Vote for your favourite city event or festival from Liverpool City Region’s Tourism Awards 2025 shortlist

Liverpool’s got so many incredible landmarks and amazing places that get everyone racing to the region…

But the events and festivals it plays host to each year attract thousands more.

They’re the reason so many people love Liverpool – almost as much as we do – and now you can vote for your favourite from the last 12 months.

The Event or Festival of the Year is one of 20 categories in this year’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards spanning accommodation, attractions, food and drink, entertainment and more.

Celebrating the people, places and experiences that make Liverpool City Region one of the UK’s most visited destinations, the awards have had a record-breaking number of entries this year.

Natalie Wyatt, managing director for Liverpool City Region Destination Partnership, says:

“The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards have the power to generate a great sense of achievement for the people who deliver exceptional experiences for visitors every day and inspire confidence for visitors seeking to experience one of the UK’s most exciting destinations.

“There’s been a fantastic boost in applications this year, and it’s brilliant to see such strong engagement across so many categories.”

“These businesses, individuals and events are vital to our city’s success, contributing over £6 billion each year and creating unforgettable experiences that make Liverpool City Region such a special destination,” adds Katie Bentley, director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications for headline sponsor Liverpool BID Company. 

So what was your favourite event or festival of the year – and did it make to the final 10?

The Guide Liverpool is sponsoring the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards’ Event or Festival of the Year and giving you the chance to vote for the one you think was best.

Founder and managing director of The Guide Jay Hynd says:

“Events and festivals have been high on our agenda since we launched so to be able to help recognise some of the best in the area is amazing. What I love about this shortlist is that every event within it is so different, proving that Liverpool City Region really does cover all bases during its events calendar. 

“Good luck to all the finalists. I can’t wait to announce the winner!”

You can vote here.

It’s going to be tough because there were some fantastic spectacles and must-visit experiences in the last 12 months, so before you vote, here’s a reminder of the final 10 to choose from:

Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet

This spectacular immersive experience at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool used cutting-edge technology to breathe amazing new life into the paintings of Monet and Van Gogh, putting visitors ‘inside’ their legendary artworks with audio-visual journeys of their colourful and captivating worlds. 

Borealis at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool

In its most ambitious free installation yet, the world-renowned Borealis created a breathtaking illusion over one of the city’s most iconic locations. Developed by artist Dan Acher, Borealis combined technology and the elements using beams of light to travel through cloud particles, creating a magical illusion of the Northern Lights.

International Beatleweek Festival

International Beatleweek Festival is the world’s most celebrated Beatles festival and it returned this summer with its biggest programme to date. There was a spectacular lineup of live performances, talks and emotional tributes, the convention with memorabilia markets, interviews, films, and more, all set against the iconic backdrop of the city where it all began.

Liverpool Biennial

Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest free festival of contemporary visual art, taking over historic buildings, unexpected spaces and art galleries across the city. As always, this year we were treated to free exhibitions, performances, activities, and loads of outdoor installations tying to this year’s title of BEDROCK, echoing Liverpool’s sandstone foundations and solid values.

Liverpool Book Festival

More than 60 authors took part in the debut La Vida event with a packed programme that included panel discussions, live music, free creative workshops, street food, artisan market stalls and the chance to meet some of the region’s best-loved writers face-to-face. Held at Invisible Wind Factory and Make CIC in the city’s North Docks it put the spotlight on local talent and attracted guest speakers.

Liverpool Irish Festival

Liverpool Irish Festival 2024 brought Irish heritage alive across Liverpool, reaching more than 50,000 people through 49 events. The theme – Departures – explored Liverpool as a gateway to the world, and research into The Great Hunger produced extraordinary creative responses, including a 220km commemorative hike, and local stories of heroism and compassion. Liverpool’s Irish Festival is the UK’s largest, celebrating Irish arts, culture and heritage. 

Salt & Tar Music Weekend

With fantastic headliners like soul legend Billy Ocean, The K’s, Ocean Colour Scene, The Real Thing and Sugababes, Salt & Tar Music Weekender gave Bootle’s local economy a whopping near-£1 million boost – and delighted around 10,000 festival goers. More than just four nights of live music at the canalside venue, everyone loved its food and drink village, stalls and street performers.

Southport Flower Show 

Now more than 100 years old, the legendary Southport Flower Show was in full bloom again this year with four days of fabulous flower displays, famous faces, food, and family fun. It’s the UK’s biggest independent flower show, taking over Victoria Park and attracting thousands of visitors every year. Highlights for 2025 included visits by former Emmerdale actor and star of Fletchers Family Farm, Kelvin Fletcher, with wife Liz and pop star Toyah Wilcox, as well as chefs, Rosemary Shrager and Phil Vickery.

Southport Food & Drink Festival

A weekend full of flavour in Victoria Park, more than 100 traders showcased everything from sizzling street food and indulgent sweet treats to artisan drinks and handmade goods — many of them from right here in the region. With live music, family entertainment and stalls around every corner, the three-day celebration once again proved why it’s one of Southport’s most anticipated annual events.

Writing on the Wall

The city’s longest running writing and literature festival offers a chance for people to see and hear big name authors alongside incredible homegrown talent, and it celebrated its 25^th birthday in 2025 with a fantastic line-up of guests including Scottish writer, screenwriter and filmmaker Irvine Welsh – best known for his debut novel, Trainspotting – Armando Iannucci, and Children’s Laureate, the city’s own Frank Cottrell Boyce.

The awards ceremony is being held at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, March 5, next year – but now is time to get your votes in for The Event or Festival of the Year.

Get your vote in before the deadline – Midnight, Sunday, November 30, 2025 – here.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.