From underground cinema to family-friendly festivals, iconic exhibitions and thought-provoking theatre, February is packed with culture across Liverpool and the city region. Whether you’re looking to discover new music, dive into queer literature, get hands-on with making, or plan a brilliant half-term day out, these 10 unmissable events in Liverpool and the city region showcase the breadth, creativity and imagination happening this February.
1. Faetooth, Future Yard (3 February)
Hailing from Los Angeles, Faetooth conjure their own brand of “fairy-doom” — a hypnotic blend of doom metal, sludge and shoegaze that’s as beautiful as it is brutal. From spellbinding melodies to guttural shrieks, their music creates a vast, otherworldly atmosphere that pulls you deep into their shadowy realm. Fresh from the release of the ferociously beautiful single Death of Day and ahead of their sophomore album Labyrinthine, this Future Yard show promises a heavy, immersive experience not to be missed.
2. Queer Book Club, St Helens Book Stop (3 February)
Queer Book Club is a welcoming, inclusive reading group bringing people together to explore LGBTQIA+ literature in all its forms. Founded by local queer artists and book lovers, the club offers a relaxed space to share thoughts on queer novels, memoirs and writing. This month’s pick is Sense of Self by James Lefebure — a gripping queer body-horror exploring belonging, faith and the cost of being loved. Making this edition extra special, Lefebure will join the group in person for a live discussion at The Book Stop. Open to all and drop-in friendly, it’s a thoughtful, community-led event for readers looking to connect through powerful queer storytelling.
3. Can Meeple Escape the Neurophoria? FACT Liverpool (6 February – 26 April)
Curated by FACT’s 2025 Curator-in-Residence Milia Xin Bi, Can Meeple Escape the Neurophoria? is a playful yet thought-provoking exhibition inspired by tabletop games — where every decision changes the narrative. Visitors become the “meeple”, a human game piece whose choices carry real-world consequences, exploring how our actions shape technological futures. Featuring works by Vytas Jankauskas, Jan Zuiderveld and Joseph Wilk, the exhibition blends participation, politics and machine intelligence, using play as a lens to examine climate, humanity and emerging technologies. Interactive, curious and quietly unsettling, it asks a timely question: in a world driven by intelligent systems, who really gets to make the next move?
4. Fringe Flicks: Uncanny Desires, DoES Liverpool (6 February)
Fringe Flicks returns with Uncanny Desires, a one-night underground short film screening celebrating the strange, funny and unsettling. Hosted at DoES Liverpool, this edition dives into themes of desire, obsession, intimacy and transformation through dark comedy, surreal storytelling and gloriously offbeat visuals. Headlined by the fearless Welsh short The Girl with the Haunted Vagina, the programme blends international films with Liverpool-made work, including a preview developed through PVTV’s Creative Meet-Ups. Pay What You Can and intentionally informal, Fringe Flicks is all about atmosphere, shared experience and adventurous cinema — perfect for anyone curious to watch something a little different.
5. St Helens StoryFest 2026, St Helens Libraries (14 – 21 February)
Wonder Arts returns with StoryFest 2026, a week-long celebration of storytelling for children and families across St Helens. Running from 14–21 February, the festival features an exciting mix of imaginative theatre, interactive performances, BSL-interpreted shows, free workshops and Read & Rhyme Time sessions, all hosted in local libraries. From magical adventures and playful dance theatre to inclusive, sensory-friendly storytelling, StoryFest offers joyful, accessible cultural experiences designed to spark curiosity, creativity and connection for young audiences and their grown-ups.
6. ARTIST ROOMS: Ed Ruscha, Tate Liverpool (12 February – 14 June)
Explore the iconic work of American artist Ed Ruscha in this free ARTIST ROOMS exhibition, inspired by his road trips across the United States. Featuring books, photographs, paintings, drawings and lithographs, the display captures the architecture, geography and everyday imagery of the USA — from gas stations and diners to swimming pools and highways. Highlights include Ruscha’s seminal 1963 book Twentysix Gasoline Stations, works from the Sunset Strip Portfolio, and bold text-based pieces such as OK (State I) and Dance?. A fascinating snapshot of an artist who helped redefine how we see the American landscape.
7. Horrible Histories – The Concert, Liverpool Empire (13 – 14 February)
Horrible Histories leaps from screen to stage in this riotous live concert packed with monstrous monarchs, mayhem and music. When William Shakespeare attempts to create the greatest show on earth, chaos quickly follows — with appearances from Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Cleopatra, Boudica and even Death himself. Featuring the original TV cast performing fan-favourite songs like Stupid Deaths, Charles II and The Monarchs Song, backed by a live band led by Richie Webb, this high-energy show promises singalongs, silliness and seriously horrible fun for the whole family.
8. Make It! Craft Workshop, The Atkinson (19 February)
Join Liverpool-based visual artist Linny Venables for a free, family-friendly Sweet Factory Make It! Craft Workshop at The Atkinson. Inspired by Linny’s playful glass-based exhibition currently on display in the Art Gallery, the drop-in session invites all ages to get creative with hands-on making in a relaxed, welcoming space. Running from 11am–3pm with all materials provided, it’s a perfect opportunity for families to explore art together — no booking required, just curiosity and creativity.
9. Introduction to UV Screen Printing, Bluecoat (21 February)
Get hands-on with the fundamentals of UV screen printing in this one-day introductory course at the Bluecoat. Designed for beginners, the workshop covers materials, processes and techniques, guiding participants through preparing and exposing a screen before printing a small two-colour edition to take home. With all materials included and a focus on environmentally friendly, water-based inks, it’s a practical and creative introduction to printmaking — and a great first step for those looking to use the Bluecoat’s screen printing studios in the future.
10. The Memory of Water, Everyman Theatre (25 February – 14 March)
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Shelagh Stephenson’s Olivier Award-winning comedy The Memory of Water. Set in 1996, three sisters reunite at their childhood home on the eve of their mother’s funeral, unearthing old resentments, shared memories, and plenty of laughter along the way. Hilarious, heartfelt, and full of whisky-fuelled revelations, this play explores family, grief, and the stories we inherit — and forget.
Discover 100+ events happening across the Liverpool city region via our What’s On Listings.