Your Guide to a year in Liverpool 📅
Your year in Liverpool 🗓️
New city. A whole year to explore it.
From Freshers Fair and Liverpool’s biggest events to free days out, festive plans and things to do when you need a break from uni, here are a few things to stick in your calendar for 2026/27.
Some are free, some are worth saving your student loan for, and some are just very Liverpool. 💛
🍂 SEPTEMBER
🎪 Freshers Fair
18 SEPT FREE JMSU
This is one we obviously couldn’t leave out. Head to Freshers Fair to meet societies and sports clubs, discover what’s happening at JMSU, pick up freebies and find even more ways to get involved at LJMU.
🎭 Barnum at Liverpool Empire
SEPTEMBER £ THEATRE
Fancy a theatre night? Head to the Liverpool Empire for Barnum, packed with music, spectacle and circus-inspired performances. A good excuse to explore one of Liverpool’s best-known theatres while you’re new to the city.
👀 Look out for: Freshers with JMSU
September is a big one at JMSU. Expect Freshers Fair, pop-ups, events, freebies and loads of ways to meet people and get involved. Keep an eye on our socials for what’s coming up.
🎃 OCTOBER
🎮 Comic Con Liverpool
OCTOBER £ DAY OUT
Into comics, gaming, cosplay, film or TV? Comic Con Liverpool brings a huge weekend of pop culture to the city, with plenty to see whether you’re going all-out with a costume or just heading along for the day.
👻 Farmaggedon
HALLOWEEN £ NIGHT OUT
Want something slightly terrifying for Halloween? Farmaggedon at Farmer Teds near Ormskirk is packed with scare attractions, live entertainment and fairground rides. Maybe don’t volunteer to go first.
✨ River of Light
AUTUMN FREE
One of Liverpool’s best autumn traditions. Grab your mates, wrap up warm and explore illuminated artworks across the city centre and waterfront as the darker evenings start rolling in.
👀 Look out for: JMSU Campus Roadshows
We’re heading out across LJMU campuses in October. Come and find us for activities, freebies, a chat and a reminder of everything your Students’ Union can help you with throughout the year.
🍁 NOVEMBER
🌃 Explore Liverpool after dark
FREE CITY CENTRE
The darker nights are a good excuse to see Liverpool in a completely different way. Take a walk around the waterfront, Royal Albert Dock and Pier Head, then warm up somewhere in town afterwards.
🎭 Rock ’n’ Roll Panto
NOV–JAN £ THEATRE
A Liverpool festive favourite. The Everyman’s Rock ’n’ Roll Panto takes a classic story and adds live music, comedy and plenty of chaos. Definitely not your average panto.
👀 Look out for: Movember
We’ll be getting involved in Movember throughout November, with content, activities and conversations around men’s health and wellbeing. Look out for what VP Activities Josh gets up to across the month. 👀
🎄 DECEMBER
🎁 Liverpool Christmas Market
FESTIVE FREE TO VISIT
Christmas lights, food stalls, festive drinks and plenty of excuses to wander around town instead of starting that assignment. Liverpool Christmas Market is an easy one to add to your December plans.
✨ See the city lights
FREE LOW-COST PLAN
Not every December plan needs a ticket. Grab a hot chocolate, walk through the city centre and take in Liverpool’s Christmas lights before everyone disappears home for the break.
👀 Look out for: Reclaim the Night + Christmas at JMSU
December is a busy one. Join us for Reclaim the Night as we take to the streets of Liverpool, plus keep an eye out for festive events and activities before everyone heads home for the break. 🎄
✨ JANUARY
🏙️ Have a city centre day
LOW-COST CITY CENTRE
Back in Liverpool after the break? Ease yourself into the new semester with a wander around town. Explore Bold Street, Liverpool ONE, the waterfront or somewhere you haven’t made it to yet.
🎱 Bongo’s Bingo
NIGHT OUT £
Traditional bingo this is not. Expect dance-offs, music, ridiculous prizes and general chaos. It’s one of those very Liverpool nights out that’s worth experiencing at least once.
👀 Look out for: Refreshers
New year, fresh start. Whether you missed out in September or just fancy trying something new, Refreshers is another chance to discover societies, sports, opportunities and ways to get involved with JMSU.
📚 FEBRUARY
📖 Have a main-character study day at Central Library
FREE STUDY SPOT
Need a change from your usual study spot? Liverpool Central Library is worth visiting for the building alone. Find somewhere to work, explore the library and, when the weather cooperates, head up to the rooftop terrace.
🏮 Chinese New Year
CULTURE FREE
Liverpool’s Chinatown is home to one of the city’s biggest annual celebrations. Expect performances, decorations and events across the area as Liverpool celebrates Chinese New Year.
👀 Look out for: Student Officer Elections
Ever thought you could make a difference at LJMU? February is when our Student Officer Elections really start to get going. Look out for more on the roles, how to stand and how you can have your say.
☘️ MARCH
🇮🇪 St Patrick’s Day in Liverpool
17 MARCH CITY EVENT
Liverpool has huge Irish connections, so St Patrick’s Day is always a big one. Look out for celebrations across the city and soak up the atmosphere with your mates.
👀 Look out for: Varsity
One of the biggest dates in the Team LJMU calendar. March means Varsity, as LJMU teams compete across the city. Get behind Team LJMU and keep an eye out for fixtures, results and ways to support. 🏆
🌸 APRIL
🌈 Take a colour walk around Sefton Park
FREE OUTDOORS
Pick a colour, walk through Sefton Park and take a photo every time you spot it. By the end you’ll have a camera roll full of spring and a very niche photo dump ready to go.
⛪ See Liverpool from above
£ VIEWPOINT
You’ve probably walked past Liverpool Cathedral plenty of times by this point, but have you seen the city from the top? Head up the tower for panoramic views across Liverpool and beyond.
☀️ MAY
🧺 Picnic in Sefton Park
LOW-COST FRIEND GROUP
When the sun finally decides to make an appearance, grab some snacks and head to Sefton Park. Ideal for a post-exam debrief, birthday picnic or doing absolutely nothing for a few hours.
🐘 Visit Chester Zoo
DAY OUT £
Fancy getting out of Liverpool for the day? Chester Zoo makes a great end-of-term trip with your friends and gives you a full day away from uni, revision and your bedroom.
👀 Look out for: JMSU Awards season
We’re ending the year by celebrating the students who’ve made LJMU better. May is awards season at JMSU, recognising everything from societies and sport to volunteering and student representation. 🏆
✈️ Consider your year sorted
Obviously, this barely scratches the surface. Liverpool has something going on basically every week, so keep an eye on @johnmooressu 💛 for events, ideas and more things to do throughout the year.
For now, save this list, send it to the group chat and start making plans. 💛
