Liverpool is set to make history from May 2-8, 2027 as it hosts a new Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival (ISCF) – a first-of-its-kind event in the UK that will bring together elite athletes that compete in the Paralympics and a world class disabled-led arts and culture programme on a shared world stage.

Taking over the city’s waterfront – including the M&S Bank Arena and Exhibition Centre at the Liverpool Experience Campus, the neighbouring Salthouse and Albert Docks, and Pier Head – the week-long festival will transform the city into a hub of energy, creativity and elite performance, redefining how sport and culture can be experienced together.

The UK Sport-owned concept will showcase four international sport competitions across Boccia, Para Athletics, Wheelchair Rugby, and Paracanoe, delivered in partnership with Boccia UK, UK Athletics, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, and Paddle UK, alongside an arts and cultural programme, commissioned by Arts Council England, delivered by Culture Liverpool, and led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists.

The four sports at the heart of the Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival will each bring their own extraordinary spectacle. Wheelchair Rugby – fast, physical and high-impact – will take centre stage at the M&S Bank Arena from May 2-7, with six international teams competing in what promises to be an electric atmosphere.

The highly tactical and precision-based World Boccia Cup, which counts towards Paralympic qualification, will be held at the Exhibition Centre from May 3-7.

Paracanoe comes to Salthouse Dock on May 7-8, offering free-to-view racing that combines speed, control and technical skill against the backdrop of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront.

And on May 8, Para Athletics – the largest sport in the Paralympics – will take over Liverpool Waterfront, including Pier Head, for a free open-air celebration of sprinting, jumping and throwing at the highest level of the sport.

Taking place just ahead of the LA 2028 Paralympic Games, the festival will also play a vital role in athlete preparation while elevating the visibility of disabled talent across sport and culture onto a global stage. It will shine a spotlight not only on elite and world class performance, but on the stories, creativity and cultural impact that surround it.

At its core, the festival is designed to bring sport and culture together as one experience – creating a powerful shared platform that celebrates excellence, creativity and representation for artists and athletes, while driving greater opportunity and long-term social impact. Core funding includes a £2.3 million contribution from the National Lottery and a £1 million grant from Arts Council England.

Delivered in partnership with UK Sport, ParalympicsGB, Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council, supported by Liverpool Accommodation BID, the Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival represents a major collaboration across sport, culture and community, with ambitions to create a lasting legacy both locally and nationally. Through moments of joy, pride, energy and togetherness, it will offer audiences a chance to witness history as it happens in one of the world’s most iconic waterfront cities.

Esther Britten, head of events and external affairs at UK Sport, said: “We’re proud to be bringing this new festival to Liverpool, creating a unique multi-sport platform for world-class Paralympic sport and a bold, disabled-led cultural programme.

“Providing more competitive opportunities for Paralympic athletes is a key priority for us, and this event has been designed to support athletes on the road to LA 2028, while showcasing the depth of talent this country has to offer.

“We’re especially excited to be working alongside Arts Council England for the first time, bringing sport and culture together to celebrate excellence, challenge perceptions and open up new opportunities.

“Liverpool is a city known for its energy and creativity, and this event, made possible thanks to National Lottery funding, will leave a lasting impact on how inclusive sport and culture are experienced across the UK.”

Culture Liverpool has already confirmed the appointment of Bev Ayre as creative director and recruitment is also underway for a Cultural Advisory Group (CAG) to support the development and promotion of the event.