Step Back to 1985: NLI Live Aid Archive Goes Digital

Donation to the nation

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 full 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 40th anniversary 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. 

This unique visual record presents a raw and unedited look at one of the 20th century’s most defining musical, cultural and fundraising events spearheaded by Sir Bob Geldof for famine relief in Ethiopia, as told through the lens of hundreds of international photographers. 

The images capture the scale and energy of the concerts at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on 13th July 1985, including performances by Freddy Mercury, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, U2, Sting, Madonna, Sade, Black Sabbath, Phil Collins and more.  Now digitised by the National Library of Ireland, the archive offers a mix of both familiar and candid scenes from the ‘Global Jukebox’ event once broadcast to 1.9 billion people 

The newly digitised photographs which are part of the NLI’s Band Aid Trust archive are now available to explore online here.

Dr Audrey Whitty, Director of the National Library of Ireland, said: “By investing in expert teams and digitisation facilities, the National Library of Ireland ensures that culturally significant materials are both preserved and actively shared in new formats. This Band Aid Trust collection is a powerful example of how we connect people with the past in accessible, lasting ways. Our digital archive will resonate with those who remember Live Aid and invite new generations to discover the emotion and impact of this extraordinary event.” 

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.  

Read the full press release.