The Community Relations Council thanks everyone who contributed to Good Relations Week 2026 which had its biggest-ever programme this year. The week saw the programme grow by almost 43%, from 275 events in 2025 to 393 across Northern Ireland this year.
A total of 120 organisations participated, compared with 64 last year, with activities spanning all 11 council areas.
Organised by the Community Relations Council and supported by The Executive Office, Good Relations Week ran from 12 to 18 October under the theme ‘Include – Everyone. Everywhere. Every Day.’
The programme brought together music, film, sport, exhibitions, storytelling, education and discussion, creating opportunities to explore different cultures, challenge prejudice and consider how to make everyday life more inclusive.
Martin McDonald MBE, Chair of the Community Relations Council, said: “This has been our biggest Good Relations Week and a major success for everyone who helped make it happen.
“With 393 events across all 11 council areas and almost twice as many organisations involved as last year, there is much to celebrate. That response speaks to the commitment of people across Northern Ireland who are working to make their communities more welcoming and inclusive.
“I want to thank every community group, school, council, charity, business and partner organisation involved, along with the staff, volunteers, contributors and everyone who took part. We are grateful to The Executive Office for its continued support.
“Behind every event are people who have given their time, earned trust and encouraged others to get involved. Their work continues long after Good Relations Week ends, often without recognition. They deserve our thanks and our continued support throughout the year.”
The 393-event programme spanned international dialogue, schools’ inclusion projects, multicultural concerts, theatre and sport, with activities in major venues and local community spaces across Northern Ireland.
In Belfast, highlights included the Education Authority’s Schools of Sanctuary event at City Hall. Ulster University’s Coleraine campus hosted the Garífuna International Forum, while Londonderry Bands Forum’s Beyond the Uniform exhibition explored the people and stories behind band uniforms.
Young people had a prominent place in the programme, from Springboard Opportunities’ youth-led Good Relations Roundtable at Belfast’s Girdwood Community Hub to Greater Shantallow Community Arts’ A Voice for Youth programme in Derry/Londonderry and Making Space for Everyone youth sessions in Cloughmills.
Music and cultural heritage featured through Migrant Centre NI’s Sing for Peace at Lurgan Library and Unfinished Broadside, a celebration of Ulster-Scots drama, music, song and dance at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.
Other programme highlights included Ark Housing’s GRANDfest in Newtownards, an inclusive dressage competition at Omagh RDA and First Steps Women’s Centre’s Celebrating Cultures and Connecting People at the Hill of The O’Neill in Dungannon, featuring music, dance and traditional food from communities across Mid Ulster.
Jacqueline Irwin, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council, said: “A shared interest in music, sport or food can bring people into the same room. Taking time to listen to one another can open up a conversation that might otherwise never happen.
“Our theme, ‘Include – Everyone. Everywhere. Every Day.’, asks us to pay attention to who is missing, what might prevent someone from taking part and what we can do to change that. An invitation matters, but so does making sure people feel comfortable, heard and able to contribute when they arrive.
“Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, welcomed someone new or helped others take part. The next step is to carry that commitment into everyday life, through how we treat people, whose views we seek and the decisions we make in our schools, workplaces and communities throughout the year.”
Good Relations Week 2026 is supported by The Executive Office and contributes to the delivery of the Together: Building a United Community Strategy.
For more information, visit www.goodrelationsweek.com.