Belfast's Odyssey Arena to Become The O2 Belfast in Landmark 10-Year Deal
Belfast's iconic waterfront entertainment venue, the Odyssey, is to be rebranded as 'The O2 Belfast' following a landmark 10-year naming rights agreement between The Odyssey Trust and O2, confirmed on 14 April 2026 — a deal that will see the venue join O2's network of 21 venues across 14 UK cities.
The rebranding, which takes effect on 1 July 2026, encompasses the entire Odyssey site, including the 11,200-capacity indoor arena, the W5 science and discovery centre, the W5 LIFE digital learning facility, and Odyssey Place.
Background
The Odyssey Complex, which originally opened in 2000, is Northern Ireland's largest indoor entertainment venue and home to the Belfast Giants ice hockey team. The arena has hosted some of the world's biggest musical acts and sporting events over the past quarter century, becoming one of the most recognisable landmarks on Belfast's waterfront.
Key Developments
Under the new partnership, O2 customers will gain exclusive pre-sale access to tickets for all events at The O2 Belfast, 48 hours before general release, starting 1 July 2026. In 2025 alone, over 1.7 million tickets were sold through O2's Priority platform across the UK.
O2 will also become the title sponsor of the Belfast Giants, marking its first venture into ice sports and its first major sponsorship of a Northern Ireland-based team. Virgin Media O2 plans to significantly enhance connectivity at the venue by deploying its own fibre network, doubling existing capacity, introducing O2 WiFi, and rolling out 5G coverage for O2 customers within the arena later in the summer.
Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said the company was excited to "establish a new home in Northern Ireland." Paul McMahon, CEO of The Odyssey Trust, described the partnership as "an exciting chapter that aligns with our ambition to deliver world-class experiences."
Why It Matters
The deal is a significant vote of confidence in Belfast's entertainment and tourism sectors, aligning one of the city's premier venues with the international O2 brand alongside The O2 in London, O2 Academy Brixton, and O2 Apollo Manchester. The partnership is expected to help attract larger international tours and exhibitions to the city.
What's Next
The rebrand takes effect on 1 July 2026. SSE Airtricity will continue as the official energy partner for the arena. Full details from BBC News NI.
