Here's what you can look forward to in Liverpool in 2020!
DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OUTBREAK A NUMBER OF CITY EVENTS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR CANCELLED. PLEASE CHECK THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE PLANS. CHECK THE FAQS HERE.
2019 saw a whole host of events take over every corner of Liverpool alongside new bars, restaurants and attractions popping up all over the city.
We saw Liverpool FC bring home the Champions League trophy, welcomed the Netball World Cup, had BBC6 Music bring their show to the Baltic Triangle and saw our most famous landmark, the Royal Liver building, open their doors to a brand new 360 tour - just to name a few.
2020 is showing no signs of slowing down so we’ve put together a list of some big events you can expect to see in the city.
Keep checking back because we’ll be adding in new ones that get announced too! Here’s to the 20s!
EVENTS
THE RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL - CANCELLED
The world will be watching as one of the biggest sporting events of the year in Liverpool returns in April 2020! The Randox Grand National Festival brings three days of thrilling sporting action, from Grand National Thursday to the world-famous Ladies Day on Friday and the big Grand National Day on Saturday.
Whatever day you go you’ll no doubt have a fabulous time in Liverpool.
POKÉMON GO SAFARI ZONE - POSTPONED
Ready your sails as the UK’s first ever Pokémon GO Safari Zone comes to Liverpool on 17-19 April! Taking place in the stunning Grade I listed 235-acre Sefton Park, you can spend the weekend searching for splashy water-type Pokémon!
More information on ticket sales will be announced soon.
PRIDE IN LIVERPOOL - POSTPONED
Pride in Liverpool will be returning on 25 July 2020 for the annual Pride celebrations. Liverpool will be full of colour, life and love as thousands of people take to the streets to march with pride. With top acts no doubt lined up to provide music and entertainment, this is a day not to miss in the city centre this year.
LIGHTNIGHT - POSTPONED
LightNight will be lighting up venues across Liverpool with arts and culture once again on 15th May 2020! The eleventh edition of the arts festival is titled ‘Home’ and will be another night not to miss.
Venues large and small, old and new, will stay open late to celebrate the incredible arts and culture offer in Merseyside. Thousands of people get involved to see what’s going on so it’s definitely one to add to your 2020 diary.
SUMMER ARTS MARKET - CANCELLED
The North West’s biggest arts and crafts fair takes over the Liverpool Cathedral on 6th June 2020 for a day of exploring Liverpool's artistic talent. Expect to see everything from prints, homeware, photography, textiles, jewellery and loads more as over 200 local artists and makers bring their handmade wares along to the Cathedral.
LIVERPOOL COMIC CON
Liverpool Comic Con returns to the Liverpool Exhibition Centre from 6-8 March 2020! Head down to see all your favourite pop culture characters, props & sets and loads more! Big names have already been announced for 2020 including Sabrina The Teenage Witch herself, Melissa Joan Hart; Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen; Mickey Rourke from Iron Man 2 and Zack Morris from Saved by The Bell!
FESTIVALS
LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY - POSTPONED
Liverpool Sound City is the largest international music, digital and film festival & conference in the UK and is a must for any music fan. The line up is looking jam packed with Pale Waves and Friendly Fires set to headline with Marika Hackman, Louis Berry, The Blinders, Tim Burgess, Stealing Sheep, The Mysterines and loads more joining them on the bill. It's the perfect way to spend the frist weekend in May!
Tickets are on sale now!
CREAM CLASSICAL IN THE PARK - CANCELLED
After the huge success of last year's event, Cream Classical in The Park is returning to Sefton Park on 18 July for another jam packed day of Cream classics. The award-winning electronic music promoters will be bringing together their amazing 50 piece Kaleidoscope Orchestra, performers and vocalists for a set of some of dance music’s biggest tracks!
PZYK 2020 - POSTPONED
A new PZYK reality is heading to Liverpool on 16 May 2020! Housed within the industrial recesses set in and around Liverpool’s North Docks, PZYK 2020 is the new incarnation of what was formerly known as Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia.
Details about what to expect during the 14-hour intensity of light and sound are yet to be revealed but it’s sure to be an event not to miss! Tickets are on sale now.
POSITIVE VIBRATION - POSTPONED
The award-winning Positive Vibration reggae festival based in the Baltic Triangle is back on 12-13 June 2020 for another round of internationally renowned bands, legendary sound systems & selectors, an international art exhibition, reggae Q&A, record fair & market, Caribbean food & drink and workshops! Grab your tickets for this weekend in Liverpool now!
LIMF - CANCELLED
Liverpool International Music Festival will return on 19 July for a whole day of unforgettable music. The stage at Sefton Park with host a diverse range of global household names alongside lots of emerging talent and local grassroots stars. 2019 welcomed the likes of CHIC, Sigma, Disco Classical and 3Beat Records so it’s definitely a festival worth heading to.
More details will be released closer to the time.
INDIKA FESTIVAL
Europe’s finest festival of Indian arts, Indika Festival returns to Liverpool 12-22 November 2020 for ten days of vibrant celebration. 2020 will be the 10th year for the festival that is presented by Milap and they are expecting to expand their offering of events featuring contemporary indian music, dance, visual arts, film, poetry, talks and participatory activities.
One of the highlights of the new programme will see a major Diwali festival celebration in Liverpool for the first time too!
INTERNATIONAL BEATLE WEEK - CANCELLED
If you’re a Beatles fan you’re not going to want to miss this one! International Beatle Week is returning to Liverpool 26 August - 1 September 2020 for another week of celebrating the very best of the Beatles. Tribute bands from around the world will descend on The Cavern Club to pay homage to the biggest band in the world. It's the perfect time to 'Come Together' and explore a bit of Beatlemania.
CREAMFIELDS
August bank holiday weekend plays host to Creamfields, one of the biggest Dance and Electronic music festivals in the world. The four day festival welcomes some of the biggest international artists to their stages with Calvin Harris, Eric Prydz, Pendulum Trinity, The Chainsmokers, Bicep, Camelphat and loads more already announced to play!
Tickets are on sale now!
AFRICA OYÉ - POSTPONED
Africa Oyé is the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture and it takes place right here in Liverpool’s Sefton Park. On 20-21 June, Sefton Park will play host to artists from nations across Africa, South America and The Caribbean alongside over 90 stalls selling food, drink, arts, crafts and fashion; it’s a great opportunity to take in some of the best roots music around and take some home with you!
More details will be announced soon!
EXHIBITIONS
LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL 2020 - POSTPONED
The Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest festival of contemporary visual art and it’s back 11 July- 25 October 2020! The 11th edition is titled, The Stomach and the Port and will explore notions of the body and ways of connections with the world. Over 50 international artists have been invited to respond to this theme within the context of Liverpool and will be taking over unexpected public spaces, historic sites and art galleries around the city.
LINDA MCCARTNEY RETROSPECTIVE - POSTPONED DUE TO MUSEUM CLOSURE
From 25 April - 31 August The Walker Art Gallery will host a major retrospective of Linda McCartney’s photography. From her iconic depictions of the music scene in the 1960s, to family life with Paul, Linda captured her whole world on film. With over 200 extraordinary images on display we will be able to see what a prolific photographer Linda was.
AI: MORE THAN HUMAN
A fascinating world of artificial intelligence is coming to the World Museum from 10 July - 1 November. AI: More Than Human is an unprecedented survey of the relationship between humans and technology. Bursting with interactive and immersive artworks it will give visitors a thrilling vision into the future.
THEATRE SHOWS
THE BOOK OF MORMON -POSTPONED
The outrageous musical comedy from the creators of South Park and the Co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen is taking to the Liverpool Empire’s stage for a run of shows in July 2020. The Book of Mormon follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries and is full of laugh out loud comedy and catchy music. You won’t want to miss this!
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL - SUSPENDED
Following two smash hit record breaking London West End seasons, Heathers the Musical is going on its first national tour with a stop at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre. The high octane, dark comedy rock musical based on the 1988 film of the same name will be a crime to miss.
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE - RESCHEDULED
Join in on the conversation as the smash hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie takes to the stage at the Liverpool Empire in June 2020. The feel good show features West End star Layton Williams and Eastenders’ Shane Richie!
SIX
Divorced, Beheaded, Live! The West End smash hit musical SIX is heading to the Liverpool Playhouse 3-7 March 2020 for a run of shows everyone is losing their head over!
From Tudor Queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the stage to tell their tales of marriage. It’s time their story is finally told as they remix 500 years of historical heartbreak.
BARS & RESTAURANTS
LERPWL
One of the most anticipated restaurant launches of 2020 comes from Great British Menu star Ellis Barrie and his brother Liam. The brothers will be heading to the Royal Albert Dock to bring their new venture, Lerpwl to our shores with a Welsh and Liverpool inspired menu.
PINS - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
New bowling alley bar, Pins, is opening in the city centre soon! You’ll be able to take on your mates at bowling, grab something to eat from Rocket & Ruby who will be providing amazing food, indulge in fancy cocktails and dance to live music! It will be your new favourite place to head for a night out.
ARCAINS - TEMPORARILY CLOSED
Opening at the end of December ArCains will be the perfect place to head to in the New Year. Find Europe’s largest arcade bar in Cains Brewery Village and discover old original games and a whole floor dedicated to virtual reality.
Keep checking back for more details on these events and new ones that we will add over the year! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all the updates too!
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