Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF), the longest running annual festival of Arab arts and culture in the UK, returns for its 24th year this July – and has just announced more events for this year’s edition!
This year’s festival launches on Friday 17th July with LAAF favourites, the Al-Awhadel Band, returning to Liverpool to perform in the iconic St George’s Hall Concert Room. Spotlighting the evocative sounds of the oud, the band is led by Yaser Awdhali, an artist and composer from Aden, Yemen.
Yaser began his artistic career in childhood, learning to play the oud at a young age, influenced by his father, the great artist Ahmed Omar Awdhali – a celebrated musician with a long and distinguished career across the Gulf states. Now Yaser himself has earned the title ‘Artist of the Diaspora!’ Expect a celebration of Yemeni music, with the mesmerising Al-Awhadel Band.
FOR WHAT’S ON AND TICKETS VISIT THE WEBSITE
On Saturday 18th July, Sudan’s eclectic and vibrant cuisine and literature will be explored at The Black-E. The Sudanese Culinary Arts and Literature event explores the meaning of home through food, art, and storytelling, in collaboration with the London-based publisher, the Almas Art Foundation.
Centred around the work of British-Sudanese food archivist – and author of The Sudanese Kitchen – Omer Tijani, the event brings together recipes, oral histories, and cultural narratives that preserve and celebrate Sudan’s heritage. Sudanese food will also be available for all attendees!
The Sudanese Kitchen began as a long-term documentation project and website led by Omer Al Tijani, and developed into a landmark cookbook and cultural archive that collects over 100 recipes and contextual essays, as well as personal and field photographs to present Sudan’s culinary diversity.
FOR WHAT’S ON AND TICKETS VISIT THE WEBSITE
On Sunday 19th July, LAAF once again collaborate with At the Library to bring a family-friendly screening and workshop to The Plaza Cinema, Crosby. ‘A Journey Home’ is a screening of four short animated films, touching on the theme of home, and all told through the perspectives of young characters. The films will be followed by a creative workshop.
I am from Palestine (Palestine-USA, 2023) 05:32 mins: As Saamidah, a young Palestinian-American girl, anxiously starts her first day of school, she finds her identity in question when faced with a world map that doesn’t include her homeland. Director – Iman Zawahry, Producer – Rifk Ebeid
OLIVIA (Algeria, 2024) 05:00 mins: Olivia follows a woman uprooted from her olive land and forced into exile with her son. In an unfamiliar world, she struggles to belong while trying to protect him, until she is faced with the decision to return, leading her on a final journey. Director – Shawki Boukef
BAHR (Egypt, 2025) 07.30 mins: While grieving the loss of his wife, a father struggles with faith in a chance to reconnect with her; the journey is portrayed as death being a beginning rather than an end, a simple line separating two worlds. Director – Belal Samra
All Aboard (Lebanon-France, 2024) 06.40 mins: In order to follow his dream, Ray come illegally aboard the Nucleus Express at the expense of Copper, a passenger who has his ticket for the trip. Directed by: Joe Azar, Sasha Grandet, Sami Haouas, Camille Lecour, Julie Marquet, Anaïs Mascherpa, Christina Varlokost
Workshop: ‘Map Without Borders!’ Join us for a family creative workshop exploring roots, memory and belonging through drawing, storytelling, mapping, and traditional Karagoz-inspired shadow puppetry. No art experience needed. Everyone is welcome.
FOR WHAT’S ON AND TICKETS VISIT THE WEBSITE
This year’s festival will highlight how Arab artists – from within the region and across the diaspora – engage with the deep and ever-shifting concept of belonging, while also recognising those whose sense of home is less stable or anchored, as is often the case for migrants and displaced communities.
Across ten days, a bold and diverse programme will trace the emotional and political dimensions of home: from the comfort of closeness to the ache of distance, and the possibilities in exploring new ground.
Through sound, performance, visual art, and personal narratives, LAAF 2026 invites audiences to reflect on the places that shape us, and on how families, social networks, and communities continue to build foundations of cultural connection and inclusion.
ANNOUNCED SO FAR:
Yemeni night, with the Al-Awhadel band live / Friday 17th July, 7.30pm /St George’s Hall / BOOK TICKETS
Sudanese Culinary Arts and Literature in association with the Almas Art Foundation / Saturday 18th July, 1pm / The Black-E / BOOK TICKETS
40 Days and 40 Nights: Script in hand reading in partnership with the Royal Court / Saturday 18th July, 7.30pm / The Royal Court Studio / BOOK TICKETS
A Journey Home, Family screening and workshop in association with At the Library / Sunday 19th July, 2pm / The Plaza Cinema / BOOK TICKETS
My Father and Qaddafi / Tuesday 21st July, 6pm / Bluecoat / BOOK TICKETS
The Book of Damascus in association with Comma Press / Thursday 23rd July, 6pm / Bluecoat / BOOK TICKETS
Tamsin Elliott (UK) and Tarek Elazhary (Egypt) / Friday 24th July, 8pm / Philharmonic Music Room / BOOK TICKETS
In conversation with Simona Abdallah: Finding Freedom Through Art in partnership with Savera UK / Saturday 25th July, 2pm / Rough Trade Liverpool / BOOK TICKETS
Rhythms & Mixes: A Night with Simona Abdallah, DJ Hiba Salameh, and DJ MUSYS in partnership with Savera UK / Saturday 25th July, 7pm / Rough Trade Liverpool / BOOK TICKETS
LAAF Family Day
/ Sunday 26th July, 12pm – 5pm / Palm House Sefton Park / FREE ENTRY
Liverpool Arab Arts Festival takes places across Liverpool venues from 17th to 26th July 2026. Tickets for all events as they are announced will be available via arabartsfestival.com
FOR WHAT’S ON AND TICKETS VISIT THE WEBSITE
