Mark your calendars for some massive events you won’t want to miss
16:08, 02 Feb 2026
There’s a lot to be excited for this year(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool is never short on events to enjoy. Every year it feels like there’s a new must-see confirmed for the city which draws thousands to celebrate in style, showing no one throws a party quite like us.
As the ECHO’s senior What’s On writer, I’m all too aware of the events on the horizon. Festivals decorate the summer schedule while theatres keep people busy with critically-acclaimed productions.
Annual favourites like the Randox Grand National and holiday celebrations are some of the region’s most notable events which hardly need hyping up, so I’m showcasing a few that might’ve slipped under your radar.
I’ve rounded up a few of the biggest events to mark in your calendar, so when they eventually roll around, you’ll be ready to enjoy.
Legends at Anfield Stadium
American singer-songwriter Zach Bryan is heading to Anfield(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Kicking off the stadium’s 2026 summer concert series is country music star Zach Bryan. The American singer-songwriter, known for hits such as “Something in the Orange” and “Pink Skies”, will headline the home of Liverpool FC on Friday, June 12.
Foo Fighters also confirmed two shows at Anfield Stadium for Thursday, June 25 and Saturday, June 27. Fronted by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, the band is known for huge rock anthems such as ‘All My Life,’ ‘The Pretender,’ ‘Best Of You’ and ‘My Hero’ and their incredible live performances.
My Chemical Romance follow shortly after with a huge stadium show of their own on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Known for hits such as ‘Teenagers’, ‘The Black Parade’, and ‘I’m not Okay (I Promise), the show marks the band’s first return to the UK since 2022.
Africa Oyé
Africa Oyé has been held in Sefton Park since 2002(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
The UK’s largest celebration of African music and culture returns to Sefton Park this summer. The festival hosts artists from nations right across Africa and music from South America and the Caribbean in genres including Salsa, Soca and Reggae.
Africa Oyé is about more than music. Over 90 stalls selling the best food, drink, arts and crafts and fashion from Africa and beyond will again be present at the Oyé village. After taking a fallow year in 2025, you can bet this will be one for the diary.
Parisian fantasy in Liverpool Empire
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is coming to the Liverpool Empire(Image: Johan Persson)
The legendary Moulin Rouge musical production has announced its first-ever world tour including a run of shows in Liverpool. From Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, August 6 the award-winning stage show will take over the Liverpool Empire Theatre.
Like the film, the stage show celebrates over 160 years of music – from Offenbach to Lady Gaga. The stage musical features more than 70 iconic songs, many from the movie as well as recent hits released since the film premiered over 20 years ago.
The show, which is set in Paris in 1899, follows the love story of Christian and Satine. Christian is a penniless American writer and Satine the dazzling star of the Moulin Rouge nightclub. You can see more on my top theatre picks here.
Hitmakers In the Park
Lewis Capaldi has announced a 2025 UK tour(Image: Charlie Sarsfield)
In the Park confirmed it will return this year with a major headline act after making way for 2025’s BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend. The Sefton Park music festival has become a staple of Liverpool’s music calendar, attracting tens of thousands of fans annually.
To celebrate its highly-anticipated comeback this summer, global superstar Lewis Capaldi has been announced as the first headliner, marking his biggest outdoor headline show in the city on August 15. Plenty more acts will be confirmed soon but you can guarantee it’ll sell out regardless of who is on the line-up.
Chinese New Year
The world will mark the new Lunar Year on February 17(Image: AP)
Liverpool’s Chinese New Year celebrations will run from Saturday, February 21 to Sunday, February 22, with a wide programme of activities, workshops and events taking place across the city throughout the holiday.
The schedule for Lunar New Year 2026 is yet to be announced but will run both days from 11am until 5pm. The annual Chinese New Year parade, organised by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, typically congregates in the Chinatown area and surrounding streets, such as Nelson Street, Duke Street, Berry Street and Bold Street.
Thousands turn out every year, making it, in my opinion, the best Chinese New Year celebration in the country.
Southport basks in the spotlight
Chase the Rainbow: Free Immersive Art Event in Southport(Image: Lucid Creates)
The ‘Southport 2026’ project is being touted as the town’s first ever ‘Year of Culture’. Over the course of 2026, Southport will host a programme of new live events and cultural content all to designed to show off the best of the famous seaside town.
Organised in conjunction with Sefton Council, the project is aiming to recapture the incredible heritage of Southport as a ‘playground for the north’. You can get a full rundown of what to expect here.
Jodie Comer’s homecoming show
Jodie Comer in her one-woman show Prima Facie(Image: DAILY EXPRESS)
Jodie Comer has announced she will be ‘coming home’ for a special one-off performance of the powerful production Prima Facie. The star received a Tony award for her role in the play, which follows the character of Tessa, a young barrister who has worked her way up to the top of her game from working class origins.
More than 30,000 fans attempted to join the online queue to secure tickets, causing a crash and selling out almost immediately. Although it’s extremely unlikely you can attend if you weren’t successful in the sale, Jodie’s homecoming should still be a reason for the city to celebrate.