Belfast Celebrates Thriving Night-Time Economy as Purple Flag Status Renewed

For Sixth Year in a Row

Belfast City Centre is celebrating the renewal of its Purple Flag status for the sixth year in a row. The internationally recognised accreditation, awarded by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), demonstrates the city’s ongoing commitment to providing a vibrant and safe night-time experience.

ATCM considered Belfast City Centre’s night-time choice ‘outstanding’, owing to its rich mix and broad appeal. It also awarded ‘above standard’ across three further areas – Wellbeing, which focuses on safety and cleanliness, Sense of Place which considers pride, diversity and animation, among other elements, and Commitment to Policy, which accounts for leadership, coordination and strategy.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly explained how important Purple Flag status is for the city. “Securing Purple Flag accreditation for a sixth successive year is proof that we have a vibrant and safe night-time economy – and that’s thanks to multiple partners working together on a common goal. 2026 is set to be a particularly significant year for our night-time economy – we’re set to welcome at least 800,000 visitors as we host the Fleadh for the first time from 2-9 August. This recognition of our city’s vibrant offering and emphasis on safety – signals that we are a city perfectly positioned to successfully host large-scale events and welcome visitors.”

Chris McCracken, Managing Director of LQ BID, held the position of Chair of the Purple Flag Steering Group for seven years, before standing down this week. He said, “Belfast City Centre’s night-time economy has reached new heights in recent years. It has so much to offer and we should be proud to have achieved Purple Flag status once again. This award not only emphasises the incredible work being done to ensure our city remains a safe, welcoming, and dynamic place at night, but it also sends a clear message that our night-time economy is extremely valuable. We should continue to invest in it to ensure it remains a superior experience for locals and visitors alike.

“As I depart the role of Chair of the Purple Flag Steering Committee, I look back proudly on all we have achieved together in the past seven years. From putting an official value on the night-time economy for the first time, equating to £3.3billion per year, to bringing forward solutions to challenges such as transport provision, to instating the City’s first Night Czar. It’s clear that Belfast is a city of many strengths and I look forward to continuing to support so it meets its full potential.”

Chris will retain his position as Northern Ireland’s regional Chair of the Association of Town and City Management.

Chief Executive of SOS BUS NI, and former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Micky Murray, has taken on the role of Chair of the Purple Flag Steering Group. He said, “With the support of the wider Steering Group, and working alongside the Safer Belfast Network, I look forward to doing all I can to ensure that Belfast maintains its Purple Flag status and that our night-time economy continues to thrive. We have achieved a lot in recent years across a number of areas – the ambition for Belfast is certainly shared – but we mustn’t lose focus. There’s more we can do to enhance safety and continue to provide an enjoyable and unique night-time experience.”

The final area ATCM analysed was Movement, and although the standard was met, largely as a result of the opening of Belfast Grand Central Station, and the current year-long pilot for late night buses which started in November 2025, the Purple Flag Steering Committee believes more can be done to improve this rating in coming years.

Belfast City Centre Night Czar, Michael Stewart, said, “Belfast is vibrant! It is well and truly alive, and it’s improving all the time. The pilot late-night bus service which is running throughout 2026 is a great stride in the right direction – it accounted for more than 7,000 journeys over the Christmas period. The appetite is there for this scheme to be made permanent beyond the 2026 pilot, or Belfast risks remaining the only major city in the UK and Ireland without a permanent late-night transport service.

“We need to remember that this isn’t only about people socialising, but people working too. Belfast should be thought of as a 24-hour city and the infrastructure put in place to enhance vibrancy and support safety.”

The city’s multi-agency Purple Flag Steering Group includes the city’s three Business Improvement Districts – LQ BID, Belfast One and Destination CQ – who co-ordinate and fund the accreditation application process each year supported by various partners such as Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, the PSNI, Translink, Value Cabs, Belfast Chamber, Free the Night, SOS Bus NI and Hospitality Ulster.