 Sharrow Lantern Festival 2026, Credit Patrick Amber (artist) and Tim Dennel (photography)
The Sheffield Culture Bulletin
We're brimming with excitement for spring in the city. The sun's coming out, the days are longer, the events are piling in, and to top it all off, we're going for City of Culture! If none of that gets you in the mood, then this video surely will...
Check out the below update to find out what's happening across the city, and as ever, please remember to:
Now, let's get into it.
 Sheffield Lunar New Year 2026, Credit Rachel Ren
Literature, poetry & writing
Sensory Writing Workshop, 8th April 2026 - A fun, sensory activity for ages 9+ to help you create a sense of place and practice writing!
Queer Poets Reading, 22nd April 2026 - Come join us to hear poems ranging across radical friendship, aromantic and asexual identity, non-binary re-imagining of queer ancestry.
Sheffield Indie Book Festival, 25th - 26th April 2026 - Sheffield’s independent bookshops have come together to create something special. This is a festival made by booksellers, for book lovers, and we caught up with Juno books to find out more - click the above link!
Three Sheffield poets: Helen Mort, Suzannah Evans, Molly Naylor, 25th April 2026 - Join Sheaf Poetry for readings by three Sheffield-based poets. This event forms part of the brand-new Sheffield Indie Book Festival!.
Off the Shelf Festival presents: The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, 18th May 2026 - International best selling author Matt Haig is coming to Sheffield! If you could relive your most meaningful moments, would you?
History & heritage
More Than a Degree: 120 Years of Life at the Students' Union, Spring 2026 - This exhibition has a wealth of stories to inform, surprise, and entertain.
After Hours at Sheffield Cathedral, 9th April 2026 - Guided by expert storytellers, you will uncover centuries of history, intriguing legends and architectural wonders.
Sheffield’s Global History: Slavery in the Americas c.1760 to 1888, 15th April 2026 - Are you interested in Sheffield’s global history? Join Sheffield City Archives and PhD Student Tobias Gardner for this free talk.
Groovy, Laidback & Nasty, 7th May 2026 - The book launch for Daniel Dylan's History of Independent Music in Sheffield.
Screen/film & gaming
UNMUTED: Celebrating Women in Gaming, 1st April 2026 - UNMUTED is more than a networking event, it is a student-led charity fundraiser dedicated to creating meaningful change within the gaming and esports community.
Toddler Kino, Starting on 6th April 2026 - Toddler Kino gives little ones their first cinema experience in a welcoming, relaxed environment. Screenings are presented with comfortable sound levels, low lighting, and space for pushchairs.
Easter at the National Videogame Museum, April 2026 - Celebrate everyone’s favourite plumber, Mario, this Easter at the National Videogame Museum. Join to explore, play and learn about one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters.
Showroom Shorts, 21st April 2026 - A varied evening of fantastic short films. All of the filmmakers will be there to introduce their films and have a chat.
Music
Sheffield Folk Sessions Festival, 3rd - 5th April 2026 - Sheffield Folk Sessions Festival is a whole, free weekend of folk sessions in the fantastic pubs of Kelham Island. Their events are based on the idea of shared music.
Abbeydale Live, 18th - 19th April 2026 - Over 50 acts across 14 venues. Abbeydale Road will become a one-day showcase of music, independence, and community collaboration.
Sounds of Now: Annea Lockwood Prepared Piano, 24th April 2026 - This concert is a rare opportunity to hear Xenia Pestova Bennett play the intricate and spellbinding piano works of Annea Lockwood.
Sauti and Spice, 25th April 2026 - Sauti & Spice is a monthly live music experience built around African and African Diaspora rhythms and all types of dances, conversations, and connections.
Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, 15th May - 23rd May 2026 - JoinMusic in the Round for this year's Chamber Music Festival, as they welcome some of the world's finest musicians and stellar guest artists.
Brigantes Musical Grand Tour: ENGLAND, 16th May 2026 - Sheffield's professional symphony orchestra and Sheffield's Philharmonic Choir join forces for the first time to present: Holst - The Planets.
 Gleadless photographed as part of fILMfAM, Credit Brendan Ellis
Performing arts
HAF performing arts delivery during Easter, April 2026 - The holiday activity provision is for children and young people on free school meals, and as a provider we specialise in being SEND inclusive.
Artworks Together presents 'The District', 29th April 2026 - Set in a tower block community, in a dystopian future, a ruling authority has declared all music a threat to society...
Andro & Eve X Ghetto Fabulous presents Reyt Queer Extravaganza, 8th May 2026 - Join Andro & Eve and Ghetto Fabulous for a night of electrifying queer performance with drag, dance, pageantry and music.
Visual art, textiles & photography
Beginner sewing course! April 2026 - Whether you’re a complete novice or looking to rediscover old skills, this course offers a gentle, hands-on path to building your confidence in sewing.
ArtWorks Together Creative Weekend Workshops, Spring 2026 - Come try your hand at mosaic making, painting, photography, clay work and silversmithing!
"IT HAS TO BE APART, IT HAS TO BE ALONE": Exhibition by Jessie Tam, 11th April - 2nd May 2026 - A mixed media installation project Jessie Tam developed in response to the political turmoil in her hometown, Hong Kong.
Sheffield Ceramics Festival, 18th - 19th April 2026 - The festival gathers together around 50 ceramic artists, potters and sculptors. It's your chance to browse and shop for unique wares using a wide variety of styles and techniques, made in South Yorkshire and beyond.
Curator Tour: Queer Legacies in Sheffield’s Art Collection, 30th April 2026 - In this tour, Jon will introduce a range of artworks and objects that reveal how Queerness has shaped Sheffield’s museum collection.
Saturday Workshop: Portrait Photography with Jeremy Abrahams, 2nd May 2026 - The workshop will provide inspiration, help you develop easy and practical lighting and composition skills, and offer two opportunities to put these skills into practice with lots of feedback.
Community events
Nature themed crafts, Spring 2026 - Free sessions for families affected by Cancer, open to anyone at any stage - whether living with cancer, beyond it, or caring for someone who is.
Growtheatre Family Adventures: Dragon Eggs & The Secret of the Stones, Spring 2026 - Step into adventure this Easter and May Half Term with Growtheatre’s interactive woodland events for families in Ecclesall Woods.
Sharrowvale Market, 19th April 2026 - The market sees the vibrant businesses of Sheffield's Sharrow Vale Road spill out onto the street for a bustling event.
Beltane Wellness Festival, 2nd May 2026 - Align your vibe and experience the magic of Beltane with a one day celebration of creativity, connection, and Celtic tradition.
Interesting talks, workshops & meetups
Harry Bucknall: A Road for All Seasons, 1st April 2026 - Propelled by a desire to better understand our island nation, Harry embarked on a series of four journeys across Britain that would mirror the changing seasons.
Late: How We Look, 23rd April 2026 - See the gallery through fresh eyes and focus on ‘how we look’ during an evening of hands-on philosophy.
NCACE Festival of Cultural Knowledge Exchange, 20th - 24th April 2026 - Come shine a light on collaborative research activities, cultural knowledge and all kinds of partnerships between universities and the arts and culture sector.
Breaking the Spiral of Silence, 16th May 2026 - This workshop offers an embodied, holistic approach to understanding what keeps the
climate majority trapped in silence and what it would take to break free.
Creative Health in Barnsley - what's our next step? 18th May 2026 - What does everyone need to feel supported, stronger together, energised and listened to - to ensure everyone in Barnsley can live fuller, healthier lives through creativity?
What else is on?
The above isn't even a fraction of what is happening right now in Sheffield.
You can check out Welcome to Sheffield for comprehensive events listings, as well as Our Favourite Places who cover cultural content that gets beneath the skin of the city.
 Rock, Paper Wizards at Culture Club 4 in the NVM, Credit Jacob Flannery
Culture Sheffield
All our events and opportunities are updated on the Sheffield Culture Hub. If you want to find out what's on in-between bulletins, head over to our site.
We’re doing a mini-series tapping into some key issues that artists, creative freelancers and cultural orgs face when promoting their services and events.
Join us in May at Site Gallery as we explore some practical digital marketing skills. This first event will most useful if you already have a website and want to take it to the next level. It will help you build your online presence, boosting event promotions and spreading the word about your creative practice!
Resources & news
Arts marketing tips and tricks - In our new blog you’ll find some tips and tricks for grassroots arts marketing. Expect to find some free/low-cost tips and subtle changes that can boost your presence and develop your brand, as well as some Sheffield-specific advice with a list of resources that you can tap into in the city.
Blog collaboration with Sheffield Indie Book Festival! - We caught up with Sarah and Rosie from Juno books to see how they're getting on ahead of the Sheffield Independent Bookshop Festival, and to find out what to expect from the weekend.
Planning Guide for Grassroots Music - Last week, MVT linked up with Culture Sheffield at Yellow Arch to launch their new planning guide for grassroots music venues. This guide is now free to access on our website. We're in the process of pulling together useful resources and support for nighttime culture in Sheffield, so stay tuned for more useful resources on this page.
Sheffield longlisted for UK City of Culture - Incase you've been living under a rock; Sheffield has been longlisted for UK City of Culture! We are waiting for details about the bid process from the DCMS, but we'll be doing a full sector consultation soon so keep an eye on our comms. If you have suggestions about how we should approach the process, please get in touch via this form.
Culture Club announcement soon. Date in mid-June TBC! - If you haven't been to Culture Club before and want to know what to expect, check out what we got up last time. Stay tuned for info in the next bulletin.
Visit our website for sector support - The site platforms resources for artists, local cultural networks, our team's events and much more.
Opportunities
Check out our most recent opportunity roundups:
- For workshops, commissions, networking and sector resources
- For more paid vacancies and commissions
 The Lord Mayor welcomes guests at SBC Soapbox, Credit Smart Jervas Banda
Other call-outs & local news
Do you have a call-out or a story to share? Maybe you're looking for studio space, advertising your creative services, looking for crowdfunding support, or simply celebrating your work? Send it in and we'll feature it!
Lughole Crowdfunder - The Lughole is a not‑for‑profit, volunteer‑run grassroots music venue in Sheffield. They needed financial support after an unexpected back-dating of business rates, and have already smashed their target! Donations are still open for those who want and are able to contribute.
Snooker stays, Crucible gets £45m! - City of Culture longlist and now this - what a month for Sheffield! The transformation is expected to begin in 2028, ensuring the Crucible continues to serve audiences for decades to come as both a globally recognised theatre and an international sporting stage.
SBC Soapbox Spotlight success! - Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Safiya Saeed, welcomed guests to a sold-out event at The Showroom cinema, organised by Soap Box Collective at Stand & Be Counted Theatre. See the image above, and find out more about their work via the link.
A House for Jane: Sheffield Poet Helen Mort Marks Austen’s 250th Anniversary - The University of Sheffield and the Off the Shelf Festival of Words are proud to announce a special literary commission celebrating one of the most significant milestones in English literature. Check out this video of Helen reading it.
South Yorkshire Value of Creative Health Study - Are you a provider of creative activities for adults of all ages in South Yorkshire? If so, contact chb@shu.ac.uk to get involved in a new study!
Ever wondered why you can't get a signal at music festivals? - Events put huge pressure on local phone and wi-fi networks, but there's more to it...
'Wonderkid' photographer captures shots of beauty across the city - A 14-year-old from Sheffield is quickly making a name for himself behind the lens after discovering a passion for photography just two years ago.
National Year of Reading - This year is the National Year of Reading across the United Kingdom. James Urquhart, ACE's interim Director of Literature, explains what it is and how you can get involved.
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