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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Liverpoool International Festival of Psycadelia Returns To The Blade Factory
British space-psych pioneers Spiritualized are the first headliners for Liverpoool International Festival of Psycadelia 2015. This year’s edition will benefit from an additional performance space, with District – a converted manufacturing facility (formerly The Picket) – joining the existing complex of warehouses across Camp and Furnace and the Blade Factory. Baltic Triangle, Liverpool 25th & 26th September Tickets are available here
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Liverpool Light Night Returns 15th May
LightNight, Liverpool’s one-night arts and culture festival returns to illuminate the city for a sixth year on Friday 15 May from 4pm until late as the launch event of One Magnificent City. You, your friends and your family are invited to explore Liverpool as our world-class galleries, museums and public spaces stay open late for a free showcase of the city’s arts and culture. Follow your own trail of unexpected happenings as the city centre…
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Liverpool International Music Festival Announce Big Name Acts For 2015
Basement Jaxx,Labrinth, Laura Mvula, Echo and the Bunnymen, Katy B, Becky Hill, Space, The Real Thing, Bipolar Sunshine, Naughty Boy and loads more will be joining #LIMF2015 Summer Jam in Sefton Park from 29th – 31st August. For More Info & To Keep Up To Date With Artist Announcements Visit www.limfestival.com.
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X&Y Music Festival 2015 Announce Hudson Taylor As Headliners
Irish Folk Duo Hudson Taylor will headline this year’s X&Y Music Festival at The East Village Arts Club. The Dublin born brother’s Alfie and Harry Hudson Taylor found fame online, with their acoustic sessions getting more than three million hits on Youtube. They released their debut EP ‘Battles’ in August 2012, which reached #1 on iTunes in Ireland and #14 in the UK. This was closely followed up by their second EP ‘CinematicLifestyle’. In October…
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'Liverpool Calling' Music Festival Announce First Wave of Acts For 2015
The beautiful and iconic Bombed Out Church remains as Liverpool Calling’s proud hosts, alongside some of the City’s greatest music venues including The Magnet, Sound Food & Drink, and Maguire’s Pizza Bar. Sheffield indie legends Reverend & The Makers will headline the Bombed Out Church to perform a set like no other. Folk acoustic singer Beans on Toast brings his comedic anthems to the Bombed Out Church. They also have the finest local bands on…
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Africa Oye Announces First Acts For 2015 Festival In Sefton Park
UK soul legend Omar will be joined by Mali’s BKO Quintet and Lindigo from Reunion Island. ‘This isn’t just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it’s the best’– The Sunday Times ‘Perhaps Britain’s best free festival’ – Clash Magazine The UK’s largest, free African music festival Africa Oye will grace Sefton Park once again this summer and organisers have unveiled the first 3 acts of a globally acclaimed line up for…
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Sound City Announce Third & Final Headliner; The Vaccines
Liverpool Sound City have announced the third and final headliner for this year’s festival, indie rockers, The Vaccines. They join previously announced headliners Belle & Sebastian and The Flaming Lips who will play at the newly located Docklands site. Also announced today were Roni Size Reprazent, The Thurston Moore Band, Gaz Coombes F*cked Up, Evian Christ,Unknown Mortal Orchestra The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Dum Dum Girls, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Stealing Sheep, Dutch Uncles,…
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Liverpool Music Week 2014 Closing Party; Review
The 10th annual edition of Liverpool Music Week came to a close on Friday 1st and did it ever reach its conclusion in style. The Camp and Furnace, alongside The Kazimier and the O2 Academy, has hosted a glorious array of musical talent right across LMW14 including the likes of Caribou, Mogwai and Wild Beasts. For the closing party it was the turn of Glasgow synthpop specialists CHVRCHES, playing their first ever show in Liverpool, to take centre stage and…
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Belle & Sebastian Announced As First Liverpool Sound City 2015 Headliners
Liverpool Sound City have announced today that Belle & Sebastian will play Liverpool’s biggest music festival on Sunday 24th May. It was also announced that they would be playing at a brand new Liverpool Sound City venue – Liverpool’s iconic abandoned Docklands. Liverpool Sound City has been shortlisted for the “Best Metropolitan Festival” at this year’s UK Festival Awards. The festival attracts big headline names, rising stars from across the country and showcases artists and…
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Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia; Review Part Two
It’s not every Friday afternoon I get to sip beer, in the sunshine, in the presence of some of the most awe-inspiring psych bands I’ve ever heard; the beginning of Liverpool Psych fest 2014 was happily one of those times. Purple Heart Parade kicked off the weekend in Blade with a ragingly energetic set after recently releasing a cassette on local North West label Blak Hand Records. Their roaring vocals and feedback reverberated off the…
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Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia; Review
Psychedelic music, not usually a genre of my choice, however having read many good reviews from last year’s festival, I was excited to attend. Becoming slightly more nervous as I approached the Baltic Triangle, concerned I would stand out like a sore thumb with my dress sense, proving this isn’t my usual listen. When I arrived it quickly became apparent that this festival was for a whole array of people from Mods to Rockers, Goths to Hippies and your…
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Hope Fest 19th-21st September Full Line Up
Wristbands for the whole weekend & all venues can be obtained by donating a ‘Hope Pack’ which must include: socks, jumper, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap. Wristbands can be obtained at any venue on the door over the festival weekend. Alternatively donate an item on the door to access that venue. We can take non perishable food, clothing (small sizes preferred, underwear and socks must be new), household goods such as kettle, toaster, microwave, radio,…
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The Liverpool Irish Festival Returns With Film, Arts, Music, Food & Football
The 12th Liverpool Irish Festival returns to the city this October celebrating Liverpool’s unique relationship with Ireland and showcasing the finest in contemporary and traditional Irish culture. From the English première of Seamus Heaney’s final works to a celebration of Gaelic football with the first Liverpool Irish Festival Cup and a talk by John Larkin QC, Attorney General for Northern Ireland, this year’s Festival is bigger than ever spreading across ten days in a cavalcade…
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Liverpool Calling Part Two; More Action From The Bombed Out Church
Whilst hundreds of thousands of people from Liverpool, and visitors from outside the city, gathered to watch three colossal creatures roam through town, the question is what were the rest of us doing? One such alternative was only the second Liverpool Calling Festival, which took place throughout the Saturday of the Giants’ visit, and was spread across multiple venues including The Kazimier, The Zanzibar, Magnet, Sound Food and Drink and Maguire’s Pizza Bar. Giants were…
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Liverpool Calling Part One; Featuring Sound Food & Drink Acoustic Stage To Bombed Out Church Headliners Space
Though most were concerned about the return of those monolithic marionettes, the ‘Giants’ meandering around town and in some cases ‘farting’ and losing their head to the delight of thousands, 26th July also marked the return of a more subtle spectacle, namely Liverpool Calling. Like the ‘Giants’ Liverpool Calling is an event still in it’s infancy, with this being only its second year, but any music fans who failed to answer it’s call, in favour of…
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Liverpool Calling: Final Line-Up Confirmed – Top Venues & Fantastic Talent Added
Saturday July 26th, 2014 Locations; The Bombed Out Church, The Kazimier, Korova, Zanzibar, Maguires Pizza Bar, Sound Food & Drink, Next to Nowhere, Studio 2 Anticipation for Liverpool Calling is rising as the final line-up is confirmed and a whole host of top venues and fantastic talent is added. Amongst all the newly added talent there are also new venues to accommodate them. The Bombed Out Church will host Liverpool Calling for the second year…
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Flux Festival: A Summer of Art
As many of us well and truly know summer has been christened with the title ‘Festival Season’ and with many people jetting off to the likes of Glastonbury and Leeds it’s very easy to find yourself in a gloom watching the highlights on TV. However never fear because the glory of living in Liverpool is the showcases of culture it provides which includes this year’s fortnight long festival; Flux Festival. What is Flux festival? It…
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Africa Oyé 2014 Preview; Sefton Park 21st & 22nd June
With the recent spell of glorious weather we’ve been having set to continue, it seems only fitting that this weekend should see the return of Africa Oyé. Now in its 22nd year the African music festival is the largest of its kind in the UK and, without a doubt, one of the cultural highlights of the summer for Liverpool. The two-day event celebrates African music and culture and looks to showcase the very best of…
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Memories Of August 1914 – The Giants Routes 25th-27th July
Memories of August 1914 will run from 23-27 July, however the main walk will take place between 25th-27th. The Full Routes Are Detailed Below; Friday 25 July Little Girl Giant and Xolo 11am – 1.30pm approx Wake up 11.00am and leave Queensway Tunnel entrance via Old Haymarket, St John’s Lane, Queen Square Bus Station, onto Whitechapel, Paradise Street, Hanover Street, Ranelagh Street, Great Charlotte Street, Elliott Street, Lime Street down to Renshaw Street, Berry Street,…
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International Mersey River Festival 13th-15th June
This year’s International Mersey River Festival promises to be bigger and better than last years event. The free three day festival taking place from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th June will stretch from the Echo Arena to Princes Parade. From Thursday a fleet of six tall ships are expected in the Albert and Canning Docks to join three others currently there. With the recently redeveloped pathway at the Albert Dock completed just in time for…
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.