14 Sheffield city centre events to book in your 2024 diary 🗓️
Sheffield’s events scene is stepping up a gear this season.
Whether you seek an adrenaline boost, new cultural experiences or a fresh sense of community, 2024 has it all in store.
Here are 1️⃣4️⃣ of the finest, and many free to attend, events heading to Sheffield city centre between April and July 2024.
💡 Click the link for further information on each event.
0️⃣1️⃣ Sheffield Half Marathon 🎽
🗓️ Sunday 7 April
0️⃣2️⃣ Everybody's Talking About Jamie 🎭
🗓️ Tuesday 9 to Saturday 20 April
0️⃣3️⃣ Festival of Debate 🗳️
🗓️ Tuesday 16 April to Saturday 25 May
0️⃣4️⃣ Pollen 🌸
🗓️ Sunday 21 April
0️⃣5️⃣ Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 🎻
🗓️ Friday 17 May to Saturday 25 May
0️⃣6️⃣ Dev Fest 👪
🗓️ Saturday 18 May
0️⃣7️⃣ Sheffield Food Festival 🌯
🗓️ Saturday 25 to Monday 27 May
0️⃣8️⃣ Crossed Wires 🎧
🗓️ Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June
0️⃣9️⃣ Sheffield DocFest 🎥
🗓️ Wednesday 12 to Monday 17 June
1️⃣0️⃣ Migration Matters Festival 🌏
🗓️ Friday 14 to Saturday 22 June
1️⃣1️⃣ Fan City Sheffield ⚽
🗓️ Friday 14 June to Sunday 14 July
1️⃣2️⃣ Sheffield Pinknic 🏳️🌈
🗓️ Saturday 13 July
1️⃣3️⃣ Sheffield Grand Prix 🚲
🗓️ Wednesday 17 July
1️⃣4️⃣ The Fringe at Tramlines 🎶
🗓️ Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July
📖 All information correct at time of posting. Please visit individual venues’ and events websites for the latest details.
April 2024
Sheffield Half Marathon 🎽
When: Sunday 7 April. 9.30am start.
Where: The route starts on Arundel Gate and heads down Charter Row out to Ringinglow and back.
There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a running event. Sheffield Half Marathon is one of the most challenging routes in the UK, due to the steep but scenic course. It’s also one of the best attended and runners regularly praise the support from spectators.
Huge crowds of supporters will cheer on the run participants as they pass through Sheffield city centre, creating an electric atmosphere. Support your loved ones - and strangers - alike while enjoying the race village at Tudor Square or the bustling Peace Gardens.
🎽 Sheffield Half Marathon - 7th April 2024 | Run For All | Run For All
April 2024
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie 🎭
When: Tuesday 9 to Saturday 20 April.
Where: Lyceum Theatre.
Smash hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is back in town 👠
The coming-of-age musical returns to the Lyceum seven years after it first took Sheffield by storm, following a record West End residency.
In case you missed it, the show follows the life of Sheffield teenager Jamie as he overcomes prejudice and bullies to become a sensational drag queen. The combination of catchy music and by turns moving, then hilarious, storylines give audiences the ultimate feel-good experience.
Visit the Sheffield Theatres website for performance times and tickets.
April and May 2024
Festival of Debate 🗳️
When: Tuesday 16 April to Saturday 25 May.
Where: Multiple venues.
Did you know Sheffield is home to the largest annual politics festival in the UK? 🤔
The Festival of Debate brings people together to share new ideas and lived experiences through events covering democracy, inequality and climate. And with the next UK election set to take place before 2025, there’s plenty to discuss.
Highlights of the 2024 programme include:
💬 Among The Trolls, a free talk by Marianna Spring, the BBC’s first disinformation and social media correspondent 🎟️ Marianna Spring: Among the Trolls - My Journey Through Conspiracyland | Festival of Debate.
💬 Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology at University College London, will also air his thoughts on what action is needed to tackle health inequality 🎟️ Michael Marmot: Health Inequalities | Festival of Debate.
🗳️ Festival of Debate 2024: Join the conversation
April 2024
Pollen 🌸
When: Sunday 21 April, 10am-4pm, also the third Sunday of every month.
Where: Grey to Green, Castlegate.
Who needs the famous flower markets of Amsterdam? 🌷
Step into an urban oasis closer to home at Pollen, a monthly celebration of all things botanical right in the heart of S1.
Expect to browse beautiful bouquets of flowers, both fresh and dried, or pick up new plants with all the necessary accessories.
There’s also street food and music to enjoy while strolling alongside the River Don.
🌸 Pollen. Inner-City Flower Market — Grey To Green, Sheffield (pollenmarket.co.uk)
May 2024
Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 🎻
When: Friday 17 May to Saturday 25 May.
Where: Most events at the Crucible Playhouse.
In 1984, what was intended as a one-off festival of Beethoven music took place at The Crucible.
This year is the 40th anniversary edition of the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival from organisers Music in the Round.
The packed programme includes performances from internationally acclaimed stars such as baritone Roderick Williams OBE and cellist Steven Isserlis, who is the 2024 festival’s guest curator.
There are also family concerts and talent from Sheffield, including the Abbeydale Singers choir and Ensemble 360, to enjoy.
🎻 What's On - Music in the Round Classical music concerts in Sheffield and around the UK
May 2024
Dev Fest 👪
When: Saturday 18 May, 12-8pm.
Where: Devonshire Green.
Brand new for 2024 is Dev Fest, a family-friendly celebration of Sheffield in the heart of the city centre.
The free event will take place on Devonshire Green, with more than 60 traders from across the region already lined up. Local DJs are performing throughout the day, there will be fun activities for children to enjoy and local makers are to sell their wares.
Nicola Hudson, director of organiser Little Hummingbird Events, said: “Dev Fest is about bringing people together for some music, for some great food and for some high-quality local makers.
“We’re champions of supporting local businesses, that’s what we do. We’re hoping it will fill Devonshire Green and that next year we can expand it even further.”
Food and drink traders lined up for the inaugural event include Natural Spice, which specialises in authentic Jamaican food, and Oh My Crumble, which offers crumble made with Yorkshire seasonal fruit.
👪 Visit Dev Fest on facebook
May 2024
Sheffield Food Festival 🌯
When: Saturday 25 to Monday 27 May.
Where: Peace Gardens, Millennium Square, Pinstone Street.
Punjabi curries, proper cider and eclectic puddings are all on the menu at Sheffield’s biggest free to attend event. Sheffield Food Festival will take over the heart of the city centre over the spring bank holiday.
Pace yourself, as there are dozens of hot food and drinks traders. This year’s lineup includes vegan kebabs by the team at the former V or V restaurant and acclaimed Szechuan food by China Red.
There’s also an artisan market where shoppers can browse locally produced items - think gins, jams and olives - to take home.
Entertainment comes in the form of live music, a quiz, bingo and a Saturday night disco.
🌯 We're back! - Sheffield Food Festival
May into June 2024
Crossed Wires 🎧
When: Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June.
Where: Multiple city centre venues including Sheffield City Hall.
The nation’s top names in podcasting are heading to Sheffield for the first edition of Crossed Wires this summer.
Billed as podcasting’s biggest party, it will include live shows, big names and free events showcasing emerging talent in the industry.
Sheffield singer Self Esteem is part of the lineup, appearing with ‘podcast royalty’ Adam Buxton at Sheffield City Hall. 🎟️ Crossed Wires presents The Adam Buxton Podcast (sheffieldcityhall.co.uk).
Comedian Katherine Ryan will also live up to her podcast title, Telling Everyone Everything. 🎟️ Crossed Wires presents Katherine Ryan (sheffieldcityhall.co.uk).
There are some surprises planned too, but overall this will be a chance to bump into the voices behind your favourite listening material.
June 2024
Sheffield DocFest 🎥
When: Wednesday 12 to Monday 17 June.
Where: Multiple city centre venues.
The UK’s leading documentary festival is back between Wednesday 12 and Monday 17 June this year.
DocFest attracts film professionals from across the country, and internationally, to Sheffield. World premieres, 100+ screenings, thought-provoking exhibitions, and inspirational talks all form part of the event mix.
The public programme has yet to be confirmed but passes are already on sale.
🎥 Sheffield DocFest: Sheffield International Documentary Festival (sheffdocfest.com)
June 2024
Migration Matters Festival 🌏
When: Friday 14 to Saturday 22 June.
Where: Multiple city centre venues.
Global culture is given a Sheffield stage through the buzzing Migration Matters Festival.
The growing festival - the biggest Refugee Week event in the UK - curates a diverse mixture of musicians, artists, comedians and much more. The aim is to bring all people together and give a platform to underrepresented communities.
Last year’s festival was the biggest yet, with international stars appearing and sell-out crowds.
Stay tuned for the first exciting lineup announcement this week, with a bigger focus on climate, family events and some outstanding guest curators expected for 2024.
🌏 Migration Matters (migrationmattersfestival.co.uk)
June and July 2024
Fan City Sheffield ⚽
When: Friday 14 June to Sunday 14 July.
Where: Devonshire Green.
Cheer on your favourites at a new 4,000 capacity football fan village launching for UEFA EURO 2024. Fan City Sheffield is bound to be popular in the home of football.
The zone will be ticketed for England match days, free to enter for other tournament games and there are plans to show films on the big screen during non match days.
Tickets - with England’s first game against Serbia on Sunday 16 June - will go on sale soon.
Maybe it's time to get all your UEFA EURO 2024 viewing plans in place courtesy of the EURO2024_Match_Schedule (uefa.com) 😉
July 2024
Sheffield Pinknic 🏳️🌈
When: Saturday 13 July.
Where: Peace Gardens.
Sheffield Pinknic is the city’s flagship LGBTQ+ event, which reached its tenth edition in 2023.
Held in the beautiful Peace Gardens, it is a free, inclusive and family-friendly occasion, usually held in July to coincide with Pride. Only the date of this year’s event has been confirmed so far, with more details still to come.
Previous Pinknic events have included drag acts, dancers, stalls, a live stage and an after party at a city centre venue.
🏳️🌈 Sheffield Pinknic on facebook.
July 2024
Sheffield Grand Prix 🚲
When: Wednesday 17 July, from 5pm.
Where: Peace Gardens and the surrounding area
Watch competitive cyclists flash past Sheffield landmarks in a dramatic race against time.
The Sheffield Grand Prix is a high-octane race around a new 1.4km urban circuit.
The 10th event is part of the British Cycling National Circuit Race Series, and attracts the country’s best teams and riders.
There will be associated early evening activity for spectators to enjoy nearby.
🚲 Sheffield Grand Prix - Sheffield Grand Prix
July 2024
The Fringe at Tramlines 🎶
When: Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July.
Where: Devonshire Green, Peace Gardens, individual venues.
“The Fringe at Tramlines is Sheffield at its best”.
Tens of thousands of visitors and more than 400 artists descend on Sheffield city centre for this annual free festival each year. The little sister of Tramlines attracts an eclectic range of artists across all genres, from folk to indie and plenty of local talent too.
Fringe spokesman Alex Deadman said: “The Fringe at Tramlines has got something for everyone, and it’s a celebration of Sheffield as a music city. People love that it’s family-friendly and they can socialise in the streets. For venues it's a chance for them to shine, it’s really accessible to everyone. It is Sheffield at its best.”
The foundational purpose of the Fringe - which is funded in part by Sheffield BID - remains aligned with those of the original Tramlines urban music festival. It increases footfall in the city centre, and boosts the hospitality sector, on what was traditionally the quietest weekend of the year for the industry.
Alex added: “There is still that need to support the industry, in a really challenging environment for hospitality. It also builds an enthusiasm for the city centre, encouraging people to return.”
This year, the buzz of The Fringe main stage will return to Devonshire Green. The full line-up has now been confirmed. Local acts the Sparkle Sisters and Street Robots are among those taking part.
More than 40 venues are also programming their own jam-packed day of music and there will be family-friendly fun in the Peace Gardens.
