10-day festival announces full lineup for city centre takeover

The festival arrives in the city centre on July 11The Al Awadhel Band perform in the main courtyard at the Bluecoat(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF), the UK’s longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture, has revealed its full lineup. The festival, now in its 26th year, returns on July 11 for a 10-day takeover.

LAAF supports and promotes artists from the Arab region and its diaspora, with the belief art and creativity can express our shared humanity. The festival also celebrates Liverpool’s distinctive identity with artistic talent and a global community

Afrah Qassim, chair of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, said: “This year, our theme is Nostalgia a powerful reflection on longing for the past, often idealised or romanticised, and rooted in both personal and collective memory.

“In times of migration, modernisation, war, and upheaval,nostalgia becomes a tool of resilience. It allows us to reclaim traditions, honour legacies, and connect generations bridging time through storytelling, art, and cultural expression.

“As we gather for this year’s festival, we do so with heavy hearts. The ongoing suffering across the Middle East, particularly in Palestine, has brought unimaginable loss and devastation. These tragedies have impacted our families, friends, artists, communities,and partners.

“In the face of such pain,our commitment to solidarity, justice, and freedom remains unwavering.This year’s festival is dedicated to all who have lost their lives, including fellow artists,and to those who continue to fight for freedom, dignity, and peace across the Arab world and beyond.”

LAAF will taker place in various venues across the city from July 11 – July 20. You can take a look at the full event schedule below.

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival events in full

Penguin

• Friday 11th July, 7:30pm. Unity Theatre.
• You can purchase tickets here.