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

Off the Shelf

Photos from Off the Shelf 2022

Autumn in Sheffield is pretty much synonymous with literary delights, as Off the Shelf festival of books, words and ideas returns to the city. The festival hosts a programme packed with talks and readings from world renowned authors and poets, famous folk off the telly, and a few knowledgable locals.

Each year, the festival absorbs audiences in topics ranging from pop music to politics, fine art to feminism.

Come back soon for dates and our highlights among the writer talks, workshops and events in the 2026 programme.

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Everywhere At Once: Sheffield

Fri. 26 June 2026 — Sun. 28 June 2026

Bringing the festival season to grassroots venues across the country for one big weekend. Sheffield's lineup includes Jim Ghedi, Jodie Harsh​​​​​​​, Toddla T and more, at venues Sidney & Matilda, Lughole, FORGE Warehouse, Gut Level and Dryad Works.

Hillsborough Bookshop

A bookshop with a focus on children’s books, sharing the power of stories and different voices within the Hillsborough community.

Akeem Balogun

Writer Akeem Balogun talks to Annalisa Toccara about his short story collection about human survival, and why he co-founded independent publishing company Okapi Books.

Rae de Soleil

A firm fixture on Sheffield's poetry scene, weaving the ills of society and its oppression within each word and unravelling the personal-political.