Major event orders
Article 48A of the Licensing (NI) Order 1996 and Article 26A of the Registration of Clubs (NI) Order 1996 gives the Department for Communities the power to make a major event order if it considers an event which is to take place in Northern Ireland will attract significant public interest (whether throughout Northern Ireland or in certain areas only).
What is a major event order and when does it apply?
A major event order:
- designates an event as a major event; and
- specifies the permitted hours for the sale or supply of alcoholic drinks for any place or premises or registered club, to which the order applies.
A major event order may apply to:
- all licensed premises or registered clubs in Northern Ireland as a whole or a specific area(s)
- all licensed premises of a specified kind in Northern Ireland as a whole or a specific area(s)
- any place or premises for which an occasional licence has been granted, situated on the site where the major event is taking place.
Further details regarding major events are available at:
The Department for Communities is of the opinion that the following event will attract significant public interest and has designated it as a major event and made a major event order.
| Name of event | Date of event | Extended permitted hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann ‘The‘ Fleadh’ 2026 | 2 - 9 August 2026 | Sunday 2 August 2026 and Sunday 9 August 2026 from 12.30pm until 1.30am the following morning; Monday 3 August 2026 to Saturday 8 August 2026 from 11.30am until 1.00am the following morning. |
The major event order applies to the following types of premises within a core area, as defined by Belfast City Council:
- pubs
- restaurants
- hotels
- conference centres
- higher education institutions
- places of public entertainment
- premises or places licensed by an occasional licence under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
- clubs registered under the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
The major event order does not change any conditions already in place for licenced premises and registered clubs.
Licensed premises and registered clubs will be required to comply with existing requirements in relation to the sale and consumption of alcohol on licensed premises, as set out by the Licensing (Northern Ireland) 1996, and the supply and consumption of alcohol in registered clubs, as set out by the Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
The major event order does not remove these requirements.
In addition, on 1 January 2026, the Department approved a liquor code of practice which applies to all licensed premises and registered clubs and provides guidance on best practice and basic standards regarding the display/sale/supply/promotion and consumption of alcohol. Any breaches of the code can be taken into account when a licence/registration is being renewed by a court.
The major event order does not remove any statutory obligations under the code of practice.
Those licensed premises which are licensed by a court to sell alcohol until 2.00am are not impacted by the major event order.
Drinking up time remains up to one hour after the last time for the sale and supply of alcohol.