How do the food add-ons work?

• Our base ticket does not include any food or refreshments, including teas or coffees. We separate these out to allow us to offer the ticket at as low a price as possible, to allow as many people to attend as possible.

  The most affordable General ticket is now £30 lower than in 2015. Attendees are welcome to add on coffees, teas, and lunches, and the Gala Dinner, or to arrange their own food from the range of shops and eateries in Belfast City Centre.

Can I bring my lunch in from outside the venue?

• No. As is standard, our venue’s terms and conditions do not allow food to be brought in from off the premises.

Is there a dress code for the Gala Dinner?

• No. You should wear what you feel most comfortable wearing. Some people take a quick nap, freshen up, and have a change of clothes before dinner, while others head out to see what Belfast has to offer.

Can I attend just the Gala Dinner?

• No. The Gala Dinner on Saturday night is open only to Convention attendees with the Gala Dinner add-on.

Can I attend the Gala Dinner without adding on lunch?

• Yes. We have added now added the option for attendees join the Gala Dinner without having also bought a lunch add-on. This decision makes the dinner a more affordable prospect for more attendees. However, you must still be a Convention attendee to attend the Gala Dinner.

Can I get a printed programme?

• Yes. By default, the option to receive a printed programme is selected when booking your ticket. If you leave the checkbox selected, you will receive a full-colour printed booklet at registration.

  At previous Conventions we have printed a programme for each attendee, and have always had many spare by the end of the weekend. We have take the decision to make the programme available by request, to cut down on unnecessary printing and waste. All attendees will be emailed an full-colour electronic version of the programme in advance of the event, and we will have simplified black-and-white schedules available at the venue.

  Any surplus raised by the charge on the printed programme will be donated to Belfast City Council’s One Million Trees initiative.

Are there hearing loops in the venue?

• There are hearing loops in the Downstairs Theatre and the Upstairs Theatre, where all our plenary and parallel sessions are taking place.

  The Factory, our Gala Dinner room, does not have a hearing loop. If you indicate you are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing when buying your ticket, we will make sure you are seated in the best position for dinner.

Where does each part of the day take place?

• Our plenary sessions take place in The Downstairs Theatre, on the Ground Floor. When two sessions are running in parallel, we will also make use of the Upstairs Theatre, on the First Floor. Our catering spaces are on the sixth floor, and there are lifts between all floors. We ask you to take the stairs if you can, to leave the lift free for those who need them.

Do you offer day tickets?

• Yes! See the section on ‘Our ticket types’ towards the top of the page.

Can I pay in installments?

• No. Unfortunately our systems are not capable of processing payments by installment at this time.

Do you offer discounts?

• No. We have reduced our minimum ticket price for everyone, from £129 in 2015 to £99 in 2022, to allow as many people as possible to attend each year.

I only bought one ticket. Why does my confirmation show more than one ‘total participants’?

• This is expected behaviour. Behind the scenes, our system ‘counts’ your Convention ticket and your add-ons in the same way, each as distinct parts of the one event. If you have purchased a Convention ticket, a lunch add-on, and a Gala Dinner add-on, your confirmation email will tell you there are three total participants. This is normal, and nothing to worry about.

Book your Convention ticket now