Liverpool to host groundbreaking inclusive sport and culture festival

Liverpool is set to make history next spring, as it hosts a groundbreaking new Inclusive Sport & Culture Festival (ISCF).

The first-of-its-kind event in the UK that will bring together elite athletes who compete in the Paralympics and a world-class disabled-led arts and culture programme on a shared world stage.

Taking over the city’s iconic waterfront — including the M&S Bank Arena and Exhibition Centre, the Liverpool Experience Campus, the neighbouring Salthouse and Albert Docks, and Pier Head — the week-long festival will transform the city into a vibrant hub of energy, creativity and elite performance.

The UK Sport-owned concept will showcase four international sport competitions across Boccia, Para Athletics, Wheelchair Rugby and Paracanoe, delivered in partnership with Boccia UK, UK Athletics, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby and Paddle UK, alongside a groundbreaking arts and cultural programme, commissioned by Arts Council England, delivered by Culture Liverpool and led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.

Wheelchair Rugby will take centre stage at the M&S Bank Arena from Sun 2 May – Fri 7 May, with six international teams competing in what promises to be an electric atmosphere. The highly tactical and precision-based World Boccia Cup, which counts towards Paralympic qualification, will be held at the Exhibition Centre from Mon 3 May – Fri 7 May.

Paracanoe comes to Salthouse Dock on Fri 7 May & Sat 8 May, offering free-to-view racing that combines speed, control and technical skill against the backdrop of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront. And on Sat 8 May, Para Athletics — the largest sport in the Paralympics — will take over Liverpool Waterfront, including Pier Head, for a free open-air celebration of sprinting, jumping and throwing at the highest level of the sport.

At the heart of the festival will be a dynamic Athletes’ and Artists’ Village, a space where competitors, creators and audiences come together.

Taking place just ahead of the LA 2028 Paralympic Games, the Festival will also play a vital role in athlete preparation while elevating the visibility of disabled talent across sport and culture onto a global stage.

Commenting on the event, 5-time Paralympic Medallist and 12-time Paracanoe World Champion Emma Wiggs MBE said: “It’s hugely exciting as both an athlete and a member of the Steering Group to see this groundbreaking event start to come to life.

“It has never been more important to embrace diversity and difference and to grasp opportunities to showcase a more inclusive world.  UK Sport are world leaders in major events and together with National Lottery support I have no doubt that the Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival in Liverpool next year will uniquely showcase both worlds and be a trailblazing event, setting the standard for others to follow”.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, added: “This is an innovative, ground-breaking concept and it’s fantastic to see plans progress and the vision start to come to life.

“We are well-known for our track record of delivering world-class events in Liverpool, and we are set to make history once again with this festival as the first event of its kind in the UK.

The community we are creating as part of Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival will celebrate excellence, identity, and connection – bringing together athletes, artists, and audiences in a truly accessible and inclusive way.

Together with our partners, we want to redefine how sport and culture can be experienced collectively and amplify visibility and opportunities for people with disabilities throughout our community and beyond.”

For more information and to register for tickets, click below.