This year's event, which runs from October 30 to November 3 in Killarney, comprises junior and senior competitions showcasing the finest in traditional sean-nós storytelling.

It also includes conferences, exhibitions, plays, music and singing sessions, and a range of fringe activities.

The previous year's festival drew in over 11,000 attendees, with 855 entrants competing in various categories and 169 events taking place during the course of the festival.

Belfast has been chosen as the host city for the festival by An tOireachtas, the festival's organisers, following a series of discussions with local politicians, councillors, and members of the arts, culture, and Irish-language communities.

An tOireachtas CEO Máirín Nic Dhonnchadh stated in a statement that “Belfast City very clearly possesses all the elements that are vital to holding a highly successful Oireachtas festival.”

“I'm excited to collaborate with Belfast City Council to make sure that the event by the banks of the Lagan in 2025 is vibrant, lively, and full of energy.”

“The city abounds with great venues, a gracious hospitality sector, an appreciation for the arts, and a warm, welcoming community.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, stated that the city had a "thriving" Irish-language community and that the choice to hold the festival in Belfast the following year was largely influenced by the city's rich cultural legacy.

“As a council, we're dedicated to showcasing the value of language—especially Irish—in communities' cultures and emphasising the necessity of preserving and advancing languages for both the present and the future.

“Bringing Oireachtas na Samhna to Belfast will, I believe, will create a lasting legacy for the generations of young Irish speakers to come, and act as a platform to showcase the many benefits that celebrating language can bring - creating vibrancy, fostering learning, and forging new friendships.”

Starting on the final Monday of October and concluding on the first Sunday of November, the 2025 event will take place from October 29 to November 2.