August brings large outdoor concerts to Sefton Park and Otterspool, five nights of live music in Bootle, the return of International Beatleweek and a full school-holiday programme across Liverpool.
There are quieter options too. St George's Hall is uncovering its Minton floor, Central Library has free workshops and exhibitions, and Liverpool BID is funding free Thursday events around the city centre.
This guide concentrates on confirmed events with published dates. It does not try to include every club night, tribute act or small gig. Listings and ticket availability were checked on 29 July 2026, but organisers can still change times, access arrangements and line-ups.
The short version
- Big outdoor music dates include No Art at Otterspool on 8 August, Lewis Capaldi at Sefton Park on 15 August and Salt and Tar's Bootle weekend from 13 to 17 August.
- Families have free or lower-cost options through Liverpool BID, Liverpool ONE, the council's Holiday Activity Hub, Central Library and the Indoor Funfair.
- International Beatleweek runs from 26 August to 1 September, with events around the Cavern Quarter and Port Sunlight.
- If you are moving around without a car, check our Liverpool public transport guide before booking back-to-back events.
Liverpool events in August 2026 at a glance
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Until 8 August | Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Liverpool Empire |
| 2 August | Liverpool Book Festival | BOXPARK Liverpool |
| Every Thursday | Free circus and city-centre events | Pier Head, St George's Quarter and city centre |
| 8 August | No Art Liverpool | Otterspool Promenade |
| 8 August | This Is Merseybeat | Museum of Liverpool |
| 13 to 17 August | Salt and Tar music weekend | Bootle |
| 14 to 24 August | Liverpool Indoor Funfair | Exhibition Centre Liverpool |
| 15 August | Lewis Capaldi | Sefton Park |
| 17 to 23 August | Slavery Remembrance Day programme | Various Liverpool locations |
| 20 to 23 August | Southport Flower Show | Victoria Park, Southport |
| 26 August to 1 September | International Beatleweek | Liverpool city centre and Port Sunlight |
| 29 August | Liverpool v Nottingham Forest | Anfield |
| Until 29 August | Take Me Home County Road | Liverpool Royal Court |
Moulin Rouge! continues at the Liverpool Empire
When: Until Saturday 8 August
Where: Liverpool Empire, 1 Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE
The touring production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical finishes its Liverpool run during the first week of August. The official production listing confirms the Liverpool Empire dates run from 2 July to 8 August 2026.
The show lasts around two hours and 45 minutes, including the interval. The recommended age is 12 and over. Children under 16 must sit next to an accompanying adult.
The Empire is directly opposite Lime Street Station, which makes it one of the easier theatre trips to do by train. Evening performances can finish at the same time as other city-centre events, so leave a little room around the journey home.
Check Moulin Rouge! Liverpool dates
Liverpool Book Festival at BOXPARK
When: Sunday 2 August, 11am to 5pm
Where: BOXPARK Liverpool, Cains Brewery Village, Beaufort Street, L8 5XJ
Liverpool Book Festival returns with a summer event at BOXPARK. The programme is expected to include author appearances, signings, talks, stalls and family activities.
The venue is on Beaufort Street, behind Parliament Street and close to the Baltic Triangle. Food and drink traders inside BOXPARK operate separately from the festival ticket.
Adult tickets have been advertised by the organiser, with free entry for children under 12. Families should still book children's places rather than assuming they can be added at the door.
See Liverpool Book Festival information and tickets
Free Thursday events around Liverpool city centre
Liverpool BID is running free events every Thursday during August.
A Business Improvement District, usually shortened to BID, is an area where participating businesses pay an additional levy. The money is then spent on services and events intended to support the commercial district.
The August programme includes free family circus workshops at the Pier Head from 12 noon to 3pm, walkabout performers on St George's Plateau, craft workshops inside St Johns Shopping Centre and live music in Williamson Square.
These are drop-in events rather than full-day festivals. They work best as part of a city-centre visit, especially if you are already combining the waterfront, shops, museums or lunch. For more waterfront planning, see our Liverpool waterfront guide.
Outdoor elements may move or be cancelled in poor weather, so check the programme on the morning of your visit.
See Liverpool BID's summer programme
No Art returns to Otterspool Promenade
When: Saturday 8 August, 12 noon to 11pm
Where: Otterspool Promenade
Electronic music event No Art returns to the riverside site at Otterspool. The official listing gives an 18 and over age restriction.
The location is south of the city centre, between Aigburth and the River Mersey. It is an outdoor standing event rather than a permanent festival venue, so suitable footwear and weatherproof clothing matter.
Residents around Aigburth, Riverside Drive and Jericho Lane should expect the area to be busier than on a normal Saturday. Anyone attending should allow time for the walk between the event site and public transport. Our Aigburth guide is useful if you are making more of the area before or after the event.
Check the official No Art Liverpool page
Summer of Sound at the Museum of Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool is holding evening music events as part of its Summer of Sound programme.
Confirmed August events include This Is Merseybeat on Saturday 8 August, Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band on Saturday 15 August and an International Beatleweek Festival Showcase on Saturday 29 August.
Doors open at 7pm for these evening events, with performances running later in the evening. The museum is at the Pier Head, beside Mann Island and close to James Street Station.
These are ticketed performances inside the museum rather than daytime museum activities. Anyone visiting during normal opening hours should not assume the evening concerts are included with general admission.
See the Museum of Liverpool Summer of Sound programme
Salt and Tar goes on tour in Bootle
When: Thursday 13 to Monday 17 August
Where: Bootle
Salt and Tar's main Washington Parade site is closed while expansion work takes place, so its 2026 summer concerts are moving to Bootle's Lock and Quay outdoor event space.
The announced headline schedule includes Billy Ocean on Thursday 13 August, The Waterboys on Friday 14 August, The Saw Doctors on Saturday 15 August and Nile Rodgers and Chic across the Sunday and Monday dates.
The events are outdoor standing concerts. The organiser's visitor information says site opening, last entry, bag rules, seating rules and food and drink restrictions apply, so read the individual event page before setting off.
Bootle Oriel Road and Bootle New Strand stations are both within walking distance. Public transport may be easier than driving when several thousand people are leaving at the same time.
See Salt and Tar event listings
Lewis Capaldi plays Sefton Park
When: Saturday 15 August, 4pm to 10pm
Where: Sefton Park
Lewis Capaldi headlines the In the Park outdoor concert at Sefton Park, with Loyle Carner among the supporting artists.
The official event listing gives a 14 and over age restriction, with under-18s required to attend with an adult. It is a standing concert and camping chairs are not allowed, although the organiser says benches will be available around the site.
Visitors can bring an empty reusable water bottle, provided it is not made from glass. Free water refill points are due to be available inside.
Large concerts change how Sefton Park can be used for several days. Nearby roads, bus services and parking around Aigburth Drive, Croxteth Drive and Lark Lane are likely to be under pressure. Walking or using public transport will usually be more practical than trying to park close to the gates.
See Lewis Capaldi at Sefton Park event information
Liverpool Indoor Funfair
When: Friday 14 to Monday 24 August
Where: Exhibition Centre Liverpool, King's Dock, L3 4FP
The indoor funfair returns to the Exhibition Centre with three-hour sessions at 10am, 2pm and 6pm. On Monday 24 August, only the morning and afternoon sessions are scheduled.
Online riding wristbands have been advertised from £13.99 including the booking fee. A riding wristband provides access to the included rides during the session. Spectator tickets and on-the-door prices are separate, subject to availability.
Food, sweets and drinks are sold separately. Families should also check individual height restrictions before booking, as some rides have maximum as well as minimum heights.
A quieter session takes place at 10am on Saturday 15 August. The organiser says capacity, music and lighting will be reduced where possible. This does not mean that the session will be silent or free from all flashing lights.
See Liverpool Indoor Funfair dates, prices and ride information
Free and lower-cost family activities
Beach Fest at Chavasse Park
Beach Fest runs at Liverpool ONE until Monday 31 August. The temporary attraction includes a sandy play area and family rides.
Access to the beach area is promoted as free. Rides, food and some activities may involve separate charges, so agree a budget before arriving with children.
Council family activity days
Liverpool City Council has three summer family activity days planned: Princes Park on Wednesday 5 August, Rice Lane City Farm on Wednesday 12 August and Garston Park on Wednesday 19 August. Each is listed from 1pm to 3pm.
Activities are expected to include inflatables, mini golf, dancing, go-karts and a small train.
The events form part of the council's Holiday Activities and Food programme, known as HAF. This programme primarily supports children who receive benefits-related free school meals. Families should check eligibility, booking rules and food arrangements rather than simply turning up.
Check Liverpool's Holiday Activity Hub
See the Minton floor at St George's Hall
When: Until Wednesday 2 September
Where: St George's Hall, St George's Place
St George's Hall has uncovered its Minton floor for an extended summer opening.
The floor contains around 30,000 decorative tiles and is normally protected beneath a wooden covering. The standard self-guided visit allows people to walk around the perimeter and view the design at their own pace.
Separate guided experiences, workshops, yoga sessions and music events are also being held. These cost more than the basic reveal and some guided dates may sell out.
This is a good wet-weather option, but visitors should check whether they are booking the basic perimeter visit or a guided experience. They are not the same ticket.
See Minton Tile Reveal information and booking
Free exhibitions and workshops at Central Library
Central Library on William Brown Street has several free activities during August.
The Hardmans' Liverpool: A Legacy in Light continues in the Hornby Library until 28 September. The exhibition uses photographs by E. Chambré and Margaret Hardman to show portraits, streets and everyday life in Liverpool.
Other August activities include free bicycle checks and minor repairs, family sessions for younger children, science and technology activities, song and rhyme sessions, recycled-material crafting and coding workshops.
Some sessions require booking. The summer holiday club is specifically for children aged 7 to 16 who receive free school meals.
See Central Library's August programme
Slavery Remembrance Day
When: Monday 17 to Sunday 23 August
Where: Locations across Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool is coordinating a week of lectures, workshops, performances and remembrance activities.
The programme includes the annual Walk of Remembrance. Liverpool has marked Slavery Remembrance Day since 1999, using 23 August to remember the uprising of enslaved people in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, which began in 1791.
This should not be treated as another summer festival. It is a public commemoration of the transatlantic slave trade, Liverpool's role within it and the continuing consequences of slavery.
Times and locations vary across the week. Check the official programme before attending individual events.
See the Slavery Remembrance Day 2026 programme
Southport Flower Show
When: Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August
Where: Victoria Park, Southport PR8 1RX
Southport Flower Show runs from 10am to 6pm from Thursday to Saturday. It closes at 5pm on Sunday.
The event includes show gardens, plant displays, demonstrations, food stalls, shopping and children's activities. It is a regional day out rather than a central Liverpool event, but it is reachable from the city by Merseyrail.
Victoria Park is a large outdoor site. Visitors with limited mobility should study the accessibility information and site map before buying tickets. August weather can also make a major difference to the experience.
See Southport Flower Show tickets and visitor information
International Beatleweek
When: Wednesday 26 August to Tuesday 1 September
Where: The Cavern Club and venues across Liverpool
International Beatleweek brings Beatles tribute bands and fans from around the world to Liverpool during the final week of August.
More than 70 bands are expected to take part. Events are spread across The Cavern Club, nearby city-centre venues and selected locations outside the centre, including Port Sunlight.
Most Liverpool venues are within a 10 to 15-minute walk of The Cavern Club on Mathew Street. Port Sunlight requires a train, coach or car journey across the Mersey.
Some festival packages include several ticketed events and free Cavern Club entry. Others cover individual shows only. Read the package details carefully, particularly if you do not intend to attend every day.
Mathew Street and the surrounding Cavern Quarter will be much busier than usual. If you are planning a wider centre trip, our Ropewalks guide covers the nearby streets around Bold Street and Wood Street.
See International Beatleweek programme and tickets
Liverpool's first Anfield league match of the season
When: Saturday 29 August, 12.30pm
Where: Anfield
Liverpool are scheduled to play Nottingham Forest at Anfield in their first home Premier League fixture of the new season. Fixtures can still move for broadcasting or competition reasons, so check the club's ticket page before travelling.
Match tickets are distributed through the club's membership, registration and ticket exchange systems. Supporters should avoid unofficial sellers and social-media accounts offering digital passes.
The lunchtime kick-off will make Walton Breck Road, Oakfield Road, Utting Avenue and nearby bus routes busy from the morning. Anyone visiting Anfield for another reason should check road restrictions before travelling. Our Anfield matchday guide explains the area in more detail.
Check Liverpool FC ticket availability
Take Me Home County Road at the Royal Court
When: Until Saturday 29 August
Where: Liverpool Royal Court, 1 Roe Street
Take Me Home County Road runs throughout August at the Royal Court.
The Liverpool-set comedy follows Shelley, whose polished social-media life does not match what is happening at home. As with many Royal Court productions, the story and humour are aimed firmly at a local audience.
The theatre is beside Queen Square and St Johns Shopping Centre. Some performances offer meal-and-show seating, so check whether the selected ticket includes food or is for the balcony.
See Royal Court listings and tickets
Before you book
August has several large outdoor events taking place close together. Sefton Park, Otterspool, Bootle and the waterfront will each have periods of heavier traffic and crowded public transport.
Check the organiser's page on the day, particularly for outdoor shows. Look at age restrictions before paying, and do not assume a teenager can attend without an adult. Bag rules are stricter at the major concerts.
For free family events, check whether booking or HAF eligibility is required. Free entry can also refer only to the main activity, with rides, food and games charged separately.
Use official ticket links. Sold-out Liverpool events regularly attract fake listings and social-media sellers who cannot transfer a valid ticket.
