Victoria Square will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) this March, heroing inspiring local women with the return of its popular Sister Season initiative. An expanded 16-day programme centered around empowerment, wellbeing and community will spotlight stories of women from all walks of life.
Running from 7–22 March, Victoria Square’s Sister Season brings together a packed schedule of panel discussions, creative workshops, wellness experiences, beauty demos, and community events designed to amplify women’s voices, share real stories and celebrate the strength found in sisterhood.
Sister Season opens on Saturday 7 March with a special flagship ‘Sister Stories’ event and style showcase, hosted by Cool FM presenter Rebecca McKinney, celebrating the achievements, resilience and lived experiences of women across Northern Ireland.
Following a public call for entries, the event will hero 11 inspiring local women that have made a meaningful impact in their communities and personal lives. Representing a diverse cross-section of experiences, the women include advocates for autism awareness and women’s health, dementia specialists and carers, business founders and community leaders, mental health advocates and content creators promoting body confidence and chronic illness awareness.
The nominated women will share the stage alongside a number of well-known, influential and inspiring local women including Olympic gold medalist and sporting icon, Lady Mary Peters; Northern Ireland women’s football legend Marissa Callaghan; cancer survivor and content creator Aisling Gallagher; content creators and disability advocates India Sasha and Bernadette Hagans; jazz singer and actress Njambi Njoroge; personal development coach and wellbeing advocate Annette Kelly; and well-known mature models Nuala Meenehan and Anne Flanagan.
Together, their personal stories, shaped by varied experiences of loss, illness, recovery, advocacy, resilience and empowering other women will be shared during live panel discussions, as a selection of the women take to the catwalk in looks styled by Victoria Square personal shopper, Taylor Armstong.
Tickets for the Sister Stories event and fashion show cost £10 and include a goodie bag, with a £5 Victoria Square gift card. All proceeds will be donated to Women’s Aid.
Throughout Sister Season, a range of community events, creative workshops and wellness experiences will take place throughout Victoria Square.
On Sunday 8th March, to mark International Women’s Day, the Girls Groupchat Podcast hosts, Diona Dohery, Olivia McVeigh, Shannon Mitchell and Jordan Arnold will host a special panel event on ‘expectations of the modern woman’ on the mall at 2pm. Building on topics regularly covered on their popular podcast, the girls will discuss the physical and mental load on women today. Up to 40 guests will be able to secure a seat and the opportunity to put questions to the popular foursome when they tap to donate to Women’s Aid on the day. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Two beauty masterclasses will follow, with a skincare session from Space NK at 3pm and a make-up masterclass from Sephora at 4pm.
Throughout the 16-day run, a packed programme of events will take place in the dome, in partnership with female founded businesses. All events will donate a portion of proceeds to Women’s Aid.
Events include:
- Clay, Chat, Create with Clayful Minds, 2pm, Saturday 7 March. This fun hands-on session is perfect for those wanting to connect and craft. Using 100% mess-free air-drying clay, craft your own memo chalk board to take home. Tickets cost £25 + booking fee per person.
- Ride or Die Portrait Club, 4pm, Sunday 8 March: celebrate the people or pets you love and admire most in this relaxed portrait painting workshop with the Kitsch Sisters. Tickets cost £17.50 plus booking fee.
- Strong and Empowered BONDI Pilates, 10am, Sunday 8 March: join BONDI Pilates for a signature energizing mat Pilates session focused on strength, control and confidence, followed by an extended stretch for full nervous system reset and recovery. Tickets cost £35 per person and include a goody bag with BONDI grip socks, a class pass voucher, and of course, hydration.
- City Awakening: Sunrise Yoga, 6.30am, Saturday 14 March: join the Kitsch Sisters for a transformative sunrise yoga experience in Victoria Square’s iconic dome. Tickets cost £15 plus booking fees.
- QWC Self-Confidence Workshop, 1pm, Saturday 14 March: join QWC for a slow, inspiring workshop, making affirmation boards to celebrate Sister Season. Tickets cost £12.50 plus booking fees.
- Ceramic Cup & Saucer Painting, 12pm, Sunday 15 March: join the Kitsch Sisters for a fun and informal workshop, where you can paint your own unique cup and saucer. Tickets cost £22.50 plus booking fee per person.
- Craft Picnic Overlooking Belfast’s Skyline, 3pm, Sunday 15 March: enjoy a social crafting session alongside treats, traybakes, tea and coffee. Tickets cost £20 plus booking fee per person
- Sunset Yoga, 7.30pm, Sunday 15 March: suitable for all levels, this session, hosted by the Kitsch Sisters will focus on relaxation, reflection and gentle movement as the sun sets over the city. Tickets cost £15 plus booking fees per person.
- Return to Self with Hormone Health Coach, Maria Rafferty, 7pm, Thursday 19 March: As we move into the spring equinox, enjoy a slow, meditative womb-led Yin Yoga class, offering gentle support to the womb and nervous system, followed by Yoga Nidra – a meditative practice to encourage deep rest. Tickets cost £25 plus booking fees per person.
- Decorative Letter Workshop with Clayful Minds, 2pm, Saturday 21 March: Join this light-up letter workshop and design and make your own illuminated initial using clay, quilling, washi tape and fairy lights. Tickets cost £25 plus booking fee per person
- The Gratitude Pop-Up: Pause & Pledge, 12.30pm Sunday 22 March: join Julie Fitz for a chill session to pause, reflect and take some time to learn about the positive power of gratitude. Tickets cost £20 plus booking fee with all ticket sales donated to Women’s Aid.
Custom Sister Season t-shirts will also be available to purchase on the mall on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March with all proceeds donated to Women’s Aid.
Commenting ahead of the events, Michelle Greeves, Centre Manager at Victoria Square, said: “We are proud to bring Sister Season back for 2026, with an expanded and hugely inspiring programme of events. Northern Ireland is home to so many incredible women whose stories deserve to be celebrated. Sister Season is about sharing those stories, celebrating achievement and empowering others, because when women support each other, amazing things happen.”
For further information visit, victoriasquare.com or connect with Victoria Square on Instagram, @VictoriaSqBelfast
