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

Festival of the Mind

Amazing work goes on behind university walls. New ideas constantly bounce from one laboratory or seminar room to the next. With a little help from Sheffield's creative community, that work and those ideas are let loose in the city throughout the Festival of the Mind.

Every other autumn, academic and creative minds from Sheffield come together to host exhibitions, talks, screenings, performances and more, in venues across the city. Past editions of Festival of the Mind have also brought to town a Spiegeltent, a glorious 18th century structure that's acted as the festival's hub.

Come back soon to find out what's in store for the next Festival of the Mind in autumn 2026.

In the meantime, keep an eye on the festival's Facebook page for updates.

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Celluloid Screams

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Sheffield’s horror film festival returns every October – getting you spooked just in time for Halloween. Come back closer to the time for details of Celluloid Screams 2026.

Pinball Park

Florence Blanchard's playful, 1000-square-metre floor painting makes Pinball Park come alive with energy. With its pops of colour and fantastic flowing forms, this mural – titled Bounce! – is a truly joyful feature in the Cultural Industries Quarter.

David Fennell-Roberts

A painter and printmaker capturing the essence of the area around Long Island, an overlooked part of Sheffield at the core of this city's rich history.

Stoneface Creative

A pretty ancient woodland turned magical gallery – now home to a sleeping giant, a rearing horse, and a changing and charming array of grindstone carvings and sculptures.