Bootle’s beloved Salt and Tar Music Weekender will return in August 2026 with a brand-new temporary home.
Next year’s festival will take place at Lock & Quay, the much-loved community-owned pub and canalside venue, while major regeneration works continue around Bootle Strand. The temporary move will allow work to progress on the expansion of the permanent Salt and Tar site, which forms part of the wider transformation of the town centre.
Lock & Quay, the region’s only community pub, which reinvests all profits back into local projects, offers a spacious garden and green space beside the canal. This area will be reimagined as a lively outdoor festival site for the 2026 Music Weekender, bringing the atmosphere of Salt and Tar to a new corner of Bootle for one year only.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said:
“Salt and Tar’s Music Weekender has become a key asset for Bootle, attracting visitors from across Merseyside and beyond. It’s supporting the town’s regeneration and also delivering real economic and social benefits.
“With the Strand transformation progressing well, Lock & Quay is the perfect temporary venue to host the festival in 2026 while we continue to make the permanent site bigger and better for future events.
“The 2026 Salt and Tar Music Weekender will be an event on the same scale with the same capacity, the same great atmosphere, the same friendly staff and the same number of tasty food vendors that have become so popular in previous years.
“We can’t wait to take Salt and Tar on tour for the 2026 Music Festival and bring back the good time Salt and Tar vibes to Bootle’s canalside.”
Brian Dawe, CEO of SAFE Regeneration, the organisation behind Lock & Quay said:
“We’re genuinely excited about what’s happening on Bootle’s canal-side. The partnership between Salt & Tar and Lock & Quay is all about working together, bringing amazing artists, live performances, and a real sense of community to the area.
“By joining forces, we’re not just putting Bootle on the map for music and culture; we’re building something special for everyone who lives here. 2026 is going to be a big year, and I can’t wait to see how our collective efforts shape a brighter, more connected future for Bootle.”
The 2025 Music Weekender drew almost 12,000 visitors to Bootle, with headline performances from Billy Ocean, The Sugababes, The K’s and Ocean Colour Scene. The event generated an estimated £980,928 for the local economy and provided a platform for emerging local talent including Keyside, The Solaas and Megan Wyn, who performed to large festival crowds.
Work is continuing at pace on the regeneration of Bootle Strand, including the completion of demolition and the forthcoming construction of a revitalised Mons Square. As part of this transformation, the Salt and Tar venue is being expanded, prompting the Music Weekender’s “on tour” edition for 2026.
Further details about the 2026 line-up and ticket information will be announced in due course.
You can find updates on their website.
READ MORE: Lewis Capaldi to Headline In the Park 2026 as Festival Returns to Sefton Park
