Outer Waves 2026: Liverpool’s Experimental Arts Festival Returns — May 23–24, 2026
Following an acclaimed debut in 2025, Outer Waves Festival returns to Liverpool this spring for its second edition, taking place May 23–24, 2026, across Invisible Wind Factory and Make North Docks.
Outer Waves is a weekend of boundary-pushing sound, performance, and art — a gathering for the curious and the sonically adventurous. This year’s programme brings together an international roster of artists exploring ritual, rhythm, and raw emotion in all their forms.
The 2026 lineup features OXN (featuring Radie Peat of Lankum), weaving Irish folk mysticism through droning electronics; Dame Area, the Catalan duo known for their percussive industrial minimalism; Jarboe & Thor Harris (Swans), two legendary figures of transcendent experimental rock; Waq Waq Kingdom from Japan, fusing psychedelic dance and tribal bass; Syrian musician Mohammad Syfkhan, whose euphoric reinterpretations of Dabke music ignite dance floors; Liverpool art collective a.P.A.t.T., masters of genre-defying chaos; the ever-anarchic Unstoppable Sweeties Show; and Domestic Partners, bringing surreal, queer performance pop.
Beyond the performances, Outer Waves 2026 will host workshops, panel discussions, commissions and art installations, with further details to be announced. As the sun sets, the celebration continues with after-parties at Quarry, featuring guest DJs, live collaborations, and immersive late-night experiences.
On this year’s festival, the organisers comment:
“Outer Waves celebrates the wild, the wonderful, and the weird. It’s a meeting point for those who see art as a form of resistance and transformation — a space where sound and performance collide.”
Early bird tickets are available Monday 3rd November @ 12pm via Resident Advisor & www.outer-waves.co.uk.
About Outer Waves
Founded in 2024, Outer Waves is an independent Liverpool-based festival dedicated to experimental sound, art, and performance. Presented in collaboration with LIPA, the Musicians’ Union, Outlands Network, and DaDaFest, the 2026 edition reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity and artistic innovation. Supported by Arts Council England, Outer Waves continues to expand its reach, accessibility, and artist development across the North West and beyond.