Step Back to 1985: NLI Live Aid Archive Goes Digital

New online photographic archive commemorates 40 years since the legendary concert

Friday, 11 July 2025

Freddie Mercury performing at Wembley, mic in left hand and right hand in a fist] — Freddie Mercury performing at Wembley, mic in left hand and right hand in a fist. Photo: Steve Rapport; NPA BAA331.

To mark the anniversary of one of the 1980s' most memorable events, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) has digitised 2,000 photos from the Live Aid concert and made them available to view online.

The Donation

The Band Aid Trust kindly donated its full archive to the National Library of Ireland (NLI) in 2017. It includes documents, personal stories, correspondence with donors, governments and broadcasters, as well as artwork, sound recordings, and hundreds of personal letters. The archive reflects the scale and complexity of the effort behind Live Aid. The archive has been catalogued and will be made available to researchers in 2026.

Experience the Live Aid Concert through its amazing photographs

To commemorate the 40^thanniversary of Live Aid, we have released a selection of 2,000 photographs from the archive online. These photographs document both the preparation for and performances from the concerts held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia on 13, July 1985.

The newly digitised photographs are now available to explore online here.

Upcoming exhibition Live Aid at the National Library of Ireland

In September, we will open a photographic exhibition Live Aid at the National Library of Ireland at the NLI’s National Photographic Archive (NPA) in Temple Bar. This will feature evocative images from the Live Aid concert, arranged to recapture the energy and anticipation of each performance. Keep an eye on our website for further details of this free exhibition.