Liverpool Irish Festival 2026: dates, tickets and highlights

Liverpool Irish Festival returns in October 2026 with music, theatre, books, heritage walks and family events across the city. The main festival runs from Thursday 15 to Sunday 25 October, following a free preview on Wednesday 14 October. Satellite events continue outside those dates.

The 2026 theme is I Am Here. It connects contemporary Irish culture with Liverpool’s long history of migration, including the 1.8 million people who entered the city through Clarence Dock during the Great Famine.

There are close to 40 events. Some are free, but several free events still require advance booking. Here are the strongest options for international residents, Irish diaspora families and visitors planning an October trip to Liverpool.

When is Liverpool Irish Festival 2026?

The core programme runs from 15 to 25 October 2026. A free preview and launch takes place at Liverpool Irish Centre from 18:00 to 21:00 on Wednesday 14 October. Exhibitions and satellite events run before and after the main dates.

Liverpool Irish Festival 2026 highlights

Kíla and Téada bring Irish music to the Philharmonic

Dublin group Kíla play Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room on Friday 16 October. The band combines Irish traditional instruments with wider world-music influences. Tickets cost £32, or £30 for concessions.

Téada follow at the same venue on Friday 23 October. The traditional Irish group are marking 25 years on the road. Tickets are £22, or £18 for concessions.

Visitors who prefer an informal session can go to Peter Kavanagh’s from 21:30 on 16 or 23 October. Both traditional-music sessions are free and do not require booking.

A céilí designed for everyone

Movema and live band The Saltcutters host a gender-free céilí at St Bride’s Church on Saturday 17 October. The organiser describes it as an “everyone dances with everyone” event, making it a welcoming choice for newcomers who have never attended an Irish dance night. It runs from 19:00 to 23:00 and costs £20. Advance booking is required.

Free events for families and curious newcomers

Liverpool Central Library hosts four free literary events from 10:30 on Saturday 17 October. Subjects include migration, border identity, inherited diaspora experience and punk memoir. Booking is essential.

Family Day takes place at the Museum of Liverpool from 11:00 to 16:00 on Saturday 24 October. The programme includes The Armagh Rhymers, Irish dance, music and children’s activities. Entry is free.

On Sunday 25 October, the free Samhain Céilí at Liverpool Irish Centre begins at 16:00. It includes music, costume competitions and activities for children. Gift bags are limited to the first 50 children.

Explore Liverpool’s Irish migration history

The festival’s heritage programme includes short and long Liverpool Irish Famine Trail tours on Saturday 24 October. The short tours begin at 11:00 and 12:15, while the two-hour tour starts at 14:00. All meet near the Pilotage Building beside the Museum of Liverpool. They are free in 2026, with donations welcome.

The An Gorta Mór vigil begins at Clarence Dock at 10:00 on Sunday 25 October and follows the Walk of the Bronze Shoes route to St Luke’s Bombed Out Church. The annual memorial begins there at 13:00. Both events are free and visitors can attend without booking.

What should visitors book first?

• Book early: Kíla, Téada, the Movema céilí, theatre performances and guided neighbourhood walks have limited capacity.
• Reserve free places: several talks, tours and workshops are free but still require a ticket.
• Check access information: the festival publishes venue-specific accessibility details and social stories for neurodivergent visitors.
• Ask about bursary places: the organiser says support is available when ticket prices would otherwise prevent attendance.

The full schedule and booking links are available on the official Liverpool Irish Festival programme. Event details can change, so check the official listing again before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Is Liverpool Irish Festival free?

Many events are free, including Family Day, the famine-trail tours, the An Gorta Mór vigil and memorial, traditional pub sessions and several talks. Some free events require advance booking.

Where does the festival take place?

Events are spread across Liverpool. Main venues include Liverpool Irish Centre, Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, St Bride’s Church, Victoria Gallery and Museum, Sefton Park Palm House, Museum of Liverpool and Liverpool Central Library.

Do visitors need Irish heritage to attend?

No. The programme is open to anyone interested in Irish culture, migration history, music, literature or Liverpool’s international communities.

Featured image: Kíla performing at Africa Day in Dublin in 2009. Photograph by William Murphy, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. This is an archive photograph and was not taken at Liverpool Irish Festival 2026.

Last verified: 11 October 2026.