Ultimate guide to Sheffield city centre events in 2025 🎪
📖 Article published 16 March 2025. All information correct at time of publication.
Soak up some reggae beats and see the world’s best adventure films - all without leaving Sheffield city centre.
Whatever your jam, there's a bumper crop of events, from festivals to races, fairs and open days, taking place in 2025.
Here we select 31 of the best dates for your diary over the entire year.
Click the title link in each section to find out more about each event.
⚠️ Please visit individual venues' and events websites for the latest details.
📅 Throughout March
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Some free events
Events season has kicked off in style with the month-long epic celebration of The Outdoor City, just in time for spring.
The festival incorporates the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday 23 March, where thousands of runners will set off from Arundel Gate to take on some of the city’s merciless hills.
There’s also city centre walks led by historians and exploring street art, plus outdoor activities such as stand-up paddleboarding to try.
And the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March) also falls under the festival’s umbrella.
The 19th edition of ShAFF mainly takes place at The Showroom, but there is also a loop of free adventure films to enjoy in the Winter Garden.
In the full programme, expect a breathtaking range of films exploring the world of multiple extreme sports, community runs, talks and even a near freezing plunge pool for the brave to jump into on Paternoster Row.
Don’t worry, there’ll be a pop up sauna to warm up in too at the Gather - Breath & Contrast - event.
Festival director Matthew Heason said: “It’s the first time we’ve done this kind of immersive experience, people have been registering for it straight away.
“We’ve also got virtual reality film sessions where people can watch the groundbreaking climbing film The Soloist, which is mind-blowing to see in VR.”
The festival includes a film premiere of Here & There, which delves into the climbing philosophy of British athlete Tom Randall. Tom will DJ at the after-party which follows.
There are also events focused on sustainability, such as kit swaps, gear repair workshops and talks.
Matthew added: “It’s really important that the festival keeps its roots in Sheffield, supporting local businesses, film makers and athletes, because Sheffield is really special.
📅 Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Some free events
Sheffield is a city simply full of musicians.
The Classical Weekend showcases some of this extraordinary talent by featuring choirs, soloists, ensembles and orchestras.
Free pop up performances are taking place in the Winter Garden and Leah’s Yard on Saturday 22 March, with concerts in the Upper Chapel from just £5.
There are also several family events and opportunities to try singing over the weekend, which is also part of the Festival of the Outdoors.
🏆 Kazoo World Snooker Championships 🏆
📅 Saturday 19 April to Monday 5 May 2025
📍 The Crucible
💷 Tickets from £49.50
History, sport and prestige collide in the World Snooker Championships, which has been held in Sheffield since 1977.
Thousands of snooker enthusiasts will travel from across the globe to see the sport’s top 32 players compete in a televised knockout competition.
Many sessions have already sold out or have limited tickets remaining.
📅 Tuesday 22 April to Friday 30 May 2025
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Tickets from £5
Did you know Sheffield is home to the biggest grassroots politics festival in the UK?
The first headliners for this year’s thought-provoking Festival of Debate have been announced, including 'renegade economist' Kate Raworth and journalist and author Lanre Bakare.
New for 2025
🎬 Culture Shock: Festival of Fantastic Film 🎬
📅 Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April 2025
📍 Showroom Cinema
💷 Weekend passes £70
Weird, wild and world cinema will come together at a brand new film festival in Sheffield.
Culture Shock: Festival of Fantastic Film is from the makers of Celluloid Screams, Sheffield’s horror film festival.
The programme includes UK premieres, previews and rare retrospective screenings of underseen gems from across the world.
🎻 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 🎻
📅 Friday 16 to Saturday 24 May 2025
📍 The Crucible and other locations
💷 From £5 for under-35s and students
Experience world-class chamber music at the 21st edition of this festival, which is guest curated by Music in the Round’s resident ensemble Ensemble 260.
Musicians in the Ensemble have selected 20 unmissable events to mark the group’s 20th anniversary.
Highlights include a spectacular evening with the world’s premier solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie plus a fusion of sounds with multi-award-winning sitar player Jasdeep Singh Degun.
🎪 Devonshire Green Festival 🎪
📅 Saturday 17 May 2025
📍 Devonshire Green
💷 Free admission
After a successful debut in 2024, this family-focused event is returning for round two.
There will be live DJs, pop up bars, street food and artisan crafts from independent traders until 8pm.
Community groups are also invited to get involved to help raise their profile.
🔬 Pint of Science 🔬
📅 Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 May 2025
Like many great ventures, the idea for Pint of Science began in a pub.
Now Sheffield is one of 42 locations where researchers and the public come together to chat about science, outside of a lab environment.
Previous events have taken place in the Sheffield Tap and 99 Mary Street.
🍽️ Sheffield Food Festival 🍽️
📅 Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May 2025
📍 Peace Gardens, Pinstone Street
💷 Free
Get ready to feast your way around the globe at one of Sheffield’s biggest free events,
The Sheffield Food Festival brings international cuisines and flavours to the heart of the city centre over a bank holiday weekend.
As well as sizzling fresh street food, plus food and drink to take home, there is always a full, yet-to-be-announced entertainment programme featuring local emerging artists.
❤️🩹 Sheffield Life, Loss and Death Festival ❤️🩹
📅 May, full programme TBC
💷 Free
Death may not be a common theme for a festival but it is a fact of life for us all.
Compassionate Sheffield hosts their annual festival, which last year included events at Victoria Hall and Orchard Square in the city centre, to share the message that death is part of life, and it should be talked about.
Events typically include music, activities in nature, writing, exhibitions and more, with a full programme to be confirmed soon.
💎 Goldsmiths North 💎
📅 Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June 2025
📍 Cutlers Hall
💷 Tickets £13.50
If you love jewellery, you will be in your element at Goldsmiths North.
The summer fair and shopping experience brings 50 independent makers who create contemporary silverware and jewellery to Sheffield.
Shoppers can expect to find one-of-a-kind treasures across a broad range of disciplines, and prices for all pockets.
📅 Wednesday 18 to Monday 23 June 2025
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Passes on sale now
The UK’s leading documentary festival, Sheffield DocFest features world premieres galore and attracts delegates from across the country.
Live discussions, immersive experiences and big screen pop-ups are a mainstay of the festival, with this year’s programme coming soon.
🎪 Migration Matters Festival 🎪
📅 Friday 20 to Saturday 28 June 2025
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Some free events
A soulful celebration of sanctuary starring international artists, the Migration Matters Festival marks its tenth anniversary in 2025.
This year’s programme is still under wraps but expect sensational musicians, inspirational talks and powerful theatre productions across a packed nine days of pay-as-you-feel events.
There is also a strand of events aimed at children, called Mini Mig Mat.
🎙️ Crossed Wires 🎙️
📅 Friday 4 to Sunday 6 July 2025
📍 Sheffield City Hall and other locations
💷 A mix of ticketed and free events
Podcast fans are in luck as the Crossed Wires festival returns for its second edition.
The top names in podcasting will head to Sheffield for a weekend of live podcasts, with entertaining conversations, Q&As and more.
Shows on sale so far include No Such Thing As A Fish and Help, I Sexted My Boss.
📺 The Children’s Media Conference 📺
📅 Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 July 2025
📍 The Showroom
💷 Tickets TBC
THE event for people working in kids’ TV, media and entertainment returns in 2025 with the theme of ‘Shake it Up.’
Alongside talks for those in the industry, the conference includes the free exhibition Playground for families. This brings together exciting new developments in interactive digital art and maker activities for the public to try.
🏳️🌈 Sheffield Pinknic 🏳️🌈
📅 Saturday 12 July 2025
📍 Peace Gardens
💷 Free
Sheffield’s biggest LGBTQ+ event is an inclusive, family-friendly and community focused event.
On the day there will be a blend of local music talent, drag artists, performers and stalls - hopefully with some sunshine.
Full details to be confirmed.
📅 Wednesday 16 July 2025
📍 Sheffield city centre
💷 Free
Watch competitive cyclists sweep past Sheffield landmarks in this thrilling midweek city centre race.
The Sheffield Grand Prix is in its 11th year and attracts top riders or teams, with associated activity to enjoy in the surrounding areas.
The 1.4km circuit finishes outside Browns bar on Union Street.
🪩 Chance to Dance 🪩
📅 Saturday 19 July 2025
📍 City centre wide
💷 Free
See some salsa and break out into ballroom steps in this diverse celebration of dancing in the Sheffield streets.
Details including the date of this year’s one-day festival are yet to be confirmed, but encouraging crowd participation and championing different cultures are key for organisers.
📅 Friday 25 to Sunday 27 July 2025
📍 City centre wide
💷 Free
Sheffield city centre is transformed with a carnival spirit for The Fringe at Tramlines
Beats, dancing, food and fun fills the streets and S1 venues for the showcase of grassroots live music across all genres.
The Fringe event carries on the original vibe of the Tramlines Festival, which has now moved to Hillsborough Park.
🎶 Sheffield Festival of Reggae 🎶
📅 Saturday 16 August 2025
📍 Network Sheffield
💷 Tickets from £15
Independent music venue Network Sheffield is preparing for its fourth Sheffield Festival of Reggae.
Held across three stages, the festival will welcome diverse acts across reggae, dub, dancehall and roots for an action-packed day.
Acts confirmed so far include Sylvia Tella and Iratio Steppas.
Martin Leverton, venue owner, said: “The last one was very successful, we had around 1,300 people in, so we thought it was time to open up one more stage and get it up to a full house.
“There isn’t anything else like this, where you can bring your parents and enjoy a full day of reggae music, in Sheffield. We have artists who appeal to people in their 70s and those which appeal to a much younger crowd.
“The appeal is right across the board and there is a community vibe too.”
The festival will also feature food traders serving Caribbean classics such as jerk chicken and deep-pan pizza.
🏺 Sheffield Heritage Open Days 🏺
📅 Friday 12 to Sunday 21 September 2025
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Some free events
Take a peek behind the scenes at historic locations with this annual series of open days at multiple venues.
This year’s Sheffield programme has yet to be confirmed, but the theme will be architecture, with plenty of fascinating buildings to see across the city.
🎬 Spirit of Independence Film Festival 🎬
📅 Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September 2025
📍 The Light Cinema
💷 Tickets TBC
Yes, there’s even more film fun to come this year.
This festival shares the best in fiercely independent filmmaking from around the world, with a focus on emerging voices, originality and creativity.
📅 Saturday 27 September 2025
📍 Multiple locations
💷 Early bird tickets £37.80
Enjoy live music in Sheffield’s cultural quarter as part of the Float Along Festival, which last year featured DJ sets in a brewery plus buzzing gigs.
Details of the artists appearing and venues this year are yet to be confirmed, but early bird festival tickets are on sale (and flying out!)
🎽 Sheffield 10K 🎽
📅 Sunday 28 September 2025
📍 Arundel Gate
💷 From £10 for the kids' runs and £29 for adults
Get on your marks for the Sheffield 10K, which starts and finishes in Sheffield city centre.
The six-mile, almost flat (this is Sheffield, after all) course is perfect for first-time racers as well as those aiming for a personal best.
There’s also mini and junior routes for kids which take place wholly in the city centre.
🎶 Sensoria 🎶
📅 Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 October 2025
📍 Multiple venues
💷 Tickets TBC
Huge names and unusual venues alike have attracted audiences to Sensoria, the UK’s festival of film and music.
Previous artists have included Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley, while offbeat events have been staged everywhere from swimming pools to drive-ins.
Details of the 2025 programme will be released later in the year.
New for 2025
🎶 Novocaine Sheffield 🎶
📅 Saturday 4 October 2025
📍 Corporation
💷 Tickets £15
Rising stars of rock and metal music form an explosive lineup for this debut event.
Held inside iconic alternative music hotspot Corporation, the acts confirmed so far include the Five Hundred, Bleed Again, Night Thieves and more.
Mosh pit action is guaranteed.
📅 Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 October 2025
📍 Showroom Cinema
💷 Tickets TBC
Prepare to be truly scared. Celluloid Screams is dedicated to films of the grim and horrifying variety, and takes place just before Halloween.
Only the dates have been confirmed for this year’s event.
📖 Off the Shelf Festival of Words 📖
📅 Friday 10 to Sunday 26 October 2025
📍 Multiple venues
💷 Tickets TBC
Bookworms rejoice, there is a festival in Sheffield for you too.
Off the Shelf is one of the north’s largest literary festivals, bringing top authors and more to Sheffield for a wide range of events covering poetry, fiction, journalism and more.
Only the dates have been confirmed for this year’s event, which is delivered by The University of Sheffield.
November 2025 through to Christmas Eve
🎄 Sheffield Christmas Market 🎄
📍 Peace Gardens, Pinstone Street and Fargate
💷 Free with some paid transactions
Voted one of the best Christmas markets in the UK last year, this festive extravaganza brings together varied traders across central Sheffield.
Taste street food dishes ranging from toasted marshmallows to Alpine cheese, partake in themed family activities or rides and cosy up in a warm bar for a seasonal drink.
Dates and attractions for 2025 are to be confirmed.
