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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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Festival of Debate

Get informed, inspired and filled with ideas for positive change. With talks on big social, political, environmental and economic issues. The festival is taking a break in 2026 – come back for details of the 2027 event.

Celluloid Screams

Showroom

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.

Porter Book Shop

A chalkboard out front invites “stuff fans” into this small but stacked secondhand bookshop on the independent high street of Sharrow Vale Road.

Higher Fields Festival

Sat. 27 June 2026

S2

An outdoor grassroots music festival, new for summer 2026. Bringing together DIY musicians, crews and communities from South Yorks and beyond – including Gut Level, Hatch, Groundwork and Grub Records and more. Followed by an afterparty at Steamworks.