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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

What's On

Our Sheffield culture calendar. Filled with picks of the city’s arts, culture and heritage events, both in-person and virtual. Plus reviews and festival guides.

Our Picks

Sheffield Festivals Guide

Our guide to Sheffield's cultural festivals for 2025. Featuring music, film, visual art, theatre, and more.

Our Picks

Film picks

Our picks of the cinematic delights on Sheffield's screens and online this month.

Our Picks

Art picks

Take a Sheffield art tour with our picks of the exhibitions and artists' events on now and coming soon – both online and in person.

Our Picks

Music picks

Make some dates with excellent bands and artists in Sheffield, with a hand from our Tom's choice of upcoming gigs.

Our Picks

Theatre picks

Our picks of the shows that are taking to the Sheffield stage over the coming weeks and months.

Ran

Fri. 27 June 2025 — Thu. 3 July 2025

One of director Akira Kurosawa's most ambitious and visually incredible projects. Regarded as his last true epic – inspired by King Lear, it was Japan's most expensive film at the time of release. Back on the big screen for its 40th anniversary.

Future Now Festival of Creativity

Tue. 29 April 2025 — Fri. 4 July 2025

A showcase of work by Sheffield Hallam University’s graduating artists, designers, filmmakers, animators, writers, architects and performers.

Peddler

Multiple dates

Peddler Warehouse, 92 Burton Road, S3 8DA

Food, music and art in a former warehouse, one weekend a month. Plus kids craft activities on the Saturday afternoons. With bonus Christmas crafts for their festive edition.

Park Hill Tour – Walk the Streets in the Sky

Multiple dates

Park Hill

Park Hill Residents’ Association invite you on a resident-led tour to walk along the Streets in the Sky, where you'll learn about the history of Sheffield's brutalist icon.

Sheffield Home of Football Guided Walks

Multiple dates

Take a fascinating stroll around Sheffield city centre, as you explore the stories of how the modern game of football emerged in Sheffield and the early pioneers of the global game.

The Moor Walk Record Fair

Sat. 5 July 2025

The Moor Walk, The Moor, S1 4PA (outside The Light Cinema)

AA RECORD FAIRS come to Moor Walk, an indoor walkway between Charter Square and the escalators on the Moor.

Inside/Outside

Sat. 7 June 2025 — Sat. 5 July 2025

Cupola Gallery

A celebration of outside spaces, with a collection of works designed for the garden by over 20 artists.

Crossed Wires Festival

Fri. 4 July 2025 — Sun. 6 July 2025

Bringing some of the UK's top names in podcasting from your headphones to the stage for one weekend. With a free fringe programme from BBC Sounds in the old John Lewis building.

Open Mic Night

Multiple dates

Utopia Theatre, 11 Rockingham Gate, S1 4JD

Utopia Theatre’s free monthly platform for celebrating talent and creativity in Sheffield. Welcoming upcoming and established performers across all genres. First Sunday of every month.

Marvellous Meadows

Sun. 6 July 2025

Manor Lodge

Join the Green Estate CIC as they celebrate National Meadows Day with the return of Marvellous Meadows. Explore their site as it becomes a blaze of colour and discover how meadows benefit people, pollinators and our planet.

Sheffield General Cemetery History Tour

Multiple dates

Sheffield General Cemetery

Join the volunteers from Sheffield General Cemetery Trust for a fascinating glimpse into Sheffield's Victorian past. Their guided tours of this Grade II* listed historic site run on the first Sunday of the month.

Paula Akpan in conversation with Sile Sibanda: When We Ruled

Wed. 9 July 2025

Juno Books

Hear historian Paula Akpan tell a game-changing history of queens and warriors who ruled vast swathes of the African continent, yet beyond the lands they called home, so few of us have ever heard their names.

Children's Media Conference

Tue. 8 July 2025 — Thu. 10 July 2025

Showroom

The UK’s premier event for everyone in kids TV, media and entertainment. With a free exhibition, Playground, bringing together interactive digital art and maker activities for children to play with.

Footprints Open Jazz Jam

Multiple dates

Alder

An open jam session led by the Footprints house band. All musicians and vocalists are invited to join – or just come down to enjoy the music.

Florrie: A Football Love Story

Fri. 11 July 2025

Juno Books

Join Graphic Novel Reading Room to hear Anna Trench in conversation with Gabi Putnoki about the story of a female footballer and the hidden history of the women's game, brought to life in a new graphic novel about football, friendship and first love.

Anything Goes

Wed. 9 July 2025 — Sat. 12 July 2025

The Montgomery

A fast-paced comedy musical that takes you back to the Golden Age of high society on the high seas.

Back to the Bones Festival

Sat. 12 July 2025

Sheffield General Cemetery

The annual Sharrow Festival sadly isn't happening this year due to lack of funds. To raise money for the festival's future and keep up the community spirit, Back to the Bones will bring bands to two stages in Sheffield General Cemetery.

Selected Space Sheffield

Fri. 11 July 2025 — Sun. 13 July 2025

Yorkshire Artspace: Persistence Works

Bringing together some of the region's finest artists, makers and designers for you to support and enjoy, over three days at Yorkshire Artspace.

Kelham Makes: Raku Taster Workshop

Sun. 13 July 2025

Kelham Island Museum

Join Kelham Island Museum for a special ceramics workshop.

The Weeping Willows

Wed. 16 July 2025

The Greystones

The Weeping Willows (Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth) are a couple of old souls, steeped in bluegrass tradition and draped in gothic Americana imagery.

Chance To Dance

Sat. 19 July 2025

One big, free day of music and movement in four outdoor stages around the city centre. With over 30 dance groups performing and lots of chances to join in.

Kelham Island Walks

Multiple dates

Kelham Island, S3

Explore the past and present of characterful Kelham Island and Neepsend, with walks on three themes. Discover stories of industrial Sheffield, working class community, and inspiring art.

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals

Fri. 18 July 2025 — Sat. 19 July 2025

Foundry, Students Union, Western Bank, S10 2TG

A horror-comedy homage to 1950s/60s creature-features, set in a camp and toe-tapping dystopia. Presented by Sheffield-based troupe Butter Side Up Theatre Company.

Portland Works Open Day

Sat. 19 July 2025

Portland Works

A 19th-century cutlery factory turned home to artists, craftspeople and small businesses. Explore this fascinating birthplace of stainless steel cutlery at its annual Open Day. With open studios, tours, workshops, demos, live music and stalls.

Pollen

Multiple dates

Grey to Green, S3 8LB

An inner-city flower market, celebrating all things botanical. Taking over a patch of Sheffield city centre one Sunday a month, with plants, flowers, fresh produce and music.

Bassfest Summer Festival

Sat. 19 July 2025 — Sun. 20 July 2025

Don Valley Bowl

Dedicated to drum and bass, house, bassline, and beyond.

Play Grounds

Fri. 27 June 2025 — Sun. 20 July 2025

GLOAM Gallery

An exhibition looking at the intersections of skateboarding and space, architecture and play. With photography and sculpture by Pierre Descamps, video by Jennifer West, and audio work to take out into the city by Dani Abulhawa.

Call for Artists: Join the Pride of Yorkshire

Just one month left for artists to join the Pride of Yorkshire. A paid creative opportunity on behalf of Sheffield Children’s Hospital to help deliver South Yorkshire’s biggest ever sculpture trail. Deadline Friday 25 July.

Tramlines

Fri. 25 July 2025 — Sun. 27 July 2025

Hillsborough Park

A three-day summertime celebration of music. On the lineup for 2025: Pulp(!!!), Spiritualized, The Last Dinner Party, Sigrid, CMAT, John Grant, Franz Ferdinand, and more.

The Fringe at Tramlines

Thu. 24 July 2025 — Sun. 27 July 2025

Sheffield turns into one giant dancefloor for a weekend each July. While the official Tramlines action takes place in Hillsborough Park, there’s fun to be had at fringe events in pubs, bars and venues right across the city. And lots of it's free!

KaiJuly Raids Again!

Fri. 4 July 2025 — Sun. 27 July 2025

Showroom

The Showroom's celebration of all thing’s kaiju returns. Expect giant monsters, rubber suits, nuclear horrors, mystical fantasy, and royal rumble free-for-alls. For it's second year, KaiJuly marks 60 years of Gamera, the giant, fire-breathing turtle.

Masters of Cinema Presents: Trouble Every Day

Sat. 26 July 2025 — Sun. 27 July 2025

Showroom

A lyrical rumination on the pleasures of the flesh, Trouble Every Day is a remarkable work of extreme cinema that challenged critics and audiences upon its release before it came to be lauded as a modern classic.

Public Image Limited

Wed. 30 July 2025

The Leadmill

Regarded as one of the most original bands to emerge from the post-punk era. From dub reggae to krautrock to angular dance pop, their sound has borrowed and evolved throughout the years. What’s remained constant is John Lydon’s anger, pain and wit.

Sweet and Sour – The Ultimate Tribute To Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo

Sat. 2 August 2025

The Octagon Centre

A night of pop anthems, heartbreak hits, and fierce vibes at this Olivia Rodrigo vs. Sabrina Carpenter tribute show.

Sheffield Mela

Sun. 3 August 2025

Firth Park, S5 6HE

A festival promoting diversity, unity and community spirit, shining a spotlight on cultural traditions of the South Asian community. With live music and dance, activities for young people, exhibitions and demos, fun fair rides, and more.

Sheffield Film Festival

Tue. 1 July 2025 — Mon. 1 September 2025

Showroom

Sheffield Film Festival is Showroom Cinema’s annual celebration of its rich film heritage and the thriving film culture of Sheffield and the surrounding region.

Rockin the Bowl

Sat. 6 September 2025

FORGE Warehouse, 148 Effingham Road, S4 7YS

"Forged in fire, set in steel." An all-dayer dedicated to rock and metal. Back for 2025 in its new venue of FORGE Warehouse.

Lick of Paint

Sat. 6 September 2025 — Sun. 7 September 2025

A weekend-long mural and street art festival. Bringing together local and international talent to transform the city's walls, underpasses and empty corners with powerful, high-quality public art.

The Ultimate Classic Rock Show 2025

Sat. 13 September 2025

The Octagon Centre

Dust off your air guitars for an evening of classic rock anthems from legends past and present.

Colour

Thu. 19 June 2025 — Sun. 14 September 2025

Millennium Gallery

This new exhibition brings together over 150 objects spanning art, science, nature and cultural histories, alongside a range of interactive activities.

Far Gone

Wed. 17 September 2025 — Sat. 20 September 2025

Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse

Follow Okumu on his journey from innocent boy to child soldier in this gripping, physical one-man play. Written and performed by John Rwothomack. Read our review from the play's 2019 premiere ahead of its return in 2025.

Algorithmic Pattern

Fri. 12 September 2025 — Sat. 20 September 2025

A festival and conference on algorithmic pattern-making. Exploring procedural approaches in human culture – from heritage arts and crafts like textiles and bell-ringing, to the contemporary likes of live coding and generative art.

Powerlines

Sat. 20 September 2025

Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, S10 1TD

A new independent metal festival for 2025 – by the fans, for the fans. Showcasing a lineup of local homegrown artists and national acts, open to all ages and types of metalheads.

Sheffield Heritage Open Days

Fri. 12 September 2025 — Sun. 21 September 2025

Ten days to explore heritage treasures across the city.

Midnight Marauders

Fri. 18 April 2025 — Fri. 26 September 2025

Showroom

Because some films need to be watched late at night... A monthly late night cult film screening starting at 11:30pm and running into the early morning (often on the last Friday of the month).

Float Along Festival

Sat. 27 September 2025

Float Along music festival returns to Sheffield city centre to do it all again for the third year running. Details of this year's lineup and venues to come...

The Signatures: Northern Live

Sat. 27 September 2025

The Octagon Centre

Experience the soul-stirring magic of The Signatures, the backing band for many of the Northern Soul original artists.

Spirit of Independence Film Festival

Fri. 26 September 2025 — Sun. 28 September 2025

The Light, The Moor, S1 4PF

A celebration of fiercely independent filmmaking, showcasing raw, bold and passionate films from around the world.

Respect your Elders with Wild Combination

Sun. 11 May 2025 — Sun. 28 September 2025

Join experimental food duo Wild Combination for a series of outdoor workshops on identifying plants, their cultural and ecological importance, and ways to preserve and process them for modern use.

NT Live: Inter Alia

Thu. 4 September 2025 — Mon. 29 September 2025

Showroom

Oscar-nominated Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, Saltburn) is Jessica in the much-anticipated next play from the team behind Prima Facie.

Alan Davies - Think Ahead

Thu. 2 October 2025

The Octagon Centre

A late middle-aged stand up on tour for the first time in a decade. Funnier than ever, he says. Alan Davies is a staple of British television, known for his performance as Jonathan Creek, QI and his talk show, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled.

Sensoria

Thu. 2 October 2025 — Sun. 5 October 2025

Sheffield's festival of film and music. Expect a truly unique mix of performance, live film scores, screenings, exhibitions, and music industry activity.

Beatles Complete

Sat. 11 October 2025

The Montgomery

A night of Beatlemania packed with hits from the most influential band of all time.

No Bounds

Fri. 10 October 2025 — Sun. 12 October 2025

A weekend of bleeps, beats and sweaty grins – bringing together music, visual art and technology. Lineup for 2025 to be confirmed.

Liliane Tomasko: The Psyche of the Portrait

Sat. 24 May 2025 — Sun. 12 October 2025

Millennium Gallery

For this new exhibition, New York-based visual artist Liliane Tomasko uses portraiture as an acute lens to shed light on the ever-changing human psyche.

Steel City Beer & Cider Festival

Wed. 15 October 2025 — Sat. 18 October 2025

Kelham Island Museum

Sheffield CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) know a thing or two about good beer, cider and perry. Join them for their 2025 festival, provisionally set to take place on 15–18 October – check back soon for updates.

Gwenda's Garage

Wed. 15 October 2025 — Sat. 25 October 2025

Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse

1980s Sheffield, Thatcher’s Britain. Three female mechanics set up a garage, naming it after pioneering racing driver Gwenda Stewart. This new musical tells their story – a story of fun, feminism, friendship, and the power of collective action.

Celluloid Screams

Thu. 23 October 2025 — Sun. 26 October 2025

Showroom

Sheffield’s horror film festival returns for its 17th year in 2025. Getting you spooked just in time for Halloween.

Off the Shelf

Sheffield's festival of words, taking place each October. Look out for our guide to the writer talks, workshops and events in the 2025 programme in coming months.

Ultimate 70s Show

Sat. 15 November 2025 — Fri. 14 November 2025

The Montgomery

Travel back in time and relive the sights and sounds of the 1970s.

The Sheffield Sustainable Market

Multiple dates

Victoria Hall, Norfolk Street, S1 2JB

Bringing together the best sustainable gifts from local makers. Helping you to live a lower impact life.

The Snowman + Live Score

Sat. 6 December 2025 — Sun. 7 December 2025

Showroom

Unite the Union Brass Band present a special festive performance of the Christmas classic with a live score.

In Dreams: A David Lynch Retrospective

Showroom

Throughout 2025, Showroom Cinema is celebrating the life and work of one of the great film artists with In Dreams. A retrospective of the late David Lynch’s screen dreams and visual nightmares.

The Ladies Football Club

Sat. 28 February 2026 — Sat. 28 March 2026

Crucible Theatre

When World War 1 forces men onto the frontline, the women of Sheffield take their place in the factories – and on the football pitch. They play to crowds of over 50,000, unaware that something will soon blow the whistle on their beautiful game.