Sigur Rós in Belfast: orchestral finale of the tour at Waterfront Hall
Sigur Rós arrive in Belfast on September 4, 2026, with a concert that differs significantly from a typical rock performance. The Icelandic band will perform at Waterfront Hall with the Ulster Orchestra, conducted by Robert Ames, while the participation of The Palestrina Choir has also been confirmed for this date. This is the final European leg of a multi-year orchestral tour on which the band's music is performed in expanded arrangements with a 41-member orchestra.
This format is particularly well suited to the music of Sigur Rós. For decades, their songs have relied on the slow building of dynamics, Jónsi's high-pitched vocals, guitar played with a bow, Georg Holm's deep bass, and layers of keyboards and strings. In the orchestral version, there is no need to artificially increase the scale of the songs - strings, winds and percussion take on roles that are often already part of their sonic architecture in the studio recordings.
Belfast is also one of the final cities of the entire project. The closing leg begins in Edinburgh on August 31, continues in Glasgow on September 2, and Belfast follows on September 4 before two concerts in Dublin. After that, the tour travels through France, Spain and Portugal and ends with two performances in Berlin on September 20 and 21. In the published schedule, Belfast is the only date on this leg in Northern Ireland.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
Why the orchestra matters to the sound of Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós are often placed in post-rock, but their catalogue has long crossed the boundaries of that genre. Ambient textures, chamber music, minimalism, classical arrangements and explosive dynamics appear in different proportions from album to album. That is why the orchestral tour does not feel like strings being added afterwards to familiar songs, but rather like a logical continuation of the way the band already writes music.
The current three-member line-up consists of Jónsi, Georg Holm and Kjartan Sveinsson. Kjartan returned to the band during work on the album ÁTTA after a long period away from the line-up. His return is particularly important to the group's current sound because piano, keyboards and orchestral thinking have once again taken a central role.
The latest studio album, ÁTTA from 2023, was Sigur Rós's first new studio album in ten years. It was created with very little traditional drumming drive and with an emphasis on space, silence, strings and the gradual development of melodies. The album's orchestral parts were recorded with the London Contemporary Orchestra, and Robert Ames continued his collaboration with the band as conductor on the international tour.
For the listener, this means that songs such as "Blóðberg", "8", "Ylur" and "Skel" are placed in an environment for which they were practically built. Instead of trying to have three musicians reproduce the enormous studio sound on their own, the band becomes part of a much larger ensemble.
From ÁTTA to Takk... and earlier albums
The concert is not conceived merely as a performance of the current album. The tour announcement explicitly speaks of combining material from ÁTTA with songs from the broader catalogue, while previous concerts from the same orchestral cycle show how deeply the band can reach into its own discography.
Sigur Rós released their first album Von in 1997, while Ágætis byrjun from 1999 brought them to an international audience. "Svefn-g-englar" from that period remains one of the songs that best represents their early sound: long development, unusual guitar texture and a sense that the song floats rather than follows a conventional rock structure.
The 2002 album ( ) further strengthened their distinctive approach, and "Untitled #1 - Vaka" became one of the best-known examples of their calmer, almost chamber-music side. Takk... from 2005 brought a more accessible and melodically open sound, as well as the songs "Hoppípolla", "Sæglópur", "Sé lest" and "Andvari".
Takk... marked its 20th anniversary during 2025 with a newly remastered edition, so the band's current phase simultaneously connects two important points in their career: the return to the orchestral, more intimate sound on ÁTTA and the rediscovery of one of their best-known albums.
What previous concerts on this tour revealed
The final set-list for Belfast has not been confirmed in advance, and it should not be assumed that it will be the same as on earlier dates. Nevertheless, previous performances with orchestra are a useful indicator of the evening's concept.
At the concert at London's Royal Albert Hall in September 2025, the programme was divided into two parts and included music from several periods of the band's career. Among others, "Blóðberg", "Ekki múkk", "Fljótavík", "8", "Von", "Andvari", "Starálfur", "Untitled #1 - Vaka", "Ylur", "Skel", "Sé lest", "Ára bátur" and "Hoppípolla" were performed. A similar structure also appeared on other European dates in 2025.
This is not an announcement of the repertoire for Belfast, but a good indication of how broad the tour concept is. The audience is not coming only for the new material, nor only for the best-known songs. So far, the programme has connected very early compositions, music from the band's best-known period and the current album.
Reviews of previous orchestral concerts also emphasize that the orchestra is not merely a backdrop. At the performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the band was integrated among the orchestral musicians, and reviews highlighted how naturally the two sides functioned as a single ensemble. The London performance with the London Contemporary Orchestra demonstrated the same principle: long, controlled, quiet passages transitioned into large orchestral climaxes without the concert needing to become a conventional rock production.
Ulster Orchestra, The Palestrina Choir and Robert Ames
For Belfast, the Ulster Orchestra, one of the city's key professional orchestras, has been confirmed, while Sigur Rós also list The Palestrina Choir. Conductor Robert Ames connects the entire project with previous stages of the tour and with the album ÁTTA itself.
The presence of the choir is one of the more interesting distinctive features of this date. Choral sections can further expand songs that already have a strong vocal and orchestral character, but it has not been announced exactly which compositions will feature The Palestrina Choir. Therefore, there is no reason to associate the choir with specific songs in advance solely on the basis of programmes from other concerts.
Before the main performance, a programme in the Waterfront Hall bar featuring musician Aoibha from County Down has also been announced. Her music combines indie-folk, a classical foundation and a darker, restrained atmosphere. This has not been announced as a separate support act on the main stage, but as a pre-show programme in the bar area before the concert.
- Sigur Rós perform in their current line-up of Jónsi, Georg Holm and Kjartan Sveinsson.
- They are joined in Belfast by the Ulster Orchestra.
- The orchestral project is led by conductor Robert Ames.
- The Palestrina Choir is also listed for the Belfast date.
- The tour uses a 41-member orchestra.
- Aoibha has been announced for the pre-show programme in the bar.
What kind of concert can long-time fans expect, and what about new audiences
This is primarily a concert for attentive listening. Sigur Rós's orchestral performances to date have much more in common with a large contemporary concert in a seated hall than with a conventional rock show in an arena. The dramaturgy comes from the music - from transitions between almost complete silence, Jónsi's voice, individual string lines and moments when the entire ensemble opens up.
For long-time fans, the most interesting aspect may be the opportunity to hear familiar compositions with instrumentation that a standard touring line-up cannot provide. Songs that already contain orchestral or chamber elements on the albums gain real string, wind and choral layers in the performance space.
For audiences who know Sigur Rós primarily through "Hoppípolla" or "Svefn-g-englar", this format demonstrates how much broader their catalogue is than a few of their best-known compositions. ÁTTA is slower, quieter and more introspective than some earlier releases, and the orchestral concert places precisely that part of their identity in the foreground.
Fans of ambient music, post-rock, film music, contemporary classical music and large instrumental crescendos will probably find more common ground in this programme than audiences who expect a concert to consist of a sequence of short songs, communication between every composition and constant rhythmic drive.
It is worth securing tickets in good time when availability appears.
Waterfront Hall suits this type of performance
Waterfront Hall is located on Lanyon Place, beside the River Lagan and on the edge of central Belfast. The main auditorium was designed as a seated concert and conference hall, and current ICC Belfast information for the Main Auditorium lists a capacity of 2,000 seats in that configuration.
The seating layout is divided into Ground Floor, Lower Terrace and Upper Terrace. Such a structure creates a different feeling from a large flat arena: the audience is arranged around a focused stage in a space designed from the outset for concerts and stage events. For a band that builds a large part of its expressiveness on detail, silence and gradual changes in volume, this is an important characteristic of the venue.
With Sigur Rós, it is particularly worth paying attention to dynamics. Jónsi's guitar can move from almost inaudible tones to a dense wall of sound, while the orchestra simultaneously broadens the harmony without the need for constant volume. In such a programme, a few seconds of silence between phrases can be just as important as the loudest moment of the evening.
Getting to Waterfront Hall
The location is also convenient for visitors travelling to Belfast solely for the concert. Waterfront Hall states that the venue is approximately a ten-minute walk from the city centre. Lanyon Place railway station is about a five-minute walk away, while Laganside Bus Centre is even closer. City bus routes also stop on Oxford Street, immediately beside the building.
For visitors arriving by car, there are public garages and car parks in the surrounding area. Among the closest are Lanyon Place and Hilton, approximately 100 metres from the venue, while Oxford Street and Montgomery Street are among the other options listed. Because the car parks have separate operators and availability can depend on other events in the city, arriving by public transport may be the simpler option.
Waterfront Hall does not have a cloakroom for large items, and the venue warns that bags larger than a laptop bag may not be permitted. For visitors travelling with luggage, this is more important than the usual concert advice - it is not wise to rely on being able to leave a larger backpack or travel bag inside the venue.
The start time should be checked immediately before arrival
Different times appear in current listings for September 4. The event listing states 19:00, while the Ulster Orchestra calendar for the same concert shows 20:00. Waterfront Hall has not yet published details for this date on its page with precise show times and warns that door, start and finishing times for individual events are sometimes published only shortly before the performance.
For that reason, the most sensible approach is to plan to arrive with time to spare and check the current schedule immediately before the concert. Being late is particularly inconvenient for a programme like this because Waterfront Hall warns that latecomers may have to wait for a suitable break before entering the auditorium.
Visitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The venue also states that children under the age of three are not permitted at this event.
Belfast as one of the final stops of the orchestral cycle
The concert carries additional significance because it takes place very close to the end of a project that began with the release of the album ÁTTA. Sigur Rós returned to the stage in June 2023 at London's Southbank Centre, where they performed with 41 members of the London Contemporary Orchestra on the very day the album was released by surprise. From that concert developed a multi-year tour with local orchestras in different cities.
By Belfast in 2026, this concept is no longer an experiment but a form of performance that has passed through concert halls across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The final leg therefore has the character of the conclusion of a clearly defined period for the band.
At the same time, Sigur Rós in 2026 are not a group merely commemorating their own past. ÁTTA remains their latest studio album, Kjartan Sveinsson is once again an active member, and orchestral arrangements have become a central part of their current live identity. The anniversary edition of Takk... has additionally brought attention back to songs two decades old, so the current tour sits at an interesting intersection between new material and the catalogue that shaped the band's reputation.
For Belfast, this means an evening whose main value should lie precisely in the relationship between the three members of Sigur Rós, a large local orchestra, the choir and a venue designed for a seated audience. There is no need to expect a specific closing song, concert duration or an identical programme to earlier dates in advance - those details have not been confirmed for Belfast.
If additional seats appear in availability, they may disappear quickly.
Sources:
- Sigur Rós - schedule of the 2026 European orchestral tour, Belfast line-up, Ulster Orchestra, The Palestrina Choir and the concert's position within the final leg of the tour.
- Sigur Rós - band profile and information about Kjartan Sveinsson's return, the creation of the album ÁTTA and the development of the orchestral tour since 2023.
- Sigur Rós - ÁTTA album page, track listing and the information that it was the band's first new studio album in ten years.
- Sigur Rós - Takk... 20th Anniversary Edition, information about the 2025 reissue and songs from the album.
- Sigur Rós - archive of the Royal Albert Hall 2025 concert, used exclusively as an example of previously performed orchestral repertoire, not as an announcement of the Belfast set-list.
- Waterfront Hall - information about the Belfast concert, the 41-member orchestra, Robert Ames, Aoibha's pre-show performance and rules for younger visitors.
- Waterfront Hall - information about access, Lanyon Place, bus transport, nearby parking facilities, luggage and procedures for late-arriving visitors.
- Waterfront Hall - seating plan and the Ground Floor, Lower Terrace and Upper Terrace layout.
- ICC Belfast - information stating a capacity of 2,000 seats for the Main Auditorium.
- Ulster Orchestra - concert calendar used to check the timing of the Belfast performance.
- The Guardian - review of Sigur Rós's orchestral performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2025 and the character of the performance with the London Contemporary Orchestra.
- The Music - review of the 2025 performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the way the orchestra was integrated into the band's concert sound.