on these guidelines as required. For inspiration about possible events, check out our previous festivals in our history website pages. Look out for the Call for Events every autumn when publicised in our newsletter and social media posts and help us deliver this unique festival.
