Please note that the 2010 event is yet to be confirmed so please check back nearer the time for updated information.

From small beginnings the Belfast Festival has grown into one of the biggest arts events in the calendar. Julian Clary, the Buzzcocks and Professor Naom Chomsky top this year's bill.

Opening Concert
Belfast Festival opens with a concert by the world famous Mariinsky Orchestra of St Petersburg, led by conductor Valery Gergiev. They will perform Leningrad, the first time the piece by Shostaakovich has been performed professionally in Belfast.

Music
The seventies punk band The Buzzcocks perform their first two albums - Another Music In A Different Kitchen and Love Bite - in their enteriety, while new star Imelda May will be showing why she has spent most of the year in the top 10 of the Irish charts.

Camp Comedy
Julian Clary is headlining this year's comedy offerings on the Belfast Festival program. It's hard to believe the outrageous comedian is now 50 and for his performance he'll be looking at back at his 25 years in the businesss, how he became the Queen of Camp and why he won't give up his crown.

Impressions
Another comedy heavyweight, Stewart Lee, is bringing his new show to the festival as well as Sean Hughes, who is the youngest comedian to win the Perrier award for his Edinburgh Fringe debut in 1990. Impressionist Jan Ravens will be showing how she recreates her characers from Anne Robinson to Fiona Bruce and Kirsty Wark.

Amnesty International
The ever popular Stand-Up For Justice Amnesty International benefit is back with performances from David O'Doberty, Craig Hill, Maeve Higgins, Karl Spain and Kevin Gildea. And this year's Amnesty International Annual Lecture is led by Professor Noam Chomsky. He'll be discussing the threats and prospects of the 21st century and international justice movements.

Macbeth
As part of Polska Year, the Belfast Festival will host Biuro Podrozy's Macbeth, Who Is That Bloodied Man? This is a very modern take Shakespeare, and it brings the playwright's grim story to life with stilts, fire, music and motorbike chases.

The Belfast Festival, hosted by Queens University, takes place at various venues across Belfast from 16th - 31st October 2009. For tickets click on the link below.

Belfast Festival Official Site