Some events inform. Others invite you to feel something.
Reach ’26, taking place at Queen’s University Belfast from 15 to 22 April, leans firmly toward the latter. This week-long festival brings together art, film, music and conversation to explore climate and sustainability in a way that feels human rather than overwhelming.
Instead of statistics and headlines, the programme focuses on experience. Screenings, exhibitions and performances sit alongside practical workshops like clothing repair and upcycling, grounding big global issues in everyday action.
It unfolds across the Queen’s campus, from galleries to performance spaces, turning familiar places into spaces for reflection. You might find yourself watching a film about ocean life one evening, then learning how to mend something you already own the next.
What makes Reach ’26 feel distinct is its balance. It doesn’t try to solve the climate crisis in a week. It simply creates space to think about it differently.
And in a city like Belfast, where culture has always helped people make sense of complexity, that feels like a natural fit.
