Physical Fest 2026 full programme announced

Physical Fest returns next month promising six days of the best and boldest new local, national and international work.

The 2026 edition of Liverpool’s international festival of contemporary physical theatre runs from September 7-12 with a programme of workshops, events and performances.

Produced by the city’s Tmesis Theatre, Physical Fest was founded in 2005 and celebrates some of the world’s most exciting visual and movement-based performance.

The performance programme, which is being staged at the Unity Theatre, includes clowning, physical theatre and circus from Belgium and Italy, along with physical performance from Japan and new work by local and national artists.

It opens on Tuesday, September 8 with Peta Lilly’s part-drag, part-comedy, part-cabaret and part-clown Ungirlfriended.

On Wednesday, September 9, prepare to be a participant when Izumi Ashizawa brings Kurogo Me, Together! to the festival.

There will also be a chance on September 9 to see new work by Physical Fest female bursary recipients and a piece inspired by the Greek legend of the Minotaur, presented by Tmesis Training Company.

Above: Ungirlfriended. Top: Piergiorgio Milano's Pessadilla.

Then on Thursday, September 10, enjoy a Clown Double Bill from All of Us (Jamie Wood and Darren Lees) and Marie Chou-Fleur.

Tmesis Theatre and playwright/songwriter Lizzie Nunnery present a work in progress performance of their new collaborative work Demonology – set in a remote 16^th Century village beset by witches - on Friday, September 11.

And the live programme concludes on September 12 with Upon a Stale Sun by Zoe McWhinney and Piergiorgio Milano’s fusion of dance, circus and physical theatre, Pessadilla.

Meanwhile festival workshops, talks and debates take place at the Arts Bar Studios in Hope Street.

Physical Fest runs from September 7-12 2026. More details on the performance programme and tickets HERE