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Newry Mela, the city's multicultural arts festival, returns on Sunday 6 September 2026 with a full day of music, dance and culture for the whole family. The free outdoor event celebrates the culture of Kerala, India's Land of Festivals and is expected to bring thousands of people to Newry.
Founded by Siju George, Newry Mela has grown into one of the region's most vibrant community led cultural festivals, supported by a dedicated team of volunteers from Volunteer Now. The event has become a key platform for showcasing the cultural contributions of minority ethnic communities and encourages participation from families and residents of all traditions.
Commenting on this year's festival, Siju George, founder of Newry Mela and Newry Arts Club, said: "The Newry Mela is about learning, sharing and celebrating together. We want to bring the joy of Indian culture and the spirit of Kerala's festivals to our wonderful community in Newry, and to create an annual event that Newry can be proud of. As a registered charity, we are incredibly grateful to all funders for their funding support, which recognises the importance of cultural inclusion and community cohesion in Newry. This investment will help us reach more families, create new shared experiences, and strengthen relationships across our diverse community."
Siju added: "Support like this makes a real difference. Our activities help people connect, feel valued, and celebrate the diversity that enriches our city."
Organised by the Newry Indian Arts Club, the Mela brings its traditions of dance, music and community celebration to Newry. This year's programme includes Indian classical and Bollywood dance, Chinese dance, Irish dance and Scottish Highland dance, alongside a full line-up of live trad music headlined by The Cooleys, an alt trad-folk band featuring singer and song collector Dylan Pearse and award-winning fiddler Barry Kieran, along with Belfast based country singer-songwriter Rachel Snowling. Tura Arutura, an AfriCeltic Experience, will bring together living traditions from Ireland and Africa, combining voice, guitar, uilleann pipes, cello, bass and percussion in a blend of Celtic melody, African rhythm, storytelling and Sean Nós inspired performance. A fashion show featuring local companies Laura Jane, Goretti Collective street wear and Black Rose design will also take place.
The festival village will offer a petting zoo with Party Animals, henna tattoos, face painting, outdoor games, Mandala Arts, Thai arts and crafts, Chinese arts and crafts, paper art workshops, trampolines, bounce castles, a variety of rides and a selection of world food stalls. Information stands from community partner organisations will include Barcroft Men's Shed, PSNI Community Support, an Integrated School, Arbour Housing, Radius Housing, the Housing Executive, and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The event is designed to be fully accessible, with activities and performances suitable for every age and ability.
For 2026 the festival has received funding support from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to help expand its programme of cultural activities and strengthen community connections in the district. The festival is also supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Arbour Housing, Radius Housing, the Northern Ireland Executive, Housing for All, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust's Health and Wellbeing team.
Newry Mela 2026 takes place on Sunday 6 September, from 12 noon to 6pm. Entry is free. Updates are available by following Newry Indian Arts Club on Facebook and Instagram.
