LIPA awards first degrees as it celebrates 30 years
More than 400 students from 28 countries attended the graduation ceremony at the Liverpool Experience Campus.
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) held its 2026 graduation ceremony on 21 July at the Liverpool Experience Campus. According to the Times of India, the event marked the institution conferring its first LIPA degrees and celebrating over 400 graduates representing 28 countries, including India, Colombia, Georgia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.
Sir Paul McCartney, the institute's Founding Patron, attended the ceremony. McCartney helped open the institution 30 years ago in a former Liverpool school to provide training for performers and behind-the-scenes professionals.
LIPA Principal and Chief Executive Professor Sean McNamara described the event as a milestone graduation. He stated that the graduates are leaving as leaders and innovators equipped to shape the cultural industries.
During the ceremony, McCartney presented LIPA Companionships to five creative industry figures. The recipients included actor Stephen Graham, actor and writer Cathy Tyson, Africa Oyé artistic director Paul Duhaney, composer Tom Fletcher and film producer Lynette Howell Taylor.
Howell Taylor, who graduated from a LIPA management degree in 2000, said the institute provided the foundation for her career. She thanked McCartney and Featherstone-Witty for creating a cross-disciplinary environment for artists and technicians.