The year in Liverpool
The big moments of the year in Liverpool: Skate St George's and the Christmas market and more, with their dates.
Skate St George's and the Christmas market
The outdoor ice rink on St George's Plateau in front of St George's Hall, run by Underbelly, with a Christmas market of local traders beside it. It is open every day except Christmas Day, and you book skating sessions online.
Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at the Pier Head
A covered ice rink on the Pier Head beside the Three Graces, with rides and games, run by Icebox Live. The council gave the Pier Head site to Icebox Live and the St George's Hall site to Underbelly for the 2026 season.
70 Years of the Cavern Club (exhibition)
An exhibition at the Museum of Liverpool that opens exactly 70 years after the club's first night on Mathew Street. It runs from the club's start as a jazz club to its closures in 1973 and 1989. National Museums Liverpool and the Cavern announced it together.
Chinese New Year in Liverpool
The Lunar New Year celebrations around Chinatown, organised by Culture Liverpool with the Chinese community, with a parade and lion dances. This year the festival begins on 6 February 2027.
Grand National Festival at Aintree
Three days of racing at Aintree, with Opening Day on the Thursday, Ladies Day on the Friday and the Grand National itself on the Saturday at 16:00. The festival is shown live on ITV and RacingTV.
Sound City
The city's festival of new music, played in venues across the city centre, A music industry conference, Sound City+, comes the day before, on Friday 30 April.
Liverpool Biennial
The 14th Liverpool Biennial, the city's contemporary art festival, in historic buildings, unexpected spaces and galleries across the city. The co-curators are Lucía Sanromán and Aimee Harrison, and the edition is shaped by childhood and youth in Liverpool and elsewhere.
Africa Oyé
A weekend of African and Caribbean music in Sefton Park, back in 2027 after the 2026 festival. In 2026 it was ticketed for the first time, with free entry for under-12s.
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
Ten days of music, theatre, visual art, literature and film from the Arab world, billed by its organisers as the UK's longest-running annual festival of Arab arts and culture.
Liverpool Pride
The march through the city centre, with an opening party the night before and a community programme on the waterfront. In 2026 the party was at the M&S Bank Arena on the Friday and the march on the Saturday.
International Beatleweek
The Cavern's Beatles festival, with tribute bands, talks and tours at the Cavern Club, the Philharmonic Hall and the Everyman. The organisers say the 2027 festival is over the August bank holiday.
Liverpool Comedy Festival
A comedy festival that Hot Water launched in 2026, with more than 70 shows over four days at Blackstock Market.
