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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Liverpool Festival for 80,000 Announced For May Bank Holiday
Records will be set on May Bank Holiday 2016 with a festival announced for 80,000 guests to be held at Aintree Racecourse Liverpool. We Luv Festival will be the first festival event focused predominantly on families. The colossal family-oriented event will be held in Liverpool at the Aintree Racecourse on 28th and 29th May 2016. With over 80,000 visitors expected to attend over two days and over thirty artists set to perform across two stages,…
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Catfish And The Bottlemen Make A Triumphant Return To Sound City
UK Festival Awards crowned Sound City the Best Metropolitan Music Festival of 2015 and Sound City is going for gold yet again with a 2016 line up that’s bigger, better and even more diverse than ever. Having already announced The Coral as a headliner, the festival has today revealed that Catfish and the Bottlemen is the second headliner. The festival is also declaring an exciting new partnership with hugely innovative dance music promoters Freeze who…
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Liverpool International Music Festival Announce First Wave of Acts
Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) have announced SIGMA, The Wombats, Lianne La Havas, Kwabs, Netsky, Ms. Dynamite, Maverick Sabre, Frances, DJ TARGET, John Power Band and many more will be playing #LIMF2016 21 – 24th July. LIMF Summer Jam has fast become the leading family festival of its kind, completely free to enjoy. Taking place at Sefton Park, it will mark the start of the summer and the culmination of a spectacular series of events as…
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Africa Oyé 2016 Dates Announced – 18th & 19th June
After attracting crowds of 80,000 people across the event’s weekend last year, Africa Oye returns to Sefton Park for its 24th festival of African and Caribbean music and culture this June. The Liverpool institution will once again bring together the finest artists, traders and workshops for a weekend of eclectic festivities on 18th and 19th June. Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is looking ahead to the summer as preparations get underway. “We’ve already got some exciting…
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Sound City To Return As 2 Day Festival in 2016; Pre Sale Registration Open Now
Liverpool Sound City have announced that they will return as a 2 day festival on 28th & 29th May 2016. The festival will return to Bramley Moore Docks after a successful first year on the waterfront site earlier this year. Sound City organisers say that their decision to make the festival a 2 day event rather than 3 day will allow them to bring a more ‘content-rich festival’. They have increased their artist budget in…
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Liverpool Music Week 2015; 23rd to 31st October
Liverpool Music Week is the UK’s biggest indoor music festival, with shows spread over nine days and some of the cities best music and arts venues, it is a truly independent jewel in the musical crown. This years bountiful bill opens with Richard Hawley at The Dome and an Opening Party at the Kazimier featuring Micachu & The Shapes, Holly Herndon and Darkstar. Through the week their is a unique Stealing Sheep & The Immix Ensemble collaboration at the Bluecoat, Health and…
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Liverpool International Music Festival; 27th-31st August Sefton Park & Various Venues
This five-day festival is Europe’s biggest free music event, celebrating music from all over the world in addition to our own musical heritage. Headliners for this year’s festival include Basement Jaxx, Labrinth and Echo and the Bunnymen. Other notable performers include Katy B, Laura Mulva, Naughty Boy, Rae Morris, Bipolar Sunshine and heaps of local artists including Louis Berry, Hooton Tennis Club, The Visitors, Luke Cusato, Silent Sleep, Little Grace and She Drew The Gun.…
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Liverpool Calling 25th July 2015; Preview
Liverpool Calling returns on 25th July for it’s third year and this year the line up is huge. From festival headliners Reverend & The Makers who will be making the Bombed Out Church bounce, to Allusondrugs rocking Maguire’s Pizza Bar and The Tea Street Band providing the official afterparty shenanigans at The Magnet, yes there will be gig clashes leading to difficult decisions throughout the day and that is what is helping to establish Liverpool…
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Africa Oye 2015: The World Celebrates With Liverpool In Sefton Park
After an early scare of rain on Saturday morning, Oye 2015 brought the sun, sights and sounds of Africa to Liverpool’s Sefton Park to truly make it a weekend to remember. The festival matched last year’s record breaking footfall of 80,000 across the weekend as the masses flocked to to see artists from Africa, the Caribbean and South America as well as home-grown talents tear up the Oye stage and to also take part in…
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Festival 31; Merseyside’s First Official Festival Exploring Refugee Experience, Arts & Culture 15th June – 15th July
Liverpool’s official festival celebrating arts & culture from refugee communities and creating discourse around the refugee experience. FESTIVAL 31 brings together refugees, wider communities, individuals, grassroots, small and larger organisations for a 31 day experience across the whole city from 14th June – 15th July 2015. The official launch party will take place at The Brink, Parr Street, Sunday 14th June 4-7pm with craft stalls and live music from The Peacemakers, Oscar & Francisco Carrasco, Mojo Storm…
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Liverpool Noise Presents; Liverpool Calling At The Magnet 25th July
We are excited to announce our line up for The Magnet stage as part of Liverpool Calling Music Festival on 25th July. Our stage will focus on local talent featuring some brilliant up and coming bands as well as some of Liverpool’s most popular acts. To clue you up on our line up check out the band features below; Last Line Out are a slick blues inspired rock band who are all about ‘getting…
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Liverpool Sound City 2015; Preview
Liverpool Sound City is now just a few days away from it’s biggest line up to date at it’s brand new home at Bramley-Moore Dock. As well as big name headliners, The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips and Belle & Sebastian, the likes of Gaz Coombes, The Cribs, Everything Everything and The Thurston Moore Band add to the solid main stage names. The Baltic Stage curated by EVOL promises to be a real highlight for festival…
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Astral Coast Music Festival; Marine Point 11th July
From The Rolling Stones to The Beatles, New Brighton has played an unlikely host to some iconic acts in the past. The Wirral seaside resort has long punched above its weight when it comes to championing new music. This year’s festival promises to showcase the region’s most exciting emerging artists along with established Merseyside headliners. In addition to music, there will art exhibitions, interactive stalls, food and drink. Astral Coast is the focal point of…
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X&Y Festival Announces First Waves of Acts
After announcing Irish folk duo Hudson Taylor as this year’s festival headliners, X&Y have announced the first waves of acts to grace the Arts Club stage on 11th July. They include the brilliant indie rockers Amber Run who have just released their début album 5am. Home grown talent, The Hummingbirds and VYNCE return to the festival along with the likes of Fickle Friends, Fatherson , Model Aeroplanes, Blaenavon, BANFI, RedFaces & Polar States. Saturday 11th July at Arts Club Liverpool Tickets Are On Sale Now…
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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…
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.