Forget the usual list of expensive arena tickets. This weekend, Liverpool has a free late-night Irish music session in a pub, four author events in Central Library, a book market at the Bluecoat and a chance to try Gaelic football without paying a penny. And that is before you get to the concerts, walking tours and exhibitions.
Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026 marks the opening weekend of the Liverpool Irish Festival, whose theme this year is I Am Here. The festival runs from 15 to 25 October and explores Liverpool's long, complicated links with Ireland through music, literature, performance and community events. There is also a wider Liverpool Literary Festival and plenty to do without buying a ticket.
Booking note: Event details were checked against organiser programmes and local listings on 16 October. Prices are advertised figures, not live availability. Book ahead where required, and confirm any last-minute changes with the organiser. Some ticket links in this article are affiliate links. L1 Local may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; editorial selection is independent.
More ticketed events: Skiddle and Ticketmaster
Affiliate disclosure: Links in this section are affiliate links. L1 Local may earn commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Listings and availability can change; check the event date, venue, age restrictions and final price before paying.
For more music, nightlife and entertainment this weekend, check Skiddle's Liverpool listings (affiliate link) and Ticketmaster (affiliate link). Look for the following events in the platforms' current listings:
- Annie Mac: Before Midnight at Invisible Wind Factory, Friday 16 October.
- Newsham Scream Park at the former Newsham hospital, Saturday 17 October. Skiddle tickets (affiliate).
- House of Suarez: RUNWAY at Invisible Wind Factory, Saturday 17 October.
- Above & Beyond presents Anjunabeats at Blackstone Street Warehouse, Saturday 17 October.
- Professor Brian Cox: Emergence at M&S Bank Arena, Friday 16 October.
- Nirvana UK at O2 Academy Liverpool, Saturday 17 October.
- The Proclaimers at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Sunday 18 October.
The general platform links above are discovery links, not guaranteed event-specific checkout pages. Confirm each event against the organiser or ticket platform before travelling.
At a glance: the best things to do this weekend
Liverpool events 16 to 18 October 2026, times and booking information
| Event | Where | When | Cost |
|---|
| Kíla live | Philharmonic Music Room | Fri 16, 8pm | £32 / £30 concession |
| Traditional Irish music session | Peter Kavanagh's | Fri 16, 9.30pm–late | Free |
| Liverpool Book Market | Bluecoat | Fri 16 & Sat 17, 11am–5pm | Check venue |
| Four author talks | Central Library | Sat 17, from 10.30am | Free, booking essential |
| Gaelic football taster | John Mitchel's GAA playing field | Sat 17, 1–2.30pm | Free, turn up |
| High Tea, one-act play | Liverpool Irish Centre | Sat 17, 3pm | £10 / £8 concession |
| Movema céilí with The Saltcutters | St Bride's Church | Sat 17, 7–11pm | £20, book ahead |
| Hurling and camogie taster | John Mitchel's GAA playing field | Sun 18, 10–11.30am | Free, turn up |
| Scotland Road Irish history tour | Meet at Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council | Sun 18, 10am | £20 / £15 concession |
| John McGahern biography talk | Victoria Gallery & Museum | Sun 18, 11.30am | £8 / students free |
| South Liverpool Irish history walk | Meet at St Luke's Bombed Out Church memorial | Sun 18, 3pm | £15 / £12 concession |
Festival details and bookings: Liverpool Irish Festival event listings. Book market dates: Art in Liverpool listings.
Friday 16 October: a night of music with a Liverpool–Ireland connection
Kíla at the Philharmonic Music Room
Dublin collective Kíla return to the city for an 8pm performance at the Philharmonic Music Room. Expect a restless mix of traditional Irish instruments, percussion and contemporary sounds rather than a conventional seated folk recital. The festival advertises tickets at £32, or £30 concession. Check the official listing and book.
A free traditional session at Peter Kavanagh's
If you want a less formal night, the festival's PK's seisiún begins at 9.30pm at Peter Kavanagh's. Bring an instrument if you play, or just listen. It is listed as free and unticketed. That makes it one of the best low-cost choices of the weekend, particularly if you want an evening with some character rather than another generic night out.
Saturday 17 October: books, sport, theatre and dancing
Four free author events at Central Library
Central Library hosts a full day of festival literature from 10.30am. The four featured voices are Vitor Vicente, Sue Divin, Doug Devaney and PJ McKeown, covering writing, identity, the Irish border and punk memories. Entry is free, but the festival says booking is essential. Check individual sessions rather than assuming a single booking covers the whole day.
Liverpool Book Market at the Bluecoat
For something to browse at your own pace, the Liverpool Book Market runs at the Bluecoat on Friday and Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Pair it with the nearby galleries or a city-centre coffee. Check the Bluecoat's current programme for entry arrangements and any associated activities.
Try Gaelic football for free
The festival's Give It A Go afternoon runs from 1pm to 2.30pm at John Mitchel's GAA playing field, followed by a girls' football tournament from 2.30pm to 4pm. The organiser lists the activities as free and open to all ages. Check directions with the festival before setting off, as the playing field is not in the city centre.
High Tea at Liverpool Irish Centre
Victoria Fradgley's one-act play High Tea begins at 3pm, exploring a difficult meeting between two estranged sisters. Tickets are advertised at £10, or £8 concession. It is a good alternative for people who want a smaller theatre production rather than a big touring show.
A céilí where everyone can join in
From 7pm to 11pm, Movema and The Saltcutters bring a live-band céilí to St Bride's Church. The festival describes a gender-free format where everyone dances with everyone. Tickets are £20 and booking is required. This is one of the weekend's strongest social picks, even if you have never tried Irish dancing.
Sunday 18 October: Liverpool history, books and another free sporting taster
Scotland Road and the Irish community
A guided walk starts at 10am from Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council and visits places connected with the area's Irish history, including The Rotunda and St Anthony's Church. The organiser also advertises access to original copies of the Scottie Press. Tickets are £20, or £15 concession. Book through the festival programme.
Hurling and camogie for beginners
From 10am to 11.30am, John Mitchel's GAA playing field hosts another free, turn-up-and-try activity. It is a practical way for children and adults to learn about two Irish field sports without committing to a club.
John McGahern and Liverpool's literary connections
At 11.30am in the Victoria Gallery & Museum, Professor Frank Shovlin discusses his authorised biography of novelist John McGahern. Admission is listed as £8, or free for students, with booking required. At 2.30pm the venue hosts the annual John McGahern Book Prize event, listed as free but bookable.
A South Liverpool Irish history walk
Greg Quiery leads a walk beginning at 3pm by the Great Hunger memorial at St Luke's Bombed Out Church, exploring locations connected to Irish migration and history. Tickets are advertised at £15, or £12 concession. This is a particularly good choice for anyone interested in the stories behind familiar streets.
Free and low-cost ideas if you do not want a packed itinerary
On the visual arts side, In the Window: Adam Frew and Maureen Lynch is a free display at Bluecoat Display Centre throughout October, during gallery opening hours. The Bluecoat's Winter Garden Trail also begins on Saturday 17 October. At FACT, Hibernation is listed through 16 November, while the Bluecoat's Julia Carter Preston display continues into November. Confirm opening hours and admission arrangements before visiting. Browse current exhibitions.
If the weather turns, combine a free Central Library session with a gallery visit. If it stays dry, a waterfront walk or a trip to the Georgian Quarter can make the day feel less like a checklist. For more indoor alternatives, use our rainy day in Liverpool guide.
What about Wirral and Sefton?
We have not included unverified one-off events for Wirral or Sefton simply to fill a regional quota. For a day across the Mersey, check Future Yard's Birkenhead listings and Williamson Art Gallery. In Sefton, check local venue schedules before travelling. These are places to look, not confirmed 16–18 October event recommendations.
More gigs, club nights and ticketed events: Skiddle and Ticketmaster
Prefer a concert, a dancefloor or a Halloween scare? These additional events are advertised for 16–18 October. Some of the following are affiliate links: L1 Local may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The links do not guarantee tickets remain available, and you should check the date and entry rules on the booking page.
Extra Liverpool weekend events with affiliate ticket links
| Event | Date and venue | Tickets |
|---|
| Paradisco with Dimitri From Paris | Saturday 17 October, WAV Liverpool, from 2pm. Strictly 25+. | Skiddle tickets (affiliate) |
| Newsham Scream Park | Saturday 17 October, Newsham Park former orphanage and hospital. Check timed entry and age guidance. | Skiddle tickets (affiliate) |
| House of Suarez: RUNWAY | Saturday 17 October, Invisible Wind Factory, from 7pm. 18+. | Find on Skiddle (affiliate) |
| The Proclaimers | Sunday 18 October, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 7.30pm. | Find on Ticketmaster (affiliate) |
| Nirvana UK | Saturday 17 October, O2 Academy Liverpool, 7pm. | Find on Ticketmaster (affiliate) |
| Transvision Vamp | Friday 16 October, O2 Academy Liverpool, 7pm. | Find on Ticketmaster (affiliate) |
For other dates, browse Liverpool events on Skiddle (affiliate) or Liverpool events on Ticketmaster (affiliate). Ticketmaster discovery links lead to a listings page, not a guaranteed event checkout.
Getting around this weekend
Allow extra time for rail journeys. Engineering work affects the Merseyrail route between Hunts Cross and Liverpool Central during October. Check Merseyrail's live travel advice and replacement arrangements before setting off, particularly if you are travelling into town from south Liverpool. For the wider month, see our October What's On guide.
Our pick: Make Saturday a free Central Library and Bluecoat day, then spend the evening at the céilí if you fancy something more memorable. Or keep Friday simple with the late-night session at Peter Kavanagh's.
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