CALLS FOR RTS ENTRIES
From Game of Thrones to Derry Girls and Line of Duty to Blue Lights, many of the biggest TV shows in the world, all made in Northern Ireland have been presented with a prestigious Royal Television Society Northern Ireland (RTS NI) Trophy over the past 10 years.
The RTS NI Awards, with support from BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Channel 4 has launched its 2025 Awards for the local creative industries.
Since launching the first-ever TV awards in NI in 2015, the initiative has grown from nine categories to 18, shining a light on the exceptional creativity behind some of the most compelling content on our screens.
“Over the past decade, our industry has seen remarkable growth through innovation and investment, earning Northern Ireland a well-deserved reputation for ‘punching well above its weight’ on the global stage,” said RTS NI chair Sarah McCaffrey.
“From BAFTAs and Emmys to Oscars and RTS wins, our creative sector continues to thrive at the highest level, and we are excited to celebrate the best of the best once again this November at Titanic Belfast.
“This year’s awards mark a significant milestone for the Royal Television Society in Northern Ireland as we celebrate 10 years of championing the region’s outstanding creative talent and programming on the global stage.”
Richard Williams, chief executive of NI Screen, said “These awards have helped showcase our world-class productions and the skilled people behind them, both in front of and behind the camera. As we look to the future, the 2025 awards offer another important opportunity to celebrate our continued growth and global impact.”
The deadline for all entries is 5pm on Friday July 4. To qualify for entry, all content must have been aired on television or released online for the first time between June 1 2024 and June 30 2025 inclusive, except for the Brian Waddell and Hidden Hero Awards . Full entry criteria is available at https://rts.org.uk/article/rts-northern-ireland-awards-2025-open-entries
Judging in each category will be carried out independently by an experienced panel of judges with the finalists being announced in September ahead of the winners being revealed at the RTS NI Awards Ceremony at Titanic Belfast on Tuesday November 11.
ARTISTIC LEGACY OF ARDS AND NORTH DOWN
North Down Museum has launched a new exhibition, Inspiration and Transformation, running from Thursday June 19 to Sunday August 31 in the Long Gallery.
The free exhibition celebrates the rich artistic heritage of the Ards and North Down Borough, showcasing the work of some of the most significant artists who have lived and worked in the area.
The exhibition features pieces from North Down Museum’s own collection, alongside rare works on loan from private collectors, many of which have never been publicly displayed.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view artwork by renowned 20th-century artists including James Humbert Craig, Daniel O’Neill, Colin Middleton, Rosamond Praeger, Colin Davidson, Frank McKelvey, and David Hockney.
Together, these works highlight how the people, towns, and landscapes of the Borough have been powerfully reimagined and immortalised in some of the finest examples of Irish modern art.
North Down Museum manager Arlene Matthews said: “The Inspiration and Transformation exhibition not only celebrates the extraordinary talent that has emerged from our Borough but also reflects the strong connection between our communities and the creative spirit that continues to thrive here.
“It’s a rare opportunity to bring together works from our own collection and from generous private lenders. We’re excited to share this unique cultural experience with our visitors.”
Details at www.andculture.org.uk
MARY PETERS TRUST LUNCH
A Sport Inspires lunch will take place on Friday November 21 from noon in Belfast’s Europa Hotel in support of the Mary Peters Trust, which has been funding sporting greats for half a century from 1975 to 2025.
The uplifting afternoon will bring together business leaders, sporting legends and community champions to celebrate the power of sport in transforming lives – all under the inspirational presence of Lady Mary Peters.
Tickets are now available at £120 for individuals or £1,200 + VAT for a table of 10.
The afternoon includes a welcome drinks reception, a delicious three-course lunch, and insights and stories from a panel of accomplished athletes and sports leaders
There will also be a live charity auction with prizes including a signed guitar from Van Morrison and a ‘Sheeran by Lowden’ guitar signed with your own personal message by Ed Sheeran.
The organisers said: “By attending, you’ll be supporting the next generation of Northern Ireland’s athletes while networking with like-minded individuals and organisations.”
For more information on tickets, email events@asgcomms.com.
HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW
Organisers of Holiday World Show Belfast have announced that the north’s biggest annual celebration of travel and tourism will be returning to ICC Belfast at The Waterfront Hall in the heart of Belfast’s city centre in January 2026.
Speaking to hundreds of industry representatives at the Big Travel trade event at Crowne Plaza Belfast, Maria Hourican, chief executive of Business Exhibitions Ltd, also confirmed leading online holiday booking platform Bookit by NI Travel News as the headline sponsor for the 2026 event.
Last year, for the first time in its 33-year history, Holiday World Show Belfast was hosted in the city centre and saw more than 10,000 holidaymakers visit ICC Belfast at The Waterfront Hall to check out the latest holiday trends, talk to operators and hopefully grab a bargain break.
The dates for next year’s highly anticipated show have also been confirmed, with the three-day event scheduled to run from Friday January 9 until Sunday January 11, 2026.
Maria Hourican said: “This show is a cornerstone of the travel calendar in Northern Ireland and, as a valuable partner, the eagerness, experience and enthusiasm of Jonathan Adair and his team at Bookit by NI Travel News will ensure that next year’s show will be bigger and better – from both a trade and consumer perspective.”
Jonathan Adair, managing director of NI Travel News, added: “This event aligns perfectly with our mission to connect people with the holidays they love, and we look forward to showcasing the very best travel agent holiday offers to the visiting public.”
For more information and all the latest event updates, visit https://holidayworldshowni.com/.
TARIFF TACTICS: FREE MASTERCLASS
Innovation Factory Belfast is hosting a free masterclass designed to equip Northern Ireland SMEs with practical knowledge to navigate the ever-changing world of international trade in the Trump era.
“Tariff Tactics – How to Trade Smarter and Pay Less” will take place both in person and online on July 20 from 9.30-11.30 offering participants essential tools to reduce customs duty liabilities and improve global trade competitiveness.
Led by Maighdlin Gibson of The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, the seminar will introduce businesses to the three pillars of customs duty – Classification, Origin, and Valuation.
Attendees will learn how to avoid costly errors when classifying goods, use Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to their advantage, and identify hidden savings by valuing goods accurately.
Participants will also gain a better understanding of the broader context of tariffs, including the effects of global policy changes such as Trump-era tariffs. The seminar will explore how these shifts continue to influence trade strategies and how businesses can proactively plan to mitigate risk and reduce duty payments.
Key takeaways include practical methods for duty cost reduction, improved compliance and streamlined trade operations. This session is particularly beneficial for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that move goods into Northern Ireland from Britain or beyond and want to improve their bottom line.
In addition to the expert-led content, the Northern Ireland stakeholder engagement lead from the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade will also available to advise on funding opportunities and support programmes, offering SMEs further resources to enhance their trading potential.
Join the masterclass at Innovation Factory in Belfast or tune in via Zoom for this free and focused event. Register now to secure your place at https://www.innovationfactoryni.com/event/3924/
ENERGY SUMMIT
The second running of the Northern Ireland Energy Summit, taking place on Wednesday September 24 at the ICC Belfast, will explore how business can drive a cleaner, greener and more prosperous economic future for the region
Once again powered by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE), the strategic partners for this year’s summit are Capita, NIE Networks, NI Gas Network Operators, SONI and Transmission Investment.
Bringing together leaders from across the energy, infrastructure, business and policy landscape, the all-day conference will shine a light on how the required energy transition will help supercharge economic growth in Northern Ireland as we strive to meet ambitious climate targets.
This year’s event will build on the success of the inaugural summit in 2023, challenging how Northern Ireland can learn from and work together with other regions across the UK, Ireland, Europe and further afield to address climate change.
Key themes throughout the day will include connectivity and security of supply, alongside exploring the crucial role of communities in energy clusters and examining Northern Ireland’s unique agricultural proposition as an important enabler in the energy transition.
Tickets for the summit are now on sale, with a discounted early booking rate in place until Friday June 20. For more information and to register, visit www.nienergysummit.com.
SPACE EXHIBITION
A ground-breaking photography exhibition has opened at the ICC Belfast, running until July 3, aiming to raise awareness about the threat of human-made debris in space.
The ‘Our Fragile Space: Protecting the Near-Space Environment’ exhibition, created by renowned space photographer and science communicator Max Alexander, showcases the escalating issue of space debris and its implications for Earth’s orbital environment. It reinforces the urgent need for sustainable practices in space exploration.
Sponsored by the UK Space Agency, Matrix NI and NI SPACE, the exhibition offers the public a chance to witness the problems posed by space debris through a series of thought-provoking images and text.
The ‘Our Fragile Space’ exhibition is a free, open-air exhibition accessible to all members of the public and attendees of the conference.
With an estimated 140 million pieces of space debris currently orbiting earth, there is a very real threat of damage being caused to the people and technology operating in the space environment.
As an example, a single stray bolt can travel at nearly five miles per second and would rip through a satellite with the force of a hand grenade. This exhibition underscores the threats these pose to satellites and space missions and draws attention to the necessity for immediate action.
Max Alexander, the exhibition’s photographer and creator, said: “The images have been designed to raise awareness about the vulnerability of the near space environment and highlight the challenge of space debris. It shows the threat it poses to our environment and way of life whilst showcasing the people and initiatives leading the way in combatting the issue.”
The exhibition combines a series of unique images with the insights of space experts from Europe and beyond and gives the public the opportunity to engage with the real-world challenges and solutions in space sustainability.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS
The Social Enterprise Northern Ireland has launched the 2025 Northern Ireland Social Ent
awards shine a spotlight on organisations using business as a force for good from creating jobs and delivering vital services to tackling some of society’s biggest challenges, all while reinvesting profits for purpose.
Applications are welcomed before the closing deadline of 10th July, and to promote inclusivity, video applications have been introduced for the first time in the 13-year history of the initiative.
Two new categories are being added this year to reflect the increasing scope and impact of the sector, namely ‘Environmental/ Circular Economy Social Enterprise of the Year’ and ‘Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion and Equality’. There is also a public vote again this year for the ‘Consumer Facing’ category.
This year’s winners will be announced on Friday November 7 at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast, bringing together social enterprise leaders, government representatives, private sector partners, and community change-makers from across the north.
Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald said: “Social enterprises are not only a cornerstone of the local economy, they also play an important role in wider society. These awards recognise the excellent work of the sector, and I encourage all social enterprises to enter and get involved.”
The awards are open to all registered social enterprises operating in Northern Ireland, regardless of size or sector along with their social partners across the public and private sectors. Tenter or find out more, visit: www.socialenterpriseni.org/
VAVA AWARDS
The VAVA Awards, Ireland’s leading celebration of digital content creators and influencers, has launched its fourth annual event, with global lifestyle brand Diet Coke as headline sponsor.
Set to take place on Saturday September 27 at Titanic Belfast, the black-tie event showcases the best in digital talent across the island of Ireland.
Speaking at a launch event at Haymarket Belfast, the VAVA team reaffirmed their mission to “legitimise and recognise the creator industry in Ireland and celebrate all the amazing influencers, content creators and businesses that exist across the island.”
Managing director Chloe Henning added: “In an industry that constantly evolves, the VAVA Awards offer an important opportunity to pause, reflect, and honour how far we’ve come.”
Nominations are now open at http://bit.ly/3YKvizk, with creators encouraged to nominate themselves or others via the VAVA website or by scanning the QR codes displayed at the launch event.
IoD ANNUAL DINNER
The Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland holds its annual dinner event in the Culloden Estate and Spa on Thursday September 25 at which Sinéad Rocks, managing director (nations & regions) at Channel 4 will deliver the keynote address.
One of the most anticipated events in the Northern Ireland business calendar, the dinner – sponsored by Bank of Ireland – will bring together over 450 senior leaders from across all sectors for an evening of networking, sharing insights and celebrating excellence in leadership, hosted by Donna Traynor.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Sinéad was appointed to her current role at Channel 4 in 2019 and has overseen the roll out of a number of changes at the broadcaster. Under her leadership, Channel 4 has opened three regional centres, its National HQ in Leeds and Creative Hubs in Bristol and Glasgow.
Prior to joining Channel 4, Sinéad was the BBC’s director of education, responsible for a range of content across TV, radio and online and she also played a key role in the BBC’s move to Salford, migrating the BBC’s Learning department to the Northwest site.
She started her career as a journalist at BBC Northern Ireland and is a former editor of Newsround as well as an executive producer for a number of BBC current affairs programmes.
After-dinner entertainment will be provided by local comedian and host of the Tea with Me podcast Shane Todd,
Booking details are available on the IoD website.
KNIT + STITCH IS BACK
The UK’s biggest and best textile craft show Knit + Stitch (formerly the Knitting & Stitching Show) returns to Northern Ireland in the autumn, taking place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre near Lisburn from November 13-16
With a legacy spanning over 30 years, Knit + Stitch have become the leading consumer textile exhibitions in the UK, offering a winning combination of inspiration, learning, and shopping. The event attracts craft hobbyists, textile artists, and industry professionals, providing a vibrant hub of creativity for makers of all skill levels.
Visitors can look forward to hundreds of crafting workshops and live demonstrations, interactive features showcasing the latest textile trends, a vast marketplace of leading craft suppliers, and expert-led talks.
Exhibitor applications are now open for businesses and artisans interested in showcasing their products and expertise. For more information and to stay updated on ticket sales, visit the Knit + Stitch website..
2025 BELFAST BUSINESS AWARDS
One of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious business awards programmes is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Belfast Chamber launching the 2025 Belfast Business Awards, in partnership with Bank of Ireland.
A host of previous winners joined Belfast Chamber at its Custom House headquarters for a celebration event to mark entries opening for the awards, which showcase the innovation, excellence and resilience of companies across multiple sectors that help power the continued vibrancy of Belfast’s economy.
The Belfast Business Awards include accolades in 18 diverse categories, ranging from, business innovation to business leader of the year, and best company to work for to best new business, employee of the year and social value award.
The deadline for entering the awards is Friday August 29, with the awards ceremony taking place on Friday October 17 at ICC Belfast.
For more information about the full list of categories and to enter the awards, which are free and open to Belfast Chamber members and non-members, visit https://belfastchamber.com/awards/
CATHEDRAL QUARTER BID SUMMER FESTIVALS
Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (CQ BID) has revealed its continued investment and support for a dynamic range of festivals taking place in its location throughout 2025, which not only provide platforms for artistic talent but draw in thousands of visitors, boosting footfall for businesses and elevate the overall Cathedral Quarter experience.
Festivals such as Belfast Children’s Festival (Young at Art), Festival of Fools, CQ Arts Festival, Belfast Blues Festival, Belfast TradFest, Belfast International Arts Festival, The Winter Circus (Tumble Circus) helped to attract around 181,000 visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and wider city centre locations last year. Support provided includes financial contributions, marketing assistance, and logistical backing.
As part of future plans, CQ BID aims to support at least one festival or event each month of the year, with talks already taking place to explore the potential of an annual Cathedral Quarter Comedy Festival.
Alongside continued partnership work with bodies such as Belfast City Council on initiatives showcasing Belfast City UNESCO City of Music including the recently announced All Ireland Fleadh, potentially welcoming 700,000 visitors per year in 2026 and 2027 to the city. Over the past few years CQ BID has been advocating for the return of Culture Night, which returns to the city this September.
With Cathedral Quarter being the spiritual home of Culture Night, since its inception, CQ BID has allocated funds to encourage CQ based arts organisations to produce something special for the event.
Located in one of the city’s most historic and architecturally rich areas, Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is widely recognised as the leading destination for culture, hospitality, tourism, enterprise and learning. Offering a dynamic and authentic experience of Belfast for residents and visitors. A hub for creativity, entertainment, and social connection, now welcoming 17,000 students and staff from the University of Ulster.
For more information on upcoming festivals and how you can get involved, visit www.cathedralquarterbelfast.com
NI FOOD TO GO AWARDS
The NI Food To Go Awards, sponsored by Henderson Foodservice, will return for the second year in a row this November.
Spearheaded by the NI Food To Go Association, the awards were launched in Belfast’s Malmaison Hotel, with over 80 prominent figures from across Northern Ireland in attendance, including Junior Minister Pam Cameron.
The NI Food To Go Association is the only official organisation that solely represents the food to go industry, providing an expert voice, advice and advocacy under its “unite, support, grow” ethos.
The inaugural Food To Go Awards were launched in 2024, providing a benchmark of excellence to celebrate and highlight the businesses which create the food to go industry here.
Entries for the 2025 awards are now open, with the gala ceremony taking place at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday November 18, hosted by Q Radio presenter Ibe Sesay.
For more information and to enter an award category, visit www.foodtogoawards.co.uk
