Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival: A Week of Ideas, Art, and Action (7–13 December)

December 2, 2025

Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival: A Week of Ideas, Art, and Action

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival (NIHRF) returns from 7th to 13th December, offering a unique opportunity for people across Northern Ireland to immerse themselves in conversations about rights, equality, and justice. The festival is a vibrant programme of art, music, film, and debate that invites everyone to explore what human rights mean in our lives today.

Across the week, audiences can experience powerful theatre performances, documentary screenings, and creative workshops that bring human rights issues to life in unexpected ways. There are events that delve into gender equality, environmental justice, and freedom of expression, alongside discussions on the future of rights in Northern Ireland and beyond. From animated films uncovering stories of the disappeared in Brazil, to community-led conversations about the ownership of Lough Neagh, comedy showcases by local activists and a closing musical tribute to the European Convention on Human Rights, the festival blends culture and activism to create spaces for learning and solidarity.

Speaking ahead of the festival, Kevin Hanratty, Director of the Human Rights Consortium, said:
“The Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival is about more than raising awareness, it’s about creating experiences that connect people to the values of dignity, equality, and justice. Through art, dialogue, and shared stories, we hope to inspire action and remind everyone that human rights are not abstract, they shape our everyday lives. The 2025 festival programme offers a collection of events across a broad range of themes and issues. We thank the many organisations that are hosting events and it is set to be an excellent week of events. ”

The full programme is available at www.nihrf.com/events.

The Human Rights Festival is based around International Human Rights Day which is the 10th December and marks the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights i 1948.

Join us for a week that celebrates creativity, challenges assumptions, and builds a stronger culture of human rights across Northern Ireland.

Follow the conversation on social media using #NIHRF2025.