The SSE Arena Belfast is set to welcome a name change as a new partnership is announced.
The Odyssey Trust, and O2 – one of the UK’s leading telecoms and entertainment brands, has announced a new long-term partnership that will see O2 become the official naming rights partner for Belfast’s iconic Odyssey site.
The new 10-year naming rights agreement will see the entire complex rebranded as The O2 Belfast. The site encompasses the 11,200-capacity arena as well as the W5 science and discovery centre, the W5 LIFE digital learning facility, and Odyssey Place.
Effective from 1 July 2026, The O2 Belfast will join O2’s large 21 venue portfolio across 14 UK cities, which includes venues like The O2 in London, O2 Academy Brixton, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, O2 Academy Glasgow, and O2 Apollo Manchester.
As part of the agreement, O2 customers will gain access to exclusive Priority Tickets pre-sales for all shows coming to The O2 Belfast, from 1 July 2026.
Gareth Griffiths, Director, Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said:
“Live music and entertainment is in O2’s DNA and we couldn’t be more excited to have a new home in Northern Ireland. With The Odyssey Trust, we look forward to connecting visitors, enhancing the live experience and leveraging the power of O2’s network and benefits of Priority for our customers, at the largest arena in Northern Ireland. We can’t wait to welcome you to The O2 Belfast in July.”
Paul McMahon, Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust, said:
“We are delighted to welcome O2 as the site’s new naming rights partner of The O2 Belfast. This partnership marks an exciting chapter and reflects our shared ambition to deliver unforgettable, world-class experiences for the people of Northern Ireland and beyond. By working together, we look forward to building on the site’s already strong reputation and ensuring that we continue to deliver the best experience every time for all who visit the campus for years to come.”
The new partnership will also see O2 become the title sponsor of the Belfast Giants, marking a major milestone for the only professional ice hockey team on the island of Ireland. With the team showcasing the O2 logo, the Giants will be joining England’s men’s and women’s international rugby union teams.
SSE Airtricity will continue its longstanding relationship with the arena as the venue’s official energy partner.
