Liverpool events for 23–25 October 2026: River of Light, free Irish Festival activities, Bluecoat family events, Halloween days out and rail advice.
River of Light opens on Friday 23 October, bringing 13 illuminated artworks to Liverpool city centre every evening until 1 November. The free festival runs from 5pm to 9pm. There is plenty else on this weekend, from Irish music and free family activities to Duran Duran, drumming, Halloween walks and racing.
The catch is getting around. Merseyrail engineering work continues throughout Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, with extra restrictions on Sunday, and Mersey Ferries have not confirmed when services will resume. See our weekend travel guide before setting out.
Checked 20 October 2026. Event dates, advertised costs and timings below come from the organisers. Tickets may sell out, services can change and the ferry's status for 23–25 October is still unconfirmed.
The 2026 trail is called Together. It stretches beyond the waterfront to the Town Hall, Exchange Flags, Liverpool ONE, Williamson Square and St Paul's Square, with artworks also around the Pier Head and Royal Albert Dock. There is no set start or finish and no ticket to buy. The organiser describes the full route as approximately 5km, so allow for a proper walk rather than a short loop around the Pier Head.
Use the official River of Light map to choose your closest starting point. The installations operate on all three nights, 5pm–9pm. They are not switched on overnight and there are no fireworks as part of the festival. The separate Quiet Hour sessions are on 28 October and 1 November, not this weekend.
Our River of Light 2026 guide names all 13 artworks, explains the route and links to the official accessibility information. Expect some cobbles and outdoor surfaces; check the organiser's accessibility guide if you need a particular route or quieter conditions.
Friday 23 October, doors 6pm, show 7.30pm. Duran Duran are at the M&S Bank Arena with Pigeon as special guests. This falls on River of Light's first evening, so expect more people around King's Dock and the waterfront. The arena's event page has official ticket options and entry information. This is a paid event; check the full ticket price before booking.
Friday, 8pm–11pm. The Liverpool Irish Festival hosts traditional Irish group Téada at the Philharmonic Music Room. Advertised tickets are £22 standard, £18 concession or £15 for bar seats. The performance is part of the final weekend of a festival that runs until 25 October. Tickets and details from the festival.
Friday from 9.30pm. Peter Kavanagh's on Egerton Street hosts the festival's informal PK's seisiún. It is free, with no ticket required. Musicians can join in, while everyone else can listen; the organiser warns that space can get tight. Check the session listing.
11am–4pm, free, just turn up. The Museum of Liverpool at the Pier Head hosts a day of Irish dance, traditional music and children's activities. The Armagh Rhymers bring a Liver Bird story, alongside dance groups, Comhaltas musicians and Brave Maeve activities. There is no charge or advance booking. Official Family Day programme.
Saturday and Sunday, 1pm–4pm. The Bluecoat on School Lane is running free, drop-in family activities celebrating the arts centre's archive. Suitable for all ages, with no ticket required. Its Bloom Makers Market is also listed for Saturday and Sunday, 11am–4pm; shopping is optional, and you can combine both with the free family workshops. Family Weekend details and the Bluecoat listings.
Saturday, gates 10.45am, finishes 4.30pm. The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is organising a child-friendly Halloween walk with crafts and activities. It starts by the Samuel Smith Obelisk, known as the Needle, near the Aigburth Drive entrance. Tickets are £8 per person or £30 for a family of four; under-twos are free but still need a booking. Book in advance: there are no tickets on the day. The charity recommends the event particularly for ages three to eight. Tickets and access advice.
Saturday, 2pm, doors 1pm. The wildlife presenter brings a family stage show with animal facts, science demonstrations and stunts. Under-14s must be accompanied by an adult. It is a paid event and booking is required. Official event and ticket information.
24–25 October, Exhibition Centre Liverpool. The UK Drum Show brings performances, lessons, equipment demonstrations and percussion exhibitors to King's Dock. It is aimed at both players and people who want to try the instrument. Admission is ticketed; check the current options and programme with the organiser or the venue. The show coincides with River of Light, so the area around the waterfront may be busier at changeover times.
Sunday, gates 10.40am, first race 12.40pm. Aintree's opening jumps meeting combines racing with crafts, face painting, a costume competition and children's activities. Under-18s enter free with an accompanying adult in Grandstand and Paddock admission; adults need a paid ticket. The organiser lists the final race at 4.10pm, subject to change. Official tickets and conditions. Merseyrail's Sunday timetable is disrupted, so plan the return journey first.
Sunday, 4pm–7pm, free, just turn up. The Armagh Rhymers and Comhaltas Liverpool lead a family céilí at the Liverpool Irish Centre on Boundary Lane, with seasonal music, dancing and costumes. Activities are aimed mainly at children aged four to 12 with adult supervision, but older visitors are welcome. Festival details.
Sunday, from 10am. The Liverpool Irish Festival's An Gorta Mór vigil starts from Clarence Dock Gates on the water side of Regent Road, near Cotton Street, and follows a memorial walk towards St Luke's Bombed Out Church. It is free and donations are welcome. The separate Great Hunger memorial service at St Luke's is listed for 1pm–1.45pm. This is a commemoration, not a Halloween attraction; it may be emotionally demanding and takes place outdoors.
Start at the Museum of Liverpool for the Irish Festival Family Day from 11am. In the afternoon, walk into the city centre for free archive activities at the Bluecoat between 1pm and 4pm. After a break for food, begin River of Light at 5pm at whichever installation suits your position. No event tickets are needed for that plan, although food and travel are extra.
For more child-friendly options beyond Sunday, our Liverpool October half-term guide covers 24 October to 1 November. Our October events guide has the longer-running shows and exhibitions.
Friday and Saturday: replacement buses run between Hunts Cross and Moorfields, while Northern Line trains from Southport, Ormskirk and Headbolt Lane still serve Liverpool Central. Sunday 25: trains from those northern branches stop at Sandhills; buses replace the Hunts Cross route, and Wirral Line trains stop at Birkenhead North or Rock Ferry with buses through to Moorfields. No Merseyrail trains serve city-centre stations that Sunday.
Mersey Ferries' notice checked on 20 October confirms a suspension on 20 and 21 October, with no announced reopening date. It does not yet confirm the ferry's status for this weekend. Check again before planning a river crossing. River of Light also brings nightly closures along Dale Street/Water Street and nearby side roads, 5pm–9pm. The UK clocks go back one hour early on Sunday 25 October.
Read the 23–25 October travel update for the day-by-day arrangements, or check the operator's rail advice and live ferry notice just before leaving.
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