Liverpool Music Month to launch followed by city-region-wide Summer of Music

Liverpool is set to honor its renowned musical heritage with the launch of Liverpool Music Month, a new initiative taking place throughout May 2026. Organized by Culture Liverpool and Sound City, this month-long celebration runs from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 31, showcasing live performances, cultural happenings, and community events across the city region. The programme aims to highlight the rich musical landscape of Liverpool, which has earned the city UNESCO City of Music status.

Liverpool Music Month not only focuses on local talent and iconic venues but also establishes an exciting partnership with New York Music Month—a well-established event in New York City’s cultural calendar since 2017. This collaboration emphasizes the shared history and musical legacies of two prominent global music hubs, strengthening cultural bonds through a mutual celebration of music. Events during Liverpool Music Month include the opening Sound City Festival over the first weekend of May, alongside other notable shows such as The Dark Reign Metal Fest at Birkenhead’s Future Yard and performances by artists including Emmy Lou Harris, The Longest Johns, and James Morrison.

The Liverpool Philharmonic will host numerous gigs spanning various genres throughout the month, featuring acts such as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Celebration of the Beach Boys, alongside appearances by Roland Gift, Max Cooper, and American artists Hannah Wicklund and Ondara. The festivities will conclude with Baltic Weekender, a multi-venue event focusing on house music, disco, techno, bass, and grime styles, taking place on the weekend of May 30 and 31. Additional activities, such as new commissions, pop-up shows, and grassroots community-led events, will further enrich the celebration, reflecting the diversity and creativity of Liverpool’s music scene.

To support the growth of the programme, Liverpool Music Month will soon introduce an open commissioning fund. This initiative invites venues, promoters, artists, and music organisations to apply for funding to deliver their own events, training opportunities, and creative projects as part of the celebrations. Following Liverpool Music Month, a separate event—Liverpool Summer of Music—will run from June through August, highlighting an extensive range of festivals, concerts, and performances across the city region. With events at legendary venues like The Cavern Club and large-scale shows including Foo Fighters at Anfield Stadium and Lewis Capaldi at Sefton Park, the summer programme continues Liverpool’s tradition as a powerful force in the music world.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, commented on the initiative: “As a city, we are incredibly proud of our famous musical heritage, as well as our new generations of emerging talent who continue to put us on the map. From major concerts, events, and festivals featuring global artists, to the small independent venues, pubs, and bars brimming with local musicians, Liverpool really does have music running through its veins. Our city is alive with music on any given day of the week, but this summer promises to be an even bigger showcase of everything that makes Liverpool one of the greatest music cities in the world.”

Becky Ayres, Managing Director of Sound City, added: “Pulling together as a city is what Liverpool has always done, and we – our community of venues, artists, promoters, cultural organisations and public representatives – are doing just that this spring and summer in the name of music. Our opening Liverpool Music Month brings focus to May, a time when our communities and regional music industry emerge from the colder months to open festival season.”

The importance of Liverpool as a musical center is also emphasized by the Liverpool City Region Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mike Wharton, who stated: “Music is at the heart of the Liverpool City Region, it’s part of our DNA and we need no excuse to celebrate our musical capabilities. Our artists have inspired generations and taken the world by storm. It is why Liverpool was designated a UNESCO City of Music more than ten years ago.” This festival season provides an opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent nurtured in the area and promote sustainable growth within the industry

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