Located in the cultural heart of Belfast (voted World’s Best Region for Tourism in 2017 by Lonely Planet) and spread over a variety of historical venues, Wake is a five-day transgressive festival that mixes the best in incendiary intellectual exploration with underground art, music, magic, comedy, cabaret, tours and talks to forge an experience that embodies the destabilizing essence of pyrotheology.
Named after the Irish funeral ritual, Wake is a pop-up community that creates a space for radical ideas and personal rupture. It brings together a ragtag collection of dissidents, heretics, fools and fundamentalists from all over the globe. People who want to spend five days forging friendships, bidding farewell to old gods, and learning how to affirm life in all its dirt and depth.
COST
It’s a difficult financial climate, so we’re trying to keep the cost as low as possible. Hence we’re keeping the ticket price the same as 2021 (with an early bird ticket available until 31st August). However, we don’t want to compromise on the program (in fact, we’re wanting to expand it), so for those of you who can afford it, we have a $100 bolt-on, which includes a breakfast hangout on the Friday morning after the event, where Adam and I will cook you a fancy breakfast, feed you mimosas and entertain you at my place. It’ll be the perfect way to get rid of your post-festival hangover, and the extra money will all be poured into the program.
WHAT ARE THE DATES?
Wake starts on the evening of 2nd and ends at midnight on 6th June (with the bolt-on breakfast happening on 7th).
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
This is a boutique festival carefully crafted to help inspire you, challenge you, and enrich your experience of life. I'll be there speaking, facilitating discussions and answering questions. But I'll also be curating the other content; bringing in academics, artists and activists who will help to create an immersive and life affirming environment. In addition to all the music, magic, and art, there will be plenty of pub conversations, tours, talks and laughter.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Included in the ticket price is admission to everything across the five days of Wake. Everything else is up to you.
SHOULD I EXTEND MY STAY?
Absolutely. There’s loads to do in Ireland, and many of the people who attend the festival stay longer. So there’s always a group from Wake up for additional mischief after the event.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I PAY BUT CAN'T GO?
Because we base the program directly on the budget, we are unable to offer refunds, however we can offer credit toward future Wake festivals.
WHAT ARE MY TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS?
The closest airport is the George Best City (BHD). It’s a 5 minute bus or taxi ride into the city (both can be found right on the doorstep of the airport (Uber also operates in Belfast). The other local airport is Belfast International (BFS). There is a bus at the airport that takes you directly into the city. From there, you can walk to the area where everything takes place. Dublin airport (DUB) is also a great option as flights there are often cheaper. It’s just under 2 hours from Belfast and there’s a bus outside the exit that will take you up (some of the buses don't take credit cards, so buy your ticket in advance or use either Euros or Sterling).
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
Belfast is packed with great accommodation. There's a fantastic and every growing range of options from the basic to the luxurious. And all at very reasonable prices. You can look for an apartment in the Cathedral Quarter (St. Annes Square is a great spot), or book into one of the many local hotels. Our recommendations are: The Premier Inn or the Ramada Encore for budget options (there are a few Premier Inns, so make sure you're booking the one located in the Cathedral Quarter), Bullitt for a very stylish and cool mid-price option, and The Merchant if you want to make your stay that little bit more special.