BlackFest has announced its 2026 festival programme, with a packed line-up of music, theatre, film, visual arts, literature, spoken word, comedy, fashion and community events taking place across Liverpool throughout September and October.
The award-winning festival returns with up to 16 major events alongside a month-long visual arts exhibition and programme, bringing Black artists, creatives and communities into venues and cultural spaces across the city.
BlackFest 2026 will continue the organisation’s mission to celebrate, cultivate and nurture Black artists and communities, creating spaces for art, trade and culture while providing a platform for voices and work that are too often underrepresented.
This year’s programme begins with the BlackFest 2026 Launch on 5 September, followed by an independent film event on 21 September.
From 24–26 September, BlackFest heads to Shakespeare North Playhouse for a programme of theatre, with comedian Daniel Hippolyte appearing on 25 September. The same day will see a music performance from Cleopatra – Comin’ Atcha!, with an opening performance by Hayli Kincade.
Music continues on 30 September with a lunchtime concert from KingFast, while the festival’s Visual Arts programme also launches that day. The accompanying exhibition will run throughout October, from 1–31 October.
A series of workshops will take place during October, alongside a varied programme of special events. On 11 October, Yammtree will present an arts and crafts event with DJ Nay Maxwell, while writer and performer Kelechi Okafor will take part in a literature event and Q&A centred around Awakened.
Liverpool poet Levi Tafari takes centre stage on 19 October for Proclamation, an evening of spoken word and poetry.
The programme also extends beyond Liverpool, with a Rhythms Night taking place in Bristol on 28 October, before BlackFest 2026 concludes with its Fashion Fest Finale on 30 October, presented in collaboration with Tayameaca.
The festival will also mark 100 Years of Black History Month, celebrating the people and artists who have helped make BlackFest and its wider creative community possible.
Through its 2026 programme, BlackFest is encouraging audiences to discover new work, connect with Black artists and activists, and show their support for Black creativity and culture.
A Full Festival Pass is available for audiences wishing to attend multiple BlackFest 2026 events, providing access across the festival programme and a saving of more than £50 compared with purchasing individual tickets.