Liverpool Improvisation Festival 2026

LiF 2026: Bigger & Bolder!

May 7th - 10th

Liverpool: The Global Stage for Improv

Liverpool is a city built on creativity, and the Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF) is its beating heart. We are bringing the world’s best improvisers to your doorstep and showcasing Liverpool's finest talent to the globe.

Standing on the shoulders of giants like Ken Campbell, Improbable Theatre, and Showstoppers, LiF 2026 transforms the city into a hub of spontaneous brilliance. While you are here, explore Liverpool—the UK's number one city and the 7th best in the world for culture, as ranked by The Telegraph and Time Out.

Whether you want to watch, learn, or perform, LiF is the place to take risks and innovate. Supported by the Unity Theatre and Liverpool Arts Bar studios, this is more than a festival; it’s a community.

Get ready for LiF 2026:

See it first: 18 shows, including 3 World Premieres.
Learn from the best: 7 workshops with renowned international teachers.
Experience it all: From Shakespeare and musical theatre to clowning and comedy.
Join the Jam: Hosted by Jen Hardy and Mike Burton.
Witness the connection: 12 global performers unite for the ensemble show, Ancestors
Connect: Social events to meet, mingle, and make memories.

Festival Passes

70% of passes have sold

Festival Passes Value pricing: All passes equate to just £6 per show slot.

Full Festival Pass: Access to all shows (Thursday – Saturday) - £78 - SOLD OUT
2-Day Pass: Access to all shows on Friday & Saturday - £60
Individual Day Pass: Access to all shows for a single day Friday £24 or Saturday £36 - EXTREMELY LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Liverpool Improvisation Festival: Passes - Unity Theatre

Show & Workshop schedule - Click on links for further information and tickets links

Thursday

May 7th

1-4pm: Diana Brown workshop part 1
6pm: Improv Triple bill
8pm: Improv Island Discs
9pm: Gricers
9:45pm: Music / Social in Unity

Friday

May 8th

10-2pm: Andĕl Sudik workshop
2-5pm: Diana Brown workshop part 2
4:30pm: Empty Set
5:30pm: Improv double header
7pm: David Elms Describes A Room
8:30pm: Improv double header
9:45pm: JAM Tastic

Saturday

May 9th

10-1pm: Oliver Senton & Dylan Emery workshop SOLD OUT
1:30pm: Improv double header
2:50pm: Ancestors
4pm: Phyllida Sings
6pm: A Very Capable Boy
7pm: The School of Night
8:30pm: Improv The Dead
9:30pm: Music / Social in Unity

Sunday

May 10th

10-5pm: Kathy & Joe Rinaldi workshop
10-1pm: TJ Mannix workshop
2-5pm: Rebecca McMillan workshop

Support the festival

LiF is an independent improvisation festival. All financial support will be used to create seed funding opportunities for new improvised work.

You can make a one off donation or subscribe monthly via Patreon.

Your support is gratefully received.

Donate

Socials

Visiting the festival

The Unity Theatre and

Liverpool Arts Bar studios

Travel, Accommodation +

Food Outlets

The Unity Theatre is located on:
1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
Home - Unity Theatre (unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk)
0151 709 4988

Box Office Opening Hours
Unity is open to the public 2 hours before show start time. You are able to contact our box office at the following times:

Via Phone: Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm
In Venue: 2 hours before show start time

You can book tickets for our shows 24/7 using the UNITY website.

The Liverpool Arts Bar studios is opposite the Everyman Theatre.

22 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BY

Opening Hours: 9:30am-12pm

Registration: Workshop registration will take place in the bar foyer of the Liverpool Arts Bar - we advise that you register at least 10 minutes before your workshop is due to start.

Access needs: There are staff on hand to show you around. If you have specific access needs, please let us know in advance via email at
[email protected]

The Unity Theatre is a 15 minute walk from Lime street station (Mainline) and a ten minute walk from Central station (Merseyrail).

There are numerous small hotels within the area all of which are 5 minutes from the venue. There are numerous bars, coffee shops, cafes and restaurants near to the Unity theatre.

There is on street pay & display parking around Hope Street.
There are car parks on:

– Renshaw Street (8 min walk)
– Hanover Street (15 min walk)
– Mount Pleasant (10 min walk)
– Duke Street (10 min walk)
– Lime Street Station (15 min walk)

If you are staying overnight these are a good resource for affordable accommodation.

https://www.theatredigsbooker.com/towns/liverpool

https://www.kayak.co.uk/hotels/Unity-Theatre,Liverpool,England,United-Kingdom-c17586-l26306/2024-04-18/2024-04-21/2adults?sort=distance_a