The Limelight, located at 17 Ormeau Avenue in Belfast, BT2 8HD, United Kingdom, is an iconic nightclub and live music venue with a rich and vibrant history woven into the fabric of Belfast’s nightlife. Established in 1987, The Limelight quickly gained a reputation as a key hub for alternative music and club culture in Northern Ireland. Over the decades, it has played a crucial role in shaping the city’s musical landscape, providing a launch pad for emerging local artists while simultaneously attracting a wide array of celebrated international acts.

The venue’s significance extends beyond just music; it has served as a central meeting point for generations of music fans, students, and visitors, fostering a unique sense of community and inclusivity. The Limelight has undergone several transformations throughout its history, expanding its footprint and modernizing its facilities to cater to evolving tastes and audiences. The complex now consists of multiple interlinked spaces, including "Limelight 1" and "Limelight 2"—each with its own atmosphere and capacity—as well as Katy’s Bar, a vibrant pre-show haunt and social space that further anchors the venue in the local scene.

While the address has remained constant on Ormeau Avenue, the Limelight’s interior has seen several refurbishments, particularly following its acquisition and relaunch in 2012 by the Shine Productions group, which ensured the preservation of its cultural legacy while updating it for contemporary audiences. Throughout its lifetime, The Limelight has weathered shifts in musical trends, economic downturns, and even the broader challenges faced by Belfast during the Troubles, emerging as a resilient testament to the city’s creative spirit. Notable artists who have graced The Limelight’s stage include Arctic Monkeys, Two Door Cinema Club, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Gary Numan, Biffy Clyro, Franz Ferdinand, The Undertones, Editors, The Strokes, Ash, Paul Weller, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream, Ben Howard, and local favorites such as Therapy?

and Duke Special.