Beyond Skin has announced its first wave of special guests for International Women’s Day 2026, centering on a powerful program of music, dance, and advocacy. Running from the 6th to the 9th of March, the schedule is anchored by an event at Queen’s University Belfast on March 8th. The lineup is part of the ACCEPT PeacePlus programme, delivered in partnership with Alternatives Restorative Justice, Springboard Opportunities, and Include Youth, showcasing how creativity can bridge cultures and foster healing.

The headline guest for 2026 is Fahima Mirzaie, Afghanistan’s most famous Sufi whirling dancer. After founding the Kabul-based group Shohod Arefan and being forced to flee to France following the Taliban takeover in 2021, Mirzaie has used her artistry across Europe to convey unity and spiritual resistance. She will be joined by Anna Rüya Ayyildiz, a London-born whirling dancer of Irish and Anatolian heritage, who explores her ancestral roots through the mesmerising practice of spinning. Together, they will perform at the Tarang Concert Belfast on March 7th, offering a profound exploration of dance as a language for the soul.

Advocacy, Science, and Global Connections
The lineup extends beyond performance into the realms of history, science and education. Professor Katherine Schofield, Head of Music at King’s College London and a leading historian of Mughal India, will share her expertise. Since 2021, she has become a vital advocate for recognizing Afghanistan’s hereditary musicians as a persecuted social group under international conventions. Joining her is Dr. Shakardokht Jafari, an award-winning medical physicist and former refugee who returned to Kabul to rebuild cancer care infrastructure before founding TRUEinvivo®, a startup revolutionizing radiation measurement in cancer treatment.

Further international perspectives come from Elisa Schroth, Artistic Director of Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet in the USA. Schroth recently curated UNCAGED, a ballet celebrating the secret artistic expressions of Afghan women. The lineup also features local talent Joanne Cassidy, a Belfast-based traditional musician and singer-songwriter, alongside entrepreneurs Cliff Cooper and Sara Shevlin. Through their work with Online Music Exams and ‘The Learning Machine’, they are currently providing educational support to thousands of women and girls in Afghanistan.

The four-day celebration kicks off on March 6th with a Women in Media event, followed by the International Women’s Day March and Rally on March 7th. Following the centerpiece PeacePlus event at Queen’s University on the 8th, the program concludes on March 9th with an Ulster Bank Businesses event. This series of engagements highlights Belfast’s role as a sanctuary and a stage for global voices that transcend boundaries of time and culture.

For further details on tickets and upcoming guest announcements, please contact info.beyondskin@gmail.com or visit the Beyond Skin website.