BlackFest returns to Liverpool this autumn with another packed programme of music, theatre, comedy, film, visual art, spoken word, poetry and creative workshops.
Founded in 2018, the grassroots Black Arts festival champions Black artists and brings their work to both community spaces and established cultural venues. This year’s festival marks 100 years since the beginnings of Black History Month, with events taking place across Liverpool throughout September and October.
The 2026 line-up features everyone from ’90s pop favourites Cleopatra and Jamaican-born Liverpool musician KingFast to artists Alena Kudera, Nina Edge and acclaimed sculptor Faith Bebbington.
Here’s our guide to what’s happening at BlackFest 2026.
Short Experimental Performances & One Woman Plays – Shakespeare North Playhouse (24 September)
BlackFest Creatives Collective takes over Shakespeare North Playhouse for an evening of new writing, music and performance exploring identity, relationships, race, grief and what it means to be British.
Short Experimental Performances and One-Woman Plays features work from MD Productions and Miguel Doforo, alongside Mariam Jama’s My Friend Fiona, a three-hander set in the near future.
Loisha performs her one-woman play Brit-tish, asking whether Britain can truly feel like home when you’re both Black and British. Mariam Abood, also known as Emmy, will also showcase her debut work, Frenemies, exploring the complicated space where friendships and rivalries collide.
Expect an evening of fresh ideas, exciting stories and experimental performances covering everything from AI and dystopian futures to identity and belonging.
Short Experimental Performances From Black Writers & Comedians – Shakespeare North Playhouse (25 September)
The following evening brings together stand-up comedy, spoken word and new experimental work from the BlackFest Creatives Collective. Hosted by Skelmersdale comedian, writer and actor Daniel Hippolyte Carmichael, Comedy and Short Experimental Performances includes spoken word sequences from Sandstone Silver and stand-up from young performer Jaqson Johnston-Lynch.
Also appearing is Sarah Levine, one of Liverpool’s fastest-rising comedy talents. A mixed-race single mum with zero filter, Sarah is sharp, fearless and more than happy to say what everyone else is thinking.
Cleopatra – The Tung Auditorium (25 September)
Sisters Cleopatra, Zainam and Yonah Higgins burst onto the British pop scene in the late ’90s with their infectious energy, soulful harmonies and unforgettable performances. The Manchester siblings became the first Black British girl group to achieve mainstream success, securing their place in pop history with hits including Cleopatra’s Theme.
Now, Cleopatra are heading to The Tung Auditorium as part of BlackFest 2026, offering the perfect chance to relive some ’90s pop nostalgia.
Short Experimental Performances & One Woman Plays – Shakespeare North Playhouse (26 September)
BlackFest Creatives Collective returns to Shakespeare North Playhouse for another evening of new and developing work. This edition of Short Experimental Performances and One-Woman Plays includes an experimental R&D performance from Chelsey Emery, Chase Johnston-Lynch and friends, celebrating Black excellence and historical figures.
Sarah Abusin presents Jailbird, a musical exploring the lives of incarcerated women in Dubai, while Nigerian spoken word artist Janoma Omena performs work exploring queerness, young adulthood, reproductive health and migration.
KingFast – The Tung Auditorium (30 September)
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, raised in Belfast and now part of Liverpool’s music scene, KingFast brings together the sounds and influences of his different homes. He has performed at Liverpool Sound City, LIMF, Deva Fest, Nantwich Jazz Festival and Elderflower Fields Festival, as well as reaching the final of Southport’s Eurovision Calling.
His music has been heard on Radio City and BBC Radio Merseyside, as well as through a national in-store jukebox playing in major chains across the country. Catch him live at The Tung Auditorium as part of this year’s festival.
Visual Arts Launch – Granby Winter Garden (30 September)
BlackFest’s Visual Arts Launch brings artists, creatives and audiences together for an evening celebrating Black visual art and creative expression. Taking place in the beautiful surroundings of Granby Winter Garden, the event combines art, music, conversation and community, with a special live piano performance from Jazz Gittens.
There will also be a panel discussion featuring artists from the BlackFest 2026 visual arts programme, who will share more about their creative practices, inspirations, experiences and the stories behind their work.
BlackFest 2026 Presents: Visual Arts Workshop with Ayobami – Granby Winter Garden (7 October)
Get creative with multidisciplinary artist Ayobami during this hands-on Visual Arts Workshop at Granby Winter Garden. Specialising in floral artwork and expressive abstract pieces, Ayobami combines colourful acrylic blends with detailed ink hatching to create bold and dynamic compositions.
During the session, she’ll introduce participants to her creative practice and encourage them to experiment with colour, abstraction and expressive mark-making.
BlackFest Presents: Plant-Based Goodness, Arts, Crafts & Market – Palm House, Sefton Park (11 October, Afternoon)
Spend an afternoon enjoying good food, creativity, music and community inside Sefton Park Palm House. Plant-Based Goodness, Arts, Crafts and Market features healthy and flavour-packed food from Yammtree, introducing visitors to indigenous ingredients that can support wellbeing and immunity.
There will also be an all-ages arts and crafts table led by visual artist Layla Gibiliru, with parents welcome to get involved, plus a market filled with handmade products and one-of-a-kind gifts. Local DJ Shanay Maxwell will provide the soundtrack to the afternoon with a selection of soulful tracks.
BlackFest 2026 Presents: Awakened ft. Kelechi Okafor – Palm House, Sefton Park (11 October, Evening)
Later that evening, the Palm House hosts Awakened featuring Kelechi Okafor, bringing together literature, culture, conversation and big ideas.
Kelechi Okafor is a British-Nigerian artist, writer, presenter, actor and political commentator. She is also the creator of the acclaimed Say Your Mind podcast, which has grown to more than 280 episodes and explores self-reclamation through an unflinching look at society.
Her work spans literature, media, performance and political commentary, often exploring Black identity, systemic injustice and the experiences of Black communities. This event offers an opportunity to hear more about her work, ideas and approach to creating meaningful change.
BlackFest 2026 Presents: Visual Arts Workshop with Alena Kudera – Granby Winter Garden (14 October)
Discover the creative potential of unwanted clothing, textiles and everyday objects at this Visual Arts Workshop with Alena Kudera. Alena is a visual artist, designer and maker who transforms discarded materials through craftsmanship and creative reinvention.
Her work explores clothing as a language and the body as a canvas, taking inspiration from folk motifs, sensory patterns and sculpture. During the workshop, she’ll share her practice and invite participants to explore textiles, sustainability, deconstruction and material storytelling.
BlackFest 2026 Presents: Visual Arts Workshop with Nina Edge – Granby Winter Garden (21 October)
Artist, writer and urban design activist Nina Edge leads a special Visual Arts Workshop exploring creativity, materials, community and public art.
Nina’s multidisciplinary practice spans radical textiles, ceramics, street performance, public art and short film.
A dual-heritage British Asian woman, she originally trained as a ceramicist and became known for using materials traditionally viewed as low-status crafts to question established artistic hierarchies.
Celebrating Legacy Sculpture Workshop with Faith Bebbington – Granby Winter Garden (22 October)
Round off the festival programme by creating something meaningful with acclaimed Liverpool sculptor Faith Bebbington. During the sustainable Celebrating Legacy Sculpture Workshop, participants will create a piece honouring their own identity or celebrating an inspiring Black historical figure.
Using recycled paper and cardboard, you’ll make a personal 3D artwork while exploring identity, heritage, Black history and legacy in a welcoming group setting.
For even more events, exhibitions and cultural happenings explore our What’s On listings.