The Place to BE: World of Wellbeing at Belfast Mela
Sunday 30 August 2026
Botanic Gardens, Belfast
Part of Belfast Mela
This year, The Place to BE comes to Belfast Mela as the World of Wellbeing, transforming the beautiful Rose Garden into a welcoming space to slow down, listen, move, pause and connect within the energy of the festival.
Created and curated by Tessa Ann, the World of Wellbeing brings together immersive sound experiences, gentle movement, sensory exploration, community wellbeing and quieter places to pause throughout the day.
There is no set way to experience the space. Stay for a few minutes, settle in for longer, join an activity or simply find somewhere comfortable to sit and take in your surroundings.
Plan Your Visit
📍 Location: Rose Garden, Botanic Gardens, Belfast
The World of Wellbeing is located within the Rose Garden, with The Nauroso Sensory Garden just a short walk away in the Tropical Ravine.
Festival Map
Download the Belfast Mela map below or take a screenshot before you arrive.
2026 WORLD OF WELLBEING AREA MAP WILL BE UPLOADED HERE SHORTLY.
Accessibility
Belfast Mela provides accessibility information to help you plan your visit, including information about getting around the festival site, facilities and additional support.
View Belfast Mela accessibility information:
https://belfastmela.org.uk/about/accessibility/
Tickets
The World of Wellbeing and Nauroso Sensory Garden are included with your main Belfast Mela festival ticket.
Book Belfast Mela tickets:
https://belfastmela.org.uk/mela-plus/#book-events
- General - £12
- Concession - £9
- Family - £24
Visit the World of Wellbeing page on the Belfast Mela website:
https://belfastmela.org.uk/mela-day/world-of-wellbeing/
Listen • Move • Pause • Connect
The Sound Space | 12.00 pm–5.00 pm
Step into an immersive sound environment created and facilitated by Tessa Ann, bringing together soundscapes, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, drums, percussion and voice.
Visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the afternoon, with facilitated 30-minute sound experiences taking place between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm.
Rather than separating sound from its surroundings, The Sound Space invites you to notice the wider sensory environment of the Rose Garden and experience sound as part of place.
Move & Flow | 1.30 pm–4.00 pm
Enjoy gentle movement within the Rose Garden, including Qi Gong with Michael Mac and Mindful Hooping with Fi Flo Hoops.
These relaxed sessions offer simple opportunities to move, breathe, connect and enjoy the atmosphere around you.
The Sound Hub | 1.00 pm–4.00 pm
A welcoming, all-ages space to explore sound through listening, creativity and play.
Discover instruments, books and creative activities, alongside the Nauroso Sound Environment Guide & Map, designed to help visitors understand what different areas may sound like before exploring them.
The guide is available for everyone and may be particularly useful for visitors who experience sound sensitivity or sensory challenges.
The Sound Hub also offers an opportunity to discover more about Tessa Ann's work with children, families, educators, organisations and communities.
The Place to Pause | 12.00 pm–6.00 pm
Not everything needs to be an activity.
Pause beneath the willow tree. Wander through the pathways. Explore the blooms. Notice the rockery. Listen to the sounds around you.
Take a few minutes away from the busier festival spaces and experience the Rose Garden at your own pace.
Community Wellbeing
Throughout the day, the Rose Garden will also be home to a wider programme of wellbeing activity.
HappyFest Talks | 1.00 pm–6.00 pm
Discover practical tools to support a happier, healthier and more balanced life, with an inspiring line-up of wellbeing experts, coaches and speakers sharing practical advice, personal insights and approaches to wellbeing.
Community Wellbeing Tent | All Day
Meet local organisations, community groups and wellbeing partners supporting individuals, families and communities across Belfast and beyond.
Public Health Agency Wellbeing Area | All Day
Meet wellbeing professionals, explore health and wellbeing resources and discover services and support available across Northern Ireland.
Meditation & Massage | All Day
Drop in throughout the day to enjoy guided meditation, massage and wellbeing activities, offering opportunities to relax and recharge within the surroundings of the Rose Garden.
The Nauroso Sensory Garden | Tropical Ravine
All Day
Just a short walk from the World of Wellbeing, discover one of Belfast's most remarkable indoor gardens from a different perspective.
Created by Tessa Ann and presented by Nauroso, this thoughtfully designed, self-guided experience invites you to slow down, explore and become more aware of the sounds, spaces and sensory qualities that shape the way we experience the world around us.
As you move through the Tropical Ravine, you'll discover gentle listening invitations, opportunities to pause and interactive experiences that encourage curiosity about sound, place and the environment.
Whether you're looking for a quieter moment, enjoy discovering new places or are simply curious about how sound influences everyday life, you're welcome to explore at your own pace.
Stay for a few minutes or linger a little longer. There is no right or wrong way to explore.
Nauroso is an evolving platform that helps people better understand and shape their relationship with sound and sensory environments through immersive experiences, learning, practical tools, research and consultancy.
A Welcoming Space
The World of Wellbeing is designed to be welcoming, family friendly and accessible for visitors of all ages.
Facilities and features include:
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A private family care space for nappy changing and infant feeding
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Seating throughout the Rose Garden, with places to sit, pause and reflect
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Flexible drop-in activities, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace throughout the day
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An information hub to help visitors discover everything happening across the World of Wellbeing
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Simple accessibility measures to help visitors enjoy the area in a way that feels comfortable for them
About Tessa Ann
For 14 years, Tessa Ann has curated the World of Wellbeing at Belfast Mela, bringing together sound experiences, movement, community wellbeing and opportunities to pause within one welcoming space in the Rose Garden.
Her work explores how thoughtfully designed environments can support calm, connection and wellbeing through sensory experiences, creative learning and community engagement.
The Sound Healing Spa
Creating immersive sound experiences that invite people to slow down, listen differently and experience people, place and sound in new ways.
Nauroso
Developing learning, research and practical resources that help people better understand and shape their relationship with sound in everyday environments.
Come and listen. Move. Pause. Connect. Or simply BE.
