Festivals
Stay up to date with the best festivals in Liverpool, from music and arts to family-friendly food and drink events across the city.
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Africa Oyé Announces First Wave of Artists
Artists from Guinea Bissau and the Gambia are all set to take to the Africa Oyé stage this summer. Kicking off the first wave of artists is singer-songwriter Binhan, who broke through in Guinea Bissau back in 2008 with his refreshing songs of love and hope. PLUS pioneering kora player, Sona Jobarteh will be returning to Africa Oye following her 2016 performance at the festival. Mark the dates in your diaries as Sefton Park will once again be…
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Shout About It Live Festival Returns for 2nd year – First acts announced
Shout About It Live – a hybrid festival bringing live music and gig photography together – has announced it’s return for 2018 after a solid debut last year. Staying in the Baltic Triangle, this year’s venue is the multi-purpose venue Constellations on the weekend of 18th & 19th August. And the first acts have been confirmed with Robert Vince, Rews, Nick Ellis, Eleanor Nelly and Emmanuel Nwamadi all set to take to the stage this…
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First acts announced for Liverpool International Music Festival 2018
Liverpool International Music Festival 2018 is heading back to the magnificent setting of Sefton Park for another weekend of unforgettable music on 21st – 22nd July. Over 70 artists including Haçienda Classiçal, Basement Jaxx (DJ Set), Wiley, Example & DJ Wire, Jax Jones, Stefflon Don, Aurora, Young Fathers, Rae Morris, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Trevor Nelson, Gilles Peterson plus many more will perform live as part of this year’s unmissable line-up. With up to 18 hours…
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Sound City Announces 100 Brand New Artists For 2018 Festival
Sound City is making its hugely anticipated return to the city’s centre, kick-starting the UK’s 2018 festival season into life on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May. The festival is very much going back to its roots for its 11th year in a vibrant celebration of music and arts from around the world and much closer to home. Sound City will embrace the spirit of the underground and seek out the next generation of talent…
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Sound City Reveals First 10 Artists For 2018 Festival
One of Europe’s leading metropolitan festivals of music and arts, Sound City, is making its much anticipated return to the city centre across the first spring bank holiday Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May. Taking place across the Baltic Triangle and Cains Brewery in Liverpool, the festival is very much returning to its roots for its 11th year, focused on discovering an abundance of emerging new talent for everyone to savour whilst experiencing many iconic…
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Sound City will take place across Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle in the spring 2018
Sound City has announced its 2018 festival will be located across the Baltic Triangle and the Cain’s Brewery area. Taking place across the first spring bank holiday Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th May, Sound City will be taking over the iconic warehouses, intimate spaces, outdoor stages and pop-up places which form the renascent Baltic Triangle and Cain’s Brewery areas of the city. It is here which is the catalyst for much of Liverpool’s creative and…
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2018 Smithdown Road Festival Dates Announced
Smithdown Road Festival is back for a fourth year, and it’s bigger and better than ever before. Taking place as always over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend 5th – 7th May 2018, expect a jam packed schedule of incredible live music, comedy, theatre, cinema and loads for the kids to do too. Taking place on Wavertree Park, as well as several venues along Smithdown Road itself (including The Handymans, Craft Taproom, Evil Eye and Naked Lunch)…
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Liverpool Calling Music Festival Returning In 2018
Liverpool Calling organisers have announced that the festival will return next year, with a new location, in the Baltic Triangle. The one day festival will return, after a two year break, on Saturday 23rd June 2018 and the first venue confirmed for the event is Constellations. Constellations will host two stages running from 2pm-4am, with additional venues to be confirmed in the coming months. This means that the festival will not be taking place at the Bombed…
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Sound City Is Moving Back To City Centre For 2018 Festival
Sound City has revealed the festival is moving back to the city centre in May 2018 from the docklands, returning to its roots based around discovering new talent in intimate venues. The announcement made today also confirms that the festival organisers are collaborating with lots of curators, including Glastonbury’s Silver Hayes, Kendal Calling, Bluedot, Greg Wilson, Domino and Moshi Moshi, Hospital Records and many more. After several years at the docklands, the festival has faced criticism…
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Festival No.6 Review
Festival No.6 returned for its sixth year last weekend with a packed music, arts and cultural feast in the picturesque Welsh village of Portmeirion. It’s a festival that brings something refreshing to the festival scene with the unique surroundings of the village, Castell Park and Gardens, seafront and woodlands, there’s something to discover around every turn. The Castell Gardens could be described as the most typical part of the festival, home to the main stage…
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CHIC & Nile Rogers Announced As First Headliners For Liverpool Music Week
Liverpool Music Week has announced CHIC & Nile Rogers as headliners for the opening night of this year’s festival with a special show taking place at the Echo Arena. The legendary disco band will kick off the 15th anniversary of the festival in style, after a hugely popular set at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. Liverpool Music Week was recently crowned Best Metropolitan Festival at The UK Festival Awards 2016 and and the Opening Night…
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Liverpool Loves 2017 Full Music Line-Up Announced
Liverpool Loves organisers Orb CIC recently announced the first wave of acts confirmed for this year’s festival, and they are now excited to reveal the full music line-up. The countdown is on to the third annual Liverpool Loves festival next weekend, when fantastic music, family fun and activities take over the city centre on Saturday 5 August and Sunday 6 August. The full weekend music programme now includes a headline performance from Liverpool singer songwriter Robert Vincent, who will appear on the Main Stage in…
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Africa Oyé Announce Main Stage Running Order
Africa Oyé have revealed the running order for their Main Stage acts ahead of the 25th Anniversary Festival on June 17th and 18th in Sefton Park. The host of international stars such as Mokoomba and Max Romeo are complemented by local acts, Nutribe & Butcha B as well as Anwar Ali & Dave Owen and there are also welcome returns from Liverpool community acts such as drumming troupe Beatlife. To keep Sefton Park moving in between the main…
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Becky Hill, M.O, Jessie Reyez & More Join The LIMF 2017 Line Up
She Drew The Gun, The Vryll Society, ZuZu, the twenty LIMF Academy ‘Class Of 2017’ and more also announced for the fifth anniversary . Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) has announced the final acts for its 2017 Summer Jam line-up at Sefton Park with Becky Hill, M.O, Jessie Reyez, She Drew The Gun, The Vryll Society, Zuzu, Paris Youth Foundation, Pixey, Pink Kink, Jo Mary, Charlie Straw and the 20 LIMF Academy ‘Class Of 2017’ joining the likes of the…
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Liverpool International Music Festival Announces LIMF Academy Class of 2017-2018
Twenty Merseyside-based artists and bands have been chosen to showcase their talent at LIMF Summer Jam 2017 and take part in the LIMF Academy Programme, with three securing a spot on the Academy’s award winning 12 month Elite Talent Development Programme. The three ‘most ready’ artists, which boasts an all female roster, including Gazelle, Mary Miller and Remée, have been hand picked for a place on the award winning LIMF Academy Elite Talent Development Programme that offers career support and…
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Liverpool Sound City 2017 – 10th Anniversary Festival Preview
With each passing year since its inception in 2008, Liverpool Sound City has only grown in stature – and this time around looks to celebrate its 10th anniverasry with a move to Clarence Dock and the most star-studded line up yet. As well as showcasing some of the best emerging talent locally and from across the country, the festival continues to prove itself capable of drawing more ‘heavyweight’ acts to its stage. The likes of The…
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World Premiere of ‘Garage Classical’ Live With A 40 Piece Orchestra At LIMF 2017
In a world premiere, DJ Spoony will present a UK Garage classics live with the backing of the 40 piece RNCM Session Orchestra as part of the LIMF Presents programme in 2017. As the performance curator, he will be joined for an unforgettable experience by UK Garage legends Kele Le Roc, Elizabeth Troy, Lonyo, Master Of Ceremonies, Lifford, Richie Dan, Nay Nay and Sweet Female Attitude, with additional performances on the evening from So Solid Crew, Donaeo,…
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Smithdown Road Festival Announces More Acts For Showcase of Music, Art, Food & Dance
With just a few weeks to go until the annual free Smithdown Road festival, there is no doubting that the program of events has grown considerably this year – and that festival goers are in for a brilliant weekend of music, art, food and dance. Perhaps the biggest news of all is that due to the overwhelming popularity of last year’s festival, there will be a huge outdoor area on the Saturday and Sunday to be held…
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Hope & Glory Festival Announce Hacienda Classical, Reverend & The Makers For New Summer festival
A brand new music & arts festival will launch this summer at St George’s Hall with Hacienda Classical and Reverend & The Makers announced to play. The two day festival will take place on 4th & 5th August at St George’s Plateau with over 50 performers to be announced. The festival will include music, art, exhibitions, magic shows, spoken word poetry and more as the festival aims for a Victorian Carnival Theme. Hacienda Classical will…
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Sound City Announce Festival Headliners
Sound City have announced The Human League, John Cale, Metronomy & The Kooks as headliners for their 10th Anniversary. Having already announced a move to the larger Clarence Dock for 2017, Sound City has also revealed that it will host four days of festivities to mark its special birthday. The festival launches on Thursday with a celebration of the English avant-garde featuring a trio of some of the most influential British electronic artists of the modern…
Festivals are at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural identity, bringing people together to celebrate music, art, food, film, and community. The city has a long tradition of hosting vibrant festivals that reflect its creativity and diversity, offering something for everyone throughout the year. Whether you’re a music lover chasing the buzz of live performances, a family looking for fun days out, or a foodie ready to explore new flavours, Liverpool’s festival scene has it all.
Music festivals are among Liverpool’s biggest draws, showcasing everything from local grassroots talent to international superstars. Events like Sound City attract huge crowds with eclectic line-ups, while festivals such as Africa Oyé shine a spotlight on global sounds, reggae culture, and community spirit. For fans of electronic music, events like Creamfields (just outside the city) and independent club-led festivals deliver world-class DJ sets and unforgettable all-night parties.
The city also thrives with arts and culture festivals, celebrating creativity in all its forms. Liverpool Biennial, the UK’s largest festival of contemporary visual art, transforms the city every two years with thought-provoking exhibitions, installations, and performances. DaDaFest champions disabled and Deaf artists through powerful work that challenges perspectives, while Homotopia Festival celebrates LGBTQIA+ culture through theatre, cabaret, and visual arts.
For families and food lovers, food and drink festivals are a huge part of the Liverpool calendar. The likes of the Baltic Market’s street food events bring together the best of local restaurants, bars, breweries, and independent traders. Visitors can sample cuisines from around the world, enjoy cooking demonstrations, and discover hidden gems from Liverpool’s food scene. Seasonal favourites like Christmas markets and Easter festivals also provide plenty of fun for all ages, with live entertainment, craft stalls, and activities for kids.
Film fans and culture-seekers aren’t left out either. The city plays host to Liverpool Film Festival, and smaller community-led screenings that celebrate both local filmmakers and international cinema. These events provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy films in unique settings while supporting independent cinema.
No matter the season, Liverpool’s festivals bring a sense of excitement, colour, and togetherness to the city. They reflect the city’s heritage, creativity, and welcoming spirit, making them an essential part of life in Liverpool. Whether you’re planning your festival calendar for the year, discovering new music and art, or just looking for a fun weekend with friends, there’s always something happening to capture your imagination.
Our Festivals category keeps you up to date with the best events across the city region. From major annual highlights to smaller niche gatherings, we cover everything so you don’t miss a moment of Liverpool’s thriving festival scene.