Liverpool is set to make history from 2-8 May 2027 as it hosts a new groundbreaking Inclusive Sport & Culture Festival (ISCF) — a first-of-its-kind event in the UK that will bring together elite athletes that 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 Liverpool in 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, redefining how sport and culture can be experienced together.
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.
The four sports at the heart of the festival will each bring their own extraordinary spectacle. Wheelchair Rugby — fast, physical and high-impact — will take centre stage at the M&S Bank Arena from Sunday 2 to Friday 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 Liverpool from Monday 3 to Friday 7 May.
Paracanoe comes to Salthouse Dock on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 May, offering free-to-view racing that combines speed, control and technical skill against the backdrop of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront.
And on Saturday 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 living, breathing space where competitors, creators and audiences come together. It will be more than a venue hub; it will be a shared community celebrating excellence, identity and connection throughout the week.
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. It will shine a spotlight not only on elite and world class performance, but on the stories, creativity and cultural impact that surround it.
At its core, the festival is designed to bring sport and culture together as one experience - creating a powerful shared platform that celebrates excellence, creativity and representation for artists and athletes, while driving greater opportunity and long-term social impact. Core funding includes a £2.3m contribution from The National Lottery and a £1m grant from Arts Council England.
Commenting on the event,
5 times Paralympic Medallist and 12 times 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, said: “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.”
Esther Britten, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, said: “We’re proud to be bringing this new festival to Liverpool, creating a unique multi-sport platform for world-class Paralympic sport and a bold, disabled-led cultural programme. Providing more competitive opportunities for Paralympic athletes is a key priority for us, and this event has been designed to support athletes on the road to LA 2028, while showcasing the depth of talent this country has to offer.
We’re especially excited to be working alongside Arts Council England for the first time, bringing sport and culture together to celebrate excellence, challenge perceptions and open up new opportunities.
Liverpool is a city known for its energy and creativity, and this event, made possible thanks to National Lottery funding, will leave a lasting impact on how inclusive sport and culture are experienced across the UK."
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: "Our country is home to brilliant, awe-inspiring world-beating disabled artists and athletes. This major investment will shine a light on their creative and sporting excellence, boosting national pride and inspiring the next generation of outstanding performers, whether that’s in the arts or in sport."
Delivered in partnership with UK Sport,
ParalympicsGB, Arts Council England and
Liverpool City Council, supported by
Liverpool Accommodation BID, the Festival represents a major collaboration across sport, culture and community, with ambitions to create a lasting legacy both locally and nationally. Through moments of joy, pride, energy and togetherness, it will offer audiences a chance to witness history as it happens in one of the world’s most iconic waterfront cities.