Are you looking for what’s on in Liverpool? Then you’ve come to the right place! Liverpool is a famous destination for its lively entertainment. With an outstanding location, an energetic community and world-class venues you won’t find anywhere else, it’s no surprise that organisers don’t hesitate in choosing this city to host their events. Without a doubt, this city knows how to put on a show!
Find out what’s on in Liverpool and across the region, including theatre, music, comedy, sports events, exhibitions, festivals and more. We’ve created this what’s on guide to help you plan your next visit to Liverpool with live updates on scheduled events. So, let’s jump in and see what’s happening over the next few months!
We firmly believe Liverpool is one of the best cities in the world for hosting spectacular events. Of course, you don’t have to just take our word for it. The proof is in the pudding! Liverpool has shown time and time again that it is capable of pulling off the impossible. The city has experience hosting huge shows, especially since it was awarded the European Capital of Culture title for 2008, a year that saw millions of people attend celebratory activities.
One of Liverpool’s most popular events was the Giant Spectacular in 2012, a multi-day outdoor spectacle featuring giant puppets. An incredible 800,000 attended, making it Liverpool’s most successful event ever, and led to additional shows in further years. After winning the 2019 Champions League, the city was well prepared to welcome the team home as heroes just hours later, with 500,000 supporters taking to the street for the victory parade.
The city is so good at hosting shows that organisers are always looking to return! Annual events in Liverpool include the River of Light trail, Grand National, Liverpool International Music Festival, and Liverpool Pride, to name just a few. Looking ahead, Liverpool will host the hugely exciting Eurovision Song Contest in 2023! No matter the situation, Liverpool has proven that it has what it takes to run successful events.
For organisers, the attraction to Liverpool is obvious. The city has experience hosting every type of entertainment with hundreds of thousands of visitors. Liverpool is highly connected and has no problem welcoming tourists from around the world. The city has a range of flexible venues with unparalleled expertise and high-quality facilities. For visitors, what’s not to like about our incredible city? Liverpool has a little something for everyone, from fascinating history to magnificent sights, unique culture and fun entertainment. The city is affordable and there’s endless accommodation options available. Scousers are extremely friendly and are more than happy to welcome tourists.
Whether you live in the city or are planning to visit, you don’t have to worry about a shortage of what’s on in Liverpool.
Awesome music, international cuisine and breathtaking landscapes. That’s the Liverpool the world loves. But there is so much more to it. Liverpool’s influential culture and identity are showcased through a myriad of venues spread all over the city. Do you want to know what’s on in Liverpool? Check out the best venues in Liverpool to immerse yourself in this city’s captivating character.
This. Is. Anfield. Is there any football fan who hasn’t felt goosebumps when hearing those words on TV during a UEFA Champions League match or even in a video game? Home of Liverpool FC, the Anfield Stadium is iconic. Watching a game here is an unforgettable experience. From supporters singing “You’ll never walk alone” to the proximity to the players, everything is designed for the audience to have the time of their life – even if you’re not a Red’s fan.
Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Beyoncé are just some of the top names that have performed at the M&S Bank Arena since its opening in 2008. Besides live music, the venue also hosts comedy performances and sporting events. It also boasts a range of dining options influenced by the city’s renowned docklands. You must find out what’s on in Liverpool’s most loved arena.
Featuring a stunning neoclassical façade, the Empire Theatre is an attraction itself. It has the largest two-tier auditorium in the country, with 2,348 seats. Louis XVI style dominates the interior decoration. It boasts many interesting decorative features, including carved elephant caryatids. The Theatre is a Grade II building listed on the National Heritage List for England.
A nautical theme permeates the Royal Court Theatre, illustrating Liverpool’s maritime heritage. This style is particularly displayed in the basement lounge, an area modelled on the Cunard liner Queen Mary. Its importance to Liverpool can be seen from the list of artists who performed here: The Smiths, Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M., Iron Maiden, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, U2 and George Michael.
Few venues in the world can boast of being so versatile as Liverpool Olympia. This Grade II listed building hosts all sorts of activities, including boxing fights, dance performances, music concerts and even wrestling events. It was, however, built as an indoor circus and variety theatre. Back in the 1910s, a sophisticated system of pulleys and wheel mechanisms lifted live animals from the basement to the stage, awing the audience.
When finding out what’s on in Liverpool, you’ll surely be attracted by one of these venues. There’s no doubt you’ll have a great time, regardless of whether you come for their architecture or to see a live performance.
British weather may not have the greatest reputation, but during the summer months, we usually have several periods where the sun is blazing and the temperature is warm without being too overbearing. With that said, the last thing you want to happen is being stuck indoors, especially when the nice weather won’t last for too long!
Where better to enjoy summer than our glorious city of Liverpool? We’ve already made it clear that this city is crazy for events, and summer is an excellent time for enjoying various shows as Liverpool goes into overdrive. From live concerts to festivals, conventions, art showcases and more, there are all kinds of events every summer.
– Eurovision Song Contest: While this is technically before summer, what better way to kick-start the summer feeling! Liverpool has the honours of hosting this hugely popular contest this year. Alongside the final, there will be multiple activities occurring, but tickets are limited so act quickly!
– Baltic Weekender: The Baltic Triangle has emerged as one of Liverpool’s best destinations for live entertainment. The Baltic Weekender is an annual two-day festival where you can expect live music covering everything from house and techno to grime, bass and everything in between.
– Liverpool Biennial: This long-running event is one for all art and culture fanatics. The Biennial is an annual art festival that usually takes place across several months, like June to September. It is a free themed event, sometimes with paid exhibitions, where stunning art pieces take over Liverpool’s public spaces and buildings.
– Africa Oye: You can usually find this two-day music festival in Sefton Park during June. Africa Oye has transformed from a small event to one of the largest showcases of African music.
– Food & Drink Festivals: All you foodies out there will be happy to know Liverpool and the surrounding areas occasionally host food, drink, wine and beer festivals. One example is the Southport Food and Drink Festival, which consistently occurs in June, providing the perfect opportunity to try different cuisines.
– International Beatleweek: It wouldn’t be possible to celebrate summer in Liverpool without honouring the city’s Fab Four. The International Beatleweek festival takes place across several venues at the end of August, providing the perfect way to experience the very best of the Beatles.
– Creamfields: Forget Glastonbury, Creamfields is where it’s at! This electronic dance music festival is now one of the largest events in the North, welcoming around 280,000 people every August Bank Holiday weekend.
– Pride Weekend: Every July, the people of Liverpool come out in force to celebrate and support the LGBT+ community. You can expect a march across the city centre, live performances, and much more.
This is just a very brief summary of some of the biggest events you can expect to see in Liverpool during the summer. Use our what’s on guide at the top of the page for a more in-depth look at what’s going on in Liverpool over the next few months.
With concerts, plays, exhibitions, sporting events, festivals, and shows occurring all year round, there’s always something going on in Liverpool. This is one of the most colourful cities in the country, and Liverpool consistently offers world-class entertainment across the region in big and small venues.
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