Liverpool will once again host a powerful programme of events to mark Slavery Remembrance Day this August, bringing together communities, artists, researchers and cultural organisations to reflect on the legacies of transatlantic slavery and honour the resilience of enslaved people.
Taking place across the city from 17 to 23 August 2026, the programme includes public lectures, workshops, performances and the annual Walk of Remembrance, developed to encourage remembrance, dialogue and unity.
The annual Slavery Remembrance Day Walk of Remembrance and Libation is a moving public commemoration honouring the millions of African men, women, and children who suffered through the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and the enduring legacy of slavery. Bringing together communities, artists, historians, and activists, the event creates a collective space for remembrance, reflection, and solidarity.
It takes place on Sunday 23 August and journeys through historically significant sites connected to Liverpool’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, with speakers sharing powerful reflections, historical insight, poetry, and calls for social justice at key locations along the route. Through acts of remembrance and public testimony, participants are invited to acknowledge the impact of slavery on generations past and present while recognising the resilience, resistance, and cultural contributions of African and diasporic communities.
Central to the event is the libation ceremony — a traditional act of honouring ancestors through spoken tribute and ritual offering — accompanied by live performances, music, drumming, and spoken word that deepen the emotional and cultural significance of the gathering. The Walk of Remembrance and Libation serves not only as an act of memorialisation, but also as a powerful commitment to education, healing, and the ongoing pursuit of racial justice and equality.
The event begins at Williamson Square and will conclude at Piermaster’s House grass.
Schedule
12pm – Event begins
12.15pm – Williamson Square
12.35pm – Clayton Square
1.05pm – Bluecoat
1.30pm – Liverpool One’s Sugar House Steps
2.20pm – Masquerade and Libation at Piermaster’s House grass
All times are approximate and may be subject to change.