Liverpool’s iconic waterfront will become the stage for a ground-breaking international festival of inclusive sport and culture in May 2027, bringing together elite para athletes and leading disabled and neurodivergent artists for a week-long celebration of unity, creativity and world-class competition.
The event will be delivered by UKEL, a new independent organisation established to host major international sporting events across the UK. The original para sport concept forms part of UK Sport’s major events strategy Making Live Sport Matter, designed to showcase elite competition, drive performance benefits and create lasting social impact for host cities.
Working in partnership with Arts Council England, the festival will place culture at its heart, featuring bold, ambitious work by disabled and neurodivergent artists. A dynamic programme of performances, exhibitions and collaborative experiences will sit alongside international sport, spotlighting diverse voices and creative excellence.
Delivered in collaboration with Liverpool City Council, the week-long festival will feature four international para sport competitions, taking place in the build-up to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront will provide the backdrop, with venues including M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the Pier Head.
Alongside elite competition, a participation and cultural programme led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists will be fully integrated into the event, championing representation, access and opportunity while creating meaningful engagement for local communities and visitors alike.
Recruitment is now open for a specialist Stakeholder Board, which will oversee the strategic delivery of the festival. The board will include representatives from UK Sport, Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, and Paralympics GB, alongside independent members, including an experienced para sport athlete, a disabled artist and an independent chair.
In addition, recruitment has begun for a Creative Producer to lead the artistic vision and delivery of the cultural programme. Sitting on the Stakeholder Board, the successful candidate will shape a bold, disability-led experience that brings sport and culture together while driving long-term social impact and greater visibility for disabled creatives.
The festival is funded by UK Sport, Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Accommodation BID, marking a significant investment in Liverpool’s global sporting and cultural future.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
“We’re delighted to be hosting such an important and empowering event in our city – bringing together athletes, artists, and audiences, in a truly accessible and inclusive way.
“This is an innovative, ground-breaking concept and through working with UK Sport and our other partners, our vision is to create a pioneering and progressive sport and cultural event which delivers performance improvements and cultural excellence while amplifying visibility and opportunities for people with disabilities throughout our community and beyond.”
Esther Britten MBE, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, said:
“This is an incredibly exciting moment for para sport in the UK. We’re proud to be creating an event that brings elite competition and culture together, creating a powerful platform to celebrate Paralympic athletes and build momentum towards LA 2028.
“Liverpool has repeatedly proven itself to be an exceptional host city, delivering world-class events with energy and creativity. We’re looking forward to working with our partners to deliver an event that builds on the UK’s strong Paralympic legacy and reflects our ambition to create environments that support performance, inspire audiences and showcases inclusive sport at its very best. Further details on the sport programme will be confirmed in due course.”
Jen Cleary, Director North West and Combined Arts, Arts Council England, said:
“We’re excited to be collaborating on this new festival of unity, sport and creativity. Our investment will enable a substantial cultural programme led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists to sit at the heart of the event, giving festival audiences an opportunity to experience extraordinary artistic work alongside excellence in para sport.”
Bev Ward, COO at UKEL, said:
“UKEL is delighted to be chosen to deliver this event for UK Sport, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council. This is a great opportunity to bring together elite artists and athletes over a week of incredible competition and performance, in the globally renowned events city of Liverpool. UKEL’s talented team and partners will deliver a gold standard event for participants and spectators, and we’re glad to launch applications for the Stakeholder Board to oversee our exciting plans.”
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