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Penny Lane Weekender 2026 details revealed
The Penny Lane Weekender returns this August promising three days of ‘boss music’ at venues in and around the world-famous street. The fourth annual event, shining a spotlight on local and independent musical talent, takes place from August 7-9. Early Bird tickets at £10 are available now. The 2026 line-up boasts an eclectic mix of genres, from indie, rock, pop and punk to electronica and dance music, and will be headlined by Scottish psychedelic band Helicon (pictured) and B


Africa Oyé 2026 full programme at Sefton Park
The 2026 Africa Oyé comes to Sefton Park this weekend with two full days of music from some of the most exciting figures on the international stage. The annual festival - the UK's largest celebration of African music and culture - takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21. This year’s event is ticket only, with organisers say rising costs mean it has been increasingly difficult to keep running the annual event for free. Headlining the 2026 festival are Grammy-nominated M


Liverpool European Festival 2026 most ambitious yet
Liverpool European Festival returns this weekend with a wide-ranging programme of community-led events and activities. The festival, a legacy of Liverpool’s hosting of the 2023 Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, is now in its fourth year and organisers are promising the 2026 event is the most ambitious to date. It runs from May 9 to July 5. The festival is set to officially open on Europe Day this Saturday (May 9) with a large-scale public event at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church f


LAAF 2026 proves home is where the art is
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) returns to city venues this month – and the full programme has now been confirmed. This year’s festival takes place between July 17-26 and will include a varied programme including performances, talks, workshops and family-friendly activities across art forms such as theatre, music, the visual arts and film. The 2026 theme is Home. LAAF chairman Afrah Qassim says: “Home is a place we often imagine as a sanctuary of safety, stability and ide


WoWFest 2026 explores the 'New World Disorder'
Author Colm Tóibín is among the first names announced for WoWFest which returns to Liverpool venues this May with a month-long programme of events. The theme of the 2026 festival is New World Disorder, with organisers Writing on the Wall describing it as ‘bold, urgent and unmissable’ and a 'festival of resistance'. Events take place from May 1-31 at venues including the Black-E, British Music Experience, Philharmonic Hall Music Room and online. Actor Cathy Tyson, playwright H


Leap Dance Festival returns to Liverpool for 2026
Liverpool’s Leap Dance Festival returns to city venues next month with a programme of performances, workshops and free public events. The festival, which was revived and relaunched by Chaos Arts CIC in 2024 after a five year break, this year runs from April 24 to May 9 and encompasses National Day of Dance on April 29. It aims to showcase local and regional talent and nurture and support the next generation of dancers as well as bring top dance companies and artists to the ci


Up Next Festival returns to the Unity Theatre this month
The Up Next Festival is set to return to the Unity Theatre this month for a fifth year. The 2026 festival takes place from March 25-28 and will feature 20 new and diverse performances – many of them work-in-progress, readings, workshops and a guided walk, created by Merseyside artists. The Hope Place theatre started the festival in 2021 as a response the Covid pandemic and the seismic effect it had on live performance, providing a vital platform for new work with the aim of s


May announced as Liverpool Music Month with events across the city
May has been designated Liverpool Music Month with a host of live performances and other events planned across the city. The new initiative, a collaboration between Culture Liverpool and Sound City, will celebrate Liverpool’s world-famous music scene – with the programme also twinned with New York Music Month which has taken place annually in the American metropolis since 2017. Music lovers will be able to enjoy performances, cultural events and community activities, highlig


Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2026 dates and performers
Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF) returns to the Unity Theatre for a fourth year. The annual event, which attracts some of the world’s leading improvisers to the city, takes place from May 7-9 and promises no fewer than three world premieres. Tickets for both individual shows, along with a limited number of one, two and three-day all access passes, are available now. Improv fans are set to enjoy 18 live shows across the three-day festival weekend, with performances takin


Liverpool Year of the Horse celebrations announced
Liverpool will mark Year of the Horse with events and activities this month including performances, parades and two huge lantern installations. The Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, officially begins on February 17 for 2026, with celebrations taking place in Liverpool’s Chinatown on February 21 and 22. Ahead of that, from February 14 onwards, thousands of red lanterns will return to Liverpool streets around Chinatown, Liverpool ONE and the Royal Albert Dock, while key city
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