Liverpool Music Month to launch this May ahead of city-wide Summer of Music

Liverpool’s world-famous music scene is set to take centre stage this spring as a brand new celebration, Liverpool Music Month, launches across the city region.

Running from 1–31 May 2026, the programme will bring together live performances, cultural events and community activities celebrating the artists, venues and people who continue to shape Liverpool’s sound.

Delivered by Culture Liverpool and Sound City, the month-long celebration will spotlight everything from grassroots gigs to major concerts while reinforcing the city’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.

The new initiative will also form a transatlantic partnership with New York Music Month, creating a shared celebration between two global music cities with deep cultural and historic ties.

Festivals and gigs across the region

The month kicks off with Sound City Festival across the weekend of 2–3 May, bringing both emerging and international artists to venues across the city.

Elsewhere during the opening weekend, Dark Reign Metal Fest will take place at Future Yard in Birkenhead.

Throughout May, music fans can also catch performances from artists including Emmylou Harris, The Longest Johns, Kingfishr, Biird, James Morrison and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.

At Royal Liverpool Philharmonic there will be concerts across a range of genres including a Celebration of the Beach Boys by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, a special show from Roland Gift, electronic composer Max Cooperand US artists Hannah Wicklund and Ondara.

The month will wrap up with Baltic Weekender on 30–31 May, taking over venues including Camp and Furnace and Brick Street with house, techno, disco and bass music across the weekend.

Organisers say many more events are still to be announced, including pop-up performances, community-led shows and new commissions designed to showcase the full diversity of Liverpool’s music scene.

Open fund for artists and promoters

As part of the initiative, an open commissioning fund will also launch, inviting venues, promoters, artists and music organisations to apply for support to stage their own events as part of the programme.

The aim is to ensure Liverpool Music Month reflects the creativity of the entire city region, supporting grassroots activity and encouraging new collaborations across the local music industry.

Liverpool Summer of Music to follow

The celebrations will continue with Liverpool Summer of Music, a city-region-wide programme running from June through to August.

The summer-long series will highlight the packed calendar of festivals, concerts and live events taking place across the region – from independent venues to major outdoor shows.

That includes gigs at legendary grassroots venues such as The Cavern Club, 24 Kitchen Street and The Jacaranda, alongside major stadium and park performances.

Among the biggest events expected this summer are huge shows at Anfield Stadium from Foo Fighters and My Chemical Romance, a headline performance from Lewis Capaldi in Sefton Park, and Nile Rodgers and Chic performing at the Lock and Quay in Bootle.

Building on Liverpool’s global music reputation

The new programmes build on the international momentum created when Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, which was watched by more than 160 million people worldwide and generated over £54 million for the local economy.

Liverpool continues to be recognised as one of the UK’s most influential music cities, producing more chart-topping albums than any other city outside London.

Together, Liverpool Music Month and Liverpool Summer of Music aim to bring music fans from across the UK and beyond to experience the region’s live scene while supporting venues, artists and communities across the Liverpool City Region.

More programme announcements are expected in the coming months.

Further programme details will be announced in the coming months. Get more info here.

Check out the Baltic-based radio station relaunching to give a platform to Liverpool’s diverse music scene.

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