‘Liverpool is a city built on spontaneous creativity, and the Liverpool Improvisation Festival (LiF) is its beating heart’
LiF brings the world’s most elite improvisers to the city while showcasing Liverpool’s finest local talent to a global audience.
From high-stakes improvised theatre to boundary-pushing comedy, LiF 2026 transforms the city into a hub of innovation. Supported by the Unity Theatre, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), and Liverpool Arts Bar Studios, this is more than a festival—it is a community where artists and audiences take risks together.
2026 Festival Highlights:
- See It First: 18 live shows featuring 3 World Premieres.
- Learn From the Best: 7 intensive workshops led by renowned international practitioners.
- A Multidisciplinary Feast: Beyond comedy, the programme spans clowning, shadow puppetry, musical theatre, and storytelling.
Program Highlights Include:
David Elms Describes a Room: The multi-award-winning show following sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre.
Limboland: Internationally acclaimed musical improviser T.J. Mannix brings his latest hit show to the LiF stage.
The Sinners’ Table: The world-renowned ImprompTwo & Co present a sharp, improvised look at “those” guests who always end up on the most awkward wedding table.
Ancestors: A sweeping, ambitious production where twelve international and national improvisers trace a story across generations through the memories of a single house.
School of Night: The legends of literary improvisation return to LIF. They have played venues across the world including the world-famous National Theatre, The Globe & Elsinore Castle.
LiF 2026 is designed to showcase the full, incredible range of improvised performance. Whether you are here to watch, learn, or perform, it is the ultimate space for spontaneous innovation and performance.
Locations: Unity Theatre & Liverpool Arts Bar Studios
Box Office: Show tickets are available from the Unity Website or 0151 709 4988
Website: www.unitytheatre.co.uk / www.Liverpoolimprovfestival.com
Show Dates: Thursday the 7th – Saturday the 9th of May 2026 (Unity theatre)