The Festival takes place during February and March each year in the new Braid Arts Centre in Ballymena which has modern facilities for most major performing arts. The Festival provides a wide opportunity for performers at all stages of music, speech, drama and dance. Gala Nights featuring major classes and performances representing the best in each section take place on Saturday evenings during the Festival. There are a number ofmajor bursaries and awards in each section as well as awards for schools and other smaller bursaries intended to encourage younger performers.

The festival includes two gala Nights: the Instrumental Festival Night on the first Saturday evening of the Music weeks and the Vocal and Prizewinners Gala on the last Saturday evening.

The Instrumental Festival Night includes the  Instrumentalist of the YearAwards of £400, competed for by selected winners of Open Instrumental Classes and the Junior Instrumentalist of the YearAwards of £150, Any instrument, open to any instrumental player, grade 5 or higher, aged under 15 competitions and the Piano ConcertoAward of £250, played on two Grand Pianos competition. The Vocal and Prizewinners Gala includes the Young VoiceAwards of £150, competed for by winners of selected Junior Solo Singing classes competition, the Overall Vocal ChampionshipAwards of £500, competed for by winners of selected Open Male and Female Vocal Classes and demonstrations by the Speech, Dance and Instrumental sections as well as the Prizewinners ceremony. Both Gala Evenings are followed by a finger supper for performers and guests.

Photos at the 2013 Festival

*** 2013 Music - Instrumental Winners  ***

*** 2013 Music - Vocal Winners  ***

*** 2013 Speech and Drama Winners  ***

*** 2013 Traditional Music Winners  ***