Belfast is celebrating a series of gardening and community achievements after being named Best Kept City at the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) Best Kept Awards, alongside recognising local gardening talent in the Belfast in Bloom Competition 2026.
The city's success reflects the dedication of residents, volunteers, businesses and council teams working together to create greener, more welcoming neighbourhoods. Annadale Community Garden in South Belfast also received the prestigious President's Trophy for its remarkable first year of transforming the local area, as well as winning Best Allotment Site at the Belfast in Bloom awards.
Best Kept Awards
Now in its 69th year, the regional Best Kept campaign attracted entries from across Northern Ireland to recognise aesthetic appeal, sustainability, biodiversity and, crucially, grassroots community engagement. Council officers collected the awards alongside nearly 100 community representatives at a ceremony held at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.
Welcoming the successes, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, said:
I am absolutely delighted that Belfast has been named the Best Kept City, alongside the well-deserved recognition for the team at Annadale Community Garden.
These accolades reflect a true team effort across our entire city. At the heart of this success is the pride, passion, and hard work of our communities, volunteers, and local groups who work every day to make life better for others and to create a more welcoming, vibrant city environment.
The same incredible spirit is on full display in our Belfast in Bloom competition. From stunning individual hanging baskets to thriving school gardens and community alleys, our citizens are playing a vital role in transforming our neighbourhoods. Our city thrives when we all work together, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our dedicated council staff, our local residents, and our community partners for their outstanding contribution and dedication to environmental excellence.
What the Judges Said
The judging panel praised the visual impact of the city's landmarks, noting that:
the Cathedral Quarter stands out as a vibrant floral haven with its spectacular abundance of hanging baskets and window displays.
The panel also commended the city's evolving civic landscape, stating that:
the green spaces integrated around the newly opened Grand Central Station and Saltwater Square have instantly established the area as one of Belfast's most striking and visually enhanced gateways.
The standard of general cleanliness across the city's core areas was singled out for praise, with the judges adding:
The relentless work of Belfast City Council's street cleansing teams is highly evident. The city centre is exceptionally clean, tidy, and welcoming, with previously neglected urban spaces showing a remarkable and highly successful turnaround.
Belfast in Bloom 2026 Winners
The council has also revealed the category winners for the Belfast in Bloom Competition 2026, celebrating the local people who brighten up their streets.
The individual garden awards recognised residents across the city, with Hilda Thompson (North), Ken Orr (South), Linda Hamilton (East) and Clare McGarrigle (West) taking top honours for Best Garden. John McCall, Roisin Smith, Teddy Stanex and Michael Bennet were also celebrated for producing the city's best hanging baskets.
Local businesses also won awards, with the Jailhouse Bar taking the title of Best Public House, and the Cathedral Eye Clinic the award for Best Commercial Premises.
Community collaboration was further celebrated across categories such as community streets, groups, alleyways and school gardens, with winners including Restore Glandore ATC Community Group, Holyland Community Gardens, Phoenix Rising Alleyway and St Patrick's Primary School, alongside other neighbourhood champions across the city's districts.
Keeping Belfast Clean
The council is urging residents to keep the momentum going by helping to keep their local areas clean and tidy.
Street cleansing issues, such as litter, illegal dumping, graffiti or fly-tipping, can be reported through the council's Online Reporting Tool or by calling 028 9027 0230.
For neighbourhoods keen to work together, the council also provides support for a free community clean-up initiative. Residents, schools and community groups can request:
Free clean-up equipment including litter-picks, gloves, bags, brushes and shovels (at least one week's notice is required).
Arranged waste removal where council teams will collect all bagged rubbish immediately after the event concludes.
