In October, Belfast took part in the 2025 UNESCO Creative City of Music Daegu International Forum, held in South Korea.

More than 100 delegates from 21 cities across 15 countrie – including Malaysia, France, Turkey and Thailand – gathered in Daegu for several days of performances, workshops and discussion under the theme Remembering Global Freedom and Peace Through Music.

Belfast was represented by Nikki MacRae, the city’s UNESCO City of Music Focal Point and Music Officer within Belfast City Council’s Culture Team. Nikki delivered a presentation on celebrating cultural diversity and connectivity, highlighting Belfast’s music and cultural ecosystem and exploring opportunities for future collaboration. Examples included Belfast International Arts Festival, Belfast Mela, RENDR Festival, Ulster Touring Opera’s augmented reality app, Hit The North, and the city’s growing street art scene.

Belfast joined fellow UNESCO Cities of Music including Adelaide, Tallinn, and Ipoh, alongside East Asian cities such as Changsha and Kyoto, for a week of exchange, performance and dialogue, strengthening bonds across the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The forum builds on recent Belfast-led exchanges with Hannover, London (Ontario) and Kansas City, further deepening the city’s role in promoting international collaboration through music.