The Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF), the UK’s longest-running annual festival of Arab arts and culture, returns for its 24th year this July.
Founded in 1998, the festival continues its mission to support and champion creatives from across the Arab region and its diaspora, driven by the belief that art and creativity can express a shared humanity.
Recently nominated for Outstanding Contribution to Culture at the LCR Culture & Creativity Awards, the festival celebrates Liverpool’s identity as a global city that welcomes artistry from around the world.
This year’s programme runs from Friday 17 July to Sunday 26 July and is centred around the theme of HOME.
The exploration will unfold through music, theatre, visual art, literature, and film, culminating in the popular LAAF Family Day.
Exploring the Meaning of Home
LAAF 2026 provides a platform for artists and audiences to examine the many facets of home, whether it is rooted in territory, shaped by relationships, or carried through memory and social experience.
The festival highlights how Arab artists engage with the shifting concept of belonging, while also recognising displaced communities whose sense of home is less stable.
Afrah Qassim, Chair of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, discussed the significance of this year’s theme:
“Home is a place we often imagine as a sanctuary of safety, stability and identity or where we belong.
“It is our roots, our memories, and the stories we carry with us wherever we go.
“Today, we must also recognise the painful reality facing many in our beloved homelands, those who have lost their homes, their families, and the sense of identity that a place can hold. LAAF is proud to be a platform that gives artists the space to tell their stories.
“Through art and storytelling, we create a space for our audience for reflection and conversation, exploring the ‘what’ behind the artist’s story and how it reflects upon their own.”
World Premiere at the Philharmonic Music Room
Among the first highlights announced for the 2026 festival is a world premiere performance from Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary.
Following the success of their debut work, the duo will perform their anticipated second album at the Philharmonic Music Room on Friday, 24 July.
Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary explore the parallels between English folk traditions and Egyptian Maqam.
Their collaboration is a captivating fusion of songs and textures that seeks to find commonality and foster cross-cultural connections.
Tickets for this performance are currently on sale here.
The festival will draw to a close on Sunday 26 July with the long-established LAAF Family Day.
This celebratory showcase of Arab arts and culture takes place at the Palm House in Sefton Park and remains a free event for the community.
The afternoon will feature a range of live music and performances alongside stalls offering authentic Arabic and Middle Eastern food.
Visitors can discover traditional practices such as calligraphy and dance, while children can participate in dedicated storytelling sessions and creative workshops.
The event serves as a moment of togetherness, bringing the 10-day festival to a vibrant and inclusive conclusion.
