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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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Beth Davies

"Everybody’s life is worthy of poetry." The Sheffield Poet Laureate for 2024–2026 talks to us about creative community, accessibility in poetry, and the potential for inspiration in everything.

Sheffield Wine Week

Wed. 24 June 2026 — Sun. 28 June 2026

One week of activities from wine-advocating venues across Sheffield. Organised by the folks at Tenaya Wine in Crookes and The Old Shoe in the city centre. Come back soon for details of the third Sheffield Wine Week in 2026.

SENSORIA presents The Sabres of Paradise

Fri. 28 November 2025

FORGE Warehouse, 148 Effingham Road, S4 7YS

The seminal electronic band spawned in the 90s warehouse rave era by the now late Andrew Weatherall with Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns and signed to iconic Warp Records. Reuniting and coming to Forge Warehouse hosted by the folks from Sensoria Festival.

Change the Word Collective

A collective of new poets from around the world – DRC, Ethiopia, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Pakistan, Sudan, UK – who have now made Sheffield their homes. Making connections to one another and to the city, through poetry.