Now one of Europe’s longest running and well-respected street art festivals, ‘Hit the North’ returns to the streets of Belfast this May with 60 of the world’s finest muralists.
Organised by Seedhead Arts, Hit the North’ Street Art Festival has been supporting artists and transforming public spaces with contemporary murals for over a decade.
The 2025 festival is going independent, forgoing a headline sponsor for the first time, and instead, drawing support from local organisations and businesses who have embraced the transformation change brought about by the festival and its artists.
Adam Turkington from Seedhead Arts, who has been organising the festival for the past 12 years, says the move to become independent is reflective of the ethos of the Belfast street art scene and the artists who travel from all over the world to take part in the festival.
Adam says, “Hit the North is a grassroots festival that’s grown to become an international phenomenon. Through this year’s independent approach, we’re embracing the grassroots support of local organisations and businesses who see the value in the transformative power of creativity, entrepreneurship and most of all art.
“Despite the lack of funding for the arts sector in Northern Ireland, the 2025 festival further builds on Hit the North reputation as one the best street art festivals in Europe. We’ve built on our formula of welcoming a mix of the most exciting up-and-coming muralists, together with established and award-winning artists, to bring a splash of colour to our city. Street artists are fiercely independent, allowing them to commit the truth of their art, and it’s this independence, that makes Northern Ireland’s street art scene so respected on the international stage.”
Running from 2nd – 4th May, this year’s festival has a host of fringe events including a new conference for place makers and artists, The Other Place, street art bus tour, late night street art market and beginner street art workshops, culminating in the annual Hit the North block party across Kent Street and Union Street, Belfast. Here, over 60 local and international artists, with an array of styles and techniques, will bring artwork to life throughout the day. Guests can enjoy urban art demos, food trucks and music.
Hit the North Street Art Festival 2025 is supported by Belfast One, Translink, Bullitt, Daisy Chain Inc, Arts and Business, the Sunflower Bar and many other local businesses.
Artists taking part this year include – Hera, Taxis, Ajax Piper, My Dog Sighs, Jack Lack, Slim Safont, Jo Caslin, Jack Lack, Ona Salvador, Philth, Roo, Sky High, Asbestos, Danleo, Ed Hicks, Fesa, Friz, Holly Pereia, KVLR, Wee Nuls and more.
For full details on the programme and artists, visit: seedheadarts.com
