Join us for NOW Festival 2026: ‘Environment and Mental Health’
Schools across Merseyside are invited to take part in the 2026 NOW Mental Health Festival, which is set to take place during Children’s Mental Health Week.
The annual festival is organised and directed by Merseyside Youth Association’s (MYA) RAISE Mental Health Promotion Team, in partnership with Liverpool’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Support Partnership NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) Liverpool Place and the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership. It will take place over three nights, 9th, 10th and 11th February, in the Epstein Theatre.
The theme for 2026 is ‘Environment and Mental Health’
Evidence shows that a wide range of environmental and social factors in young people’s surroundings—both physical and social—deeply affect their wellbeing.
During NOW Fest 2026, we will:
- Explore what local social, economic and other factors damage or encourage good mental health and how these have changed over time.
- Highlight how these factors affect different groups of people, cause inequalities and affect the need for mental health services.
- Pinpoint what children and young people feel about their local area and what they are concerned about.
- Showcase how strong social networks and community assets are.
- Question through youth voice how these wider influences on health can be tackled by prevention initiatives.
What are we looking for in these performances?
Performances might feature social determinants like poverty, housing quality, education, and access to services affecting mental health with young people living in deprived areas facing increased mental health risks and reduced access to support services.
Pieces will show a strong sense of community and belonging through social connections, and highlighting the need for access to safe, green public spaces which are protective factors that support resilience and good mental health.
We’re looking to address youth-specific challenges like looking at the environment and its impact on mental health through the eyes of vulnerable groups (for example those at risk of becoming NEET, those facing race inequity, ND/SEND/SEMHD, LGBTQ+), school culture and environment e.g bullying and exposure to unsafe environments (e.g substance use, CCE/CSE, VAWG) which all significantly impact young people’s mental wellbeing.
Sign up today
Choose from one of the following sub-themes:
What is the impact of NOW Fest?
Since 2016, this annual event has brought together children and young people across the Liverpool City Region, amplifying their voices through impactful performances that tackle critical issues important to them and to explore emotional resilience, community and social cohesion.
Past initiatives inspired by the Now Festival include educational campaigns, suicide prevention work, and Liverpool’s recognition as a UNICEF Child-Friendly City.
We’ve also seen the creation of the ACEs project coordinator role and this has developed the city’s Growing Stronger Framework. Collectively, these initiatives strengthen mental health systems and awareness across the city.
Giving Youth a Voice – The festival provides young people with a creative outlet to process and communicate their experiences of how factors affects their mental health. This can reduce stigma and foster empathy in the wider community.
Building Resilience Through Community and Creativity – Participation in collaborative, expressive projects strengthen social ties and boosts individual self-worth—two key components of mental resilience.
Raising Awareness and Inspiring Change – Art has the power to humanise complex issues. Now Festival can highlight how conditions impact mental wellbeing and call attention to the need for systemic change.
Targeted Prevention and Early Intervention – By identifying themes emerging from young people’s lived experiences, stakeholders (educators, health professionals, planners) can better design local interventions and policies that prioritise youth mental health.
Empowerment Through Participation – Engaging young people in the creation of performances puts them at the heart of the conversation, helping them to feel seen, heard, and empowered to make a difference.
