Ed Sheeran has announced the launch of a new cross-border musical initiative aimed at children and young people in Cork and Belfast. The North South Sounds 2026 project seeks to foster songwriting, performance skills, and community engagement among young musicians, encouraging them to explore and blend different musical genres.

The program, which operates under the umbrella of the Ed Sheeran Foundation, will include a series of non-residential summer camps and live music events across both cities, running through December 2026. Participating young artists will have opportunities to perform at gigs organized as part of the project, promoting cultural exchange and collaboration between participants from both sides of the Irish border.

Sheeran, who has expressed a personal connection to Ireland through his family background, described the initiative as a meaningful way to extend the reach of his foundation to the country. The project is a partnership between the Ed Sheeran Foundation and local educational organizations, including Music Generation Cork City and Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre, both of which have strong community ties in the region’s music education landscape.

By providing structured workshops and performance opportunities, the initiative aims to support the development of young talent while fostering a spirit of cooperation and creativity across geographic and cultural divides in Ireland. The program’s focus on genre blending reflects a broader goal of nurturing innovation and diversity within the musical experiences of participants.

North South Sounds 2026 is poised to contribute to ongoing efforts to use the arts as a means of building bridges between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, aligning with wider cultural and social initiatives promoting cross-border engagement.