The event will bring a packed programme of free citywide fringe events alongside a major weekend hub at the city’s Trafalgar Warehouse. Designed to bring together independent cafés, roasters, makers, baristas, street food traders, and DJs, the festival is a true celebration of the community and people behind the local speciality coffee scene.

The week-long programme is structured into three distinct parts:

• The Citywide Fringe (Monday 28th September – Sunday 4th October): More than 40 local coffee shops, roasteries, bars, and creative spaces across Sheffield will host free events. The fringe is designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore local independent businesses and discover new favourite spots.
• The Industry Party (Friday 2nd October): Trafalgar Warehouse will host a free industry gathering dedicated to individuals working across the coffee, hospitality, food, drink, events, and independent business sectors.
• The Public Festival (Saturday 3rd October): Trafalgar Warehouse will transform into the main festival hub for a ticketed public event, split into morning and afternoon sessions. The Saturday line-up features over 30 stalls, tasting sessions, educational “Coffee School” classes, street food, live DJs, the UK’s biggest coffee run, and Sheffield’s largest-ever latte art competition.

The festival was founded by prominent figures in the local hospitality scene, including Matt Cottrill of Steam Yard and Corner Store, and Neil Midgley of Motore Cafe, with creative direction and illustration by Molly Kirk of Steam Yard.

“Sheffield has one of the most exciting independent coffee scenes in the country, and we want to showcase this to the city and beyond,” said co-founder Matt Cottrill. “Sip Fest is about celebrating the places, people and energy that make Sheffield’s coffee culture what it is. We want it to feel like something people genuinely look forward to every year, with a sense of fun but also something meaningful behind it.”

Organisers have designed the festival for a diverse crowd – ranging from speciality coffee enthusiasts and home brewers to casual cafe-goers, families, freelancers, and anyone seeking a high-energy social event that does not revolve around alcohol.

Local businesses, roasters, makers, and traders interested in participating in either the Trafalgar Warehouse hub or the citywide fringe are invited to contact the organisers at hello@sipcoffeefestival.com.

For those planning to attend the Saturday public hub, early bird tickets are currently available for £5 via the official website at sipcoffeefestival.com.

This unique partnership will allow students to benefit directly from the real-world experience and professional talent of practitioners at Sheffield Theatres – nationally recognised as the largest producing theatre complex in the UK. Alongside industry training, undergraduates will be backed by the extensive teaching skills, academic resources, and creative research of the staff at Sheffield Hallam University.

The curriculum has been built to offer a holistic approach to the industry. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in both the creation and performance of musical theatre. This means working behind the scenes on technical songwriting, choreography, production logistics, and directing, as well as refining their vocal, acting, and movement skills on stage.

Ashley Barnes, Deputy Head of the Sheffield Creative Industries Institute at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Sheffield Theatres on this new course that builds on the strong partnership between our institutions. Together, we will support students with leading experts from the sector, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge through this exciting new partnership.

“This comes at a time of cultural renaissance for Sheffield, with the recent announcements of Sheffield being longlisted for City of Culture and the new development of the Crucible Theatre. Attendance of live performances has grown steadily in the UK since the pandemic, and we want to harness this energy and create a platform for new voices to emerge.”

The new undergraduate course leverages the world-class reputation of Sheffield Theatres, whose original home-grown productions regularly transfer to the West End and tour internationally.

In a joint statement, Tom Bird, Chief Executive, and Elizabeth Newman, Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres, shared their enthusiasm: “Sheffield Theatres are delighted and honoured to be partnering with Sheffield Hallam University on a new degree in Musical Theatre. Our theatres have an exceptionally strong pedigree in musicals, having originated Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing at the Sky’s Edge in recent years, while also producing landmark musical revivals in the Crucible and presenting the finest touring shows in the Lyceum.

“Sheffield Theatres’ relationship with Sheffield Hallam University runs very deep, and we are overjoyed to add this new element, one which we hope will provide a new way into musical theatre for many young people in South Yorkshire and beyond.”

The new course was officially launched on Thursday, 25th June, at a special pre-show event hosted during the opening night of Sheffield Theatres’ latest musical production, Summer Holiday. Prospective students can apply to study the course starting from the September 2027 intake.

Launching on Friday 17th July 2026 and running throughout the school holidays, the urban beach resort will feature a real sand beach, family-friendly fairground rides, a dedicated food village, and live music and entertainment on selected dates.

Brand new for the 2026 season, Meadowhall is introducing a dedicated Rooftop Beach Bar, which will serve up a menu of chilled drinks for visitors to enjoy between activities.

For families looking to cool off, the resort’s popular AquaSplash zone is returning with a major upgrade. This year’s water arena will debut brand-new Mega Aqua Slides, alongside interactive Water Blaster Battles and dedicated Foam Cannon Parties running throughout the day.

Younger visitors will also be able to meet a new lineup of Summer Beach Club characters making daily appearances as part of the on-site Kidz Club. Additionally, the event will host a completely free Gem Mining Beach Treasure Hunt for children to take part in.

For visitors looking for a more relaxed experience, the venue is introducing a Beach Retreat zone. Designed as an oasis to unwind with a drink, this space will host a rotation of live acoustic music and entertainment. Further details regarding the official food vendor line-up and performance schedules are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Darren Pearce, Centre Director at Meadowhall, said: “Summer Beach Club has become a real highlight of Meadowhall’s calendar, and we’re looking forward to welcoming it back for 2026. It’s a brilliant way to kick off summer at the centre, and we can’t wait to share more details of what visitors can expect this year.”

Standard entry tickets to the Summer Beach Club start at £2 per person. Alternatively, visitors can opt for a £10 VIP pass, which grants unlimited return entry throughout the entire summer season alongside access to exclusive centre discounts. The dedicated AquaSplash water sessions are priced at £4 per child for a 50-minute slot, with accompanying parents admitted free of charge.

Following the success of last year’s #StrikeAPaws campaign, which saw the official Sheffield Cathedral Dog Calendar sell out, Sheffield Cathedral, 1554 Coffee Shop, and Supertram are partnering again to find 12 dogs to star in the 2027 edition.

The competition will run online from 14th to 22nd June. Dog owners are invited to share photos of their pets using the hashtag #StrikeAPaws for the chance to win a place in the calendar and an upgraded prize package.

Alongside the social media contest, a giant pop-up selfie frame experience will appear outside Sheffield Cathedral from 18th to 20th June. The activation gives visitors the opportunity to snap photos with their dogs using props, fancy dress, and themed accessories, with treats available for both pets and owners. Organisers hope the event will celebrate Sheffield’s pet-friendly community while encouraging footfall into the city centre.

This year’s winners will receive:

• A professional photoshoot inside Sheffield Cathedral
• A starring place in the 2027 Sheffield Cathedral Dog Calendar
• Digital copies of their photographs
• A doggy goody bag
• Cathedral concert tickets
• A week-long Supertram travel pass

The Cathedral and 1554 Coffee Shop are dog-friendly spaces, and with dogs now permitted on all Supertram services, organisers note that accessing the city centre venue has become much easier for pet owners.

Ruth Maher-Heslip, Manager of 1554 Coffee Shop, said: “We absolutely love it when customers bring their pooches along to visit us. We always make sure our doggy diners are well looked after, and we even stock dog treats in the 1554 shop too. Last year’s calendar was such a success that we completely sold out and had to order more. Seeing all 12 amazing dogs featured around the Cathedral was brilliant, and this year the calendar is going to have a totally new look – we’re so excited for people to see it.”

The Very Revd Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, said: “Sheffield Cathedral is a place for all people – and dogs too. We love welcoming dogs to all aspects of Cathedral life, from services and events to visits to 1554 Coffee Shop. #StrikeAPaws has become such a joyful way to celebrate our community, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back with even more opportunities for people and their pets to get involved this year.”

The #StrikeAPaws competition opens on 14th June, with the Selfie Frame event taking place outside Sheffield Cathedral from 18th to 20th June.

Jasmine Thompson, Senior Marketing Manager at Supertram, added: “We’re delighted to support #StrikeAPaws once again and continue our partnership with Sheffield Cathedral. With dogs now welcome on all Supertram services, it’s never been easier for owners and their four-legged friends to get involved. Sheffield is a city of dog lovers, and we can’t wait to see the fantastic photos shared this year.”

For more information, entry details, and terms and conditions, visit the events section at sheffieldcathedral.org.

As a charity-run, volunteer-led event, the festival relies heavily on the support of local businesses and institutions to keep it free and accessible for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Key headline sponsors for the main stage this year include First Customer Contact Centre, Meadowhall, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Hall, and the Utilita Arena Sheffield. International law firm CMS has also stepped up as a Tier One sponsor.

The festivities will kick off with a high-energy pride march starting at the Kelham Island Museum and wrapping up at the main stage on Burton Road. Organisers are prepping for another massive turnout; in 2025, the festival drew in over 11,500 people across the main stage and its numerous partner venues throughout the day.

Ady Jaques, Lead Fundraiser for Kelham Pride, said:

“It is a testament to the city that we have such inclusive businesses and institutions that are willing to put their money where their mouth is to support the LGBTQ+ community and show their solidarity. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all our sponsors on behalf of everyone at Kelham Pride for allowing us to continue to thrive.”

Prof Liz Mossop, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, added:

“Recent reports highlighting the UK’s decline in LGBTQ+ rights rankings underline just how important it is to foster environments where everyone feels safe, valued and that they truly belong. We are proud to stand with our LGBTQ+ communities, and events like Pride are a powerful opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to equality, respect and inclusion for all.”

Sculptor Coralie Turpin was chosen by the Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) to create the artwork for its new Beckett Hill (Malthouses) development in the Parson Cross area of the city. Working from her studio at Yorkshire Artspace’s Persistence Works, Coralie connected with local schools and residents to gather personal stories and histories from the area to help shape the project.

Titled ‘Milestone – Compass’, the cast-iron sculpture is inspired by the historic roadside milestones found leading into Sheffield and the concept of personal milestones in life. Local schoolchildren even carved their own ideas into arrow shapes, which will be integrated directly into the final piece. From a distance, the finished sculpture will resemble a star, while the intricate, community-driven details will become clear up close. It is scheduled for installation next to a residential boundary at Beckett Hill later this year and will be fully visible from the public highway.

This marks the fifth major public art project delivered to the city by SHC – a joint venture development company between Sheffield City Council, Keepmoat, and Great Places Housing Group. Since launching in 2011, the partnership has delivered over 1,700 new homes across 17 sites, revitalising key neighbourhoods like Parson Cross and Manor, while generating over £110 million in wider social value for the region.

Steve Birch, Development Director with SHC, said:

“SHC is committed to delivering meaningful public art as part of its housing projects, as a way to create attractive spaces, provide interest for the local community, and express local identity and character. It has been a pleasure working with Coralie… I’m certain this will create an inspiring installation that local people can connect with and enjoy.”

Sculptor Coralie Turpin, who has been creating public art for 30 years and recently collaborated with Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller in Scarborough, added:

“The idea behind the work is around milestones… This sparked the idea for the title of the work ‘Milestone – Compass’ and how from one place, everyone has the potential to grow, shine and branch out – like the points on a compass that help navigate the way.”

The Sheffield shopping destination has unveiled The Style Suite, a UK-first retail concept located on the Upper Level of The Avenue. The interactive digital booth uses AI-powered technology to analyse shoppers and instantly deliver a personalised colour palette and fashion styling guide directly to their smartphones.

The launch is timed alongside the region’s peak summer event season, giving shoppers immediate data to help them source outfits for upcoming weddings, graduations, holidays, and race days across the centre’s fashion retailers. The automated digital experience is designed to run alongside Meadowhall’s traditional personal styling department, acting as an initial point of inspiration before guests book one-to-one try-on appointments with the centre’s human style experts.

The introduction of the high-tech suite follows a major retail expansion for Meadowhall’s fashion sector. The destination has recently welcomed several high-profile store openings, including new flagship locations for international brands Pull&Bear and Stradivarius, which join the centre’s existing anchor fashion retailers like Zara, Flannels, and Bershka.

Darren Pearce, centre director at Meadowhall, said: “There’s been lots of fashion news from us recently, with the launch of the new Pull&Bear and Stradivarius stores adding to our already great mix of brands. It’s important for us to keep pace with the latest fashion trends and services, and we’re really excited to be bringing The Style Suite into the centre to give our visitors something different to help with their fashion choices. The new technology is a build on the expert stylists we already have available to our visitors, and we’re excited for how the two will work together.”

Running alongside the main festival from 6th to 15th June 2026, the new initiative marks the first time in the festival’s history that a dedicated programme has been built for younger audiences. The lineup will feature live interactive performances, hands-on workshops, family events, and accessible screenings designed to inspire the next generation of non-fiction storytelling lovers.

GEN DocFest Programme Highlights

• Horrible Histories & Horrible Science Crossover: A behind-the-scenes look at the hit CBBC comedies. Cast members Jess Ransom, Inel Tomlinson, and Richard David-Caine will join songwriter Richie Webb and crew live on stage for clips, production secrets, and a sing-a-long.
• Educating Yorkshire Retrospective: A decade after the BAFTA-nominated series filmed at Thornhill Community Academy, headteacher Matthew Burton, creator David Clews, and current pupils will discuss how the school and real-life documentary filming have evolved.
• Wild Futures (Sir David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday): In partnership with WildScreen, this day of adventure celebrates the legacy of the iconic broadcaster. It features an interactive global safari session with wildlife presenter and filmmaker Hannah Stitfall (BBC Springwatch), alongside animal lantern and mask-making workshops culminating in a “Mini Parade” at Tudor Square.
• Heaven 17 Family Rave: Hosted at The Steamworks by Big Fish Little Fish, this family-friendly rave celebrates the World Premiere of the legendary local band’s new documentary. It includes bubbles, giant balloons, a parachute dance finale, a licensed bar, and a Baby Chill Zone.
• Accessible & Immersive Experiences: An interactive, fully accessible live performance by FRONTLINEdance, a spoken-word show by viral activist Sam Browne, and Toddler Kino screenings—including Hamza Loves Animals: Africa! alongside presenter Hamza Yassin.
• Free Alternative Realities Exhibition: Sheffield of Stories by Adam Clarke, created with the National Videogame Museum. The project transforms Sheffield into a shared Minecraft world co-created by local children, which festival visitors can explore via projections or contribute to live online.

For schools and universities, GEN DocFest will also host three dedicated School Screening + Career Panels for Year 7 to 16+ students, featuring Q&As on breaking into the film and TV industries. Featured documentaries include Shop Dada: The Cornershop That Built Us by Sheffield filmmaker Darshan Gajjar, corporate forestry expose Wild East, and Syrian human rights film Maybe Tomorrow.

Mimi Poskitt, Managing Director at Sheffield DocFest, said:

“We decided to launch GEN DocFest, a new strand dedicated to children and families. Not only does this underscore our dedication to welcoming and inspiring the next generation of audiences and creators, but it will also help to ensure the documentary form remains inclusive, accessible and relevant for generations to come.”

The supernatural thriller will run at the Lyceum Theatre for one week only, from Monday 1st to Saturday 6th June 2026. Written by Danny Robins, the creative mind behind the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist, the award-winning play has already completed seven West End seasons and thirty global productions.

The story follows Jenny, who is convinced her new home is haunted, and her sceptical husband, Sam. During a tense dinner party with their old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben, belief and scepticism clash as they resolve to stay awake until 2:22 AM to discover the truth. The Sheffield cast features James Bye (EastEnders), Natalie Casey (Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps), Grant Kilburn, and Shvorne Marks (Three Little Birds).

Tickets are available now and can be booked via the Sheffield Theatres box office in person, over the phone at 0114 249 6000, or online.

The launch marks the retailer’s first-ever store in Yorkshire. Located on the Lower Level of the High Street, the massive 13,000 sq ft space will feature Pull&Bear’s signature urban menswear, womenswear, footwear, and accessories, packaged inside its latest interactive shopping concept.

The store will sit alongside major brands like Space NK, Mango, and Stradivarius, the latter of which also made its regional debut at Meadowhall just last week. Both brands join an established fashion lineup at the centre that already includes Zara, Bershka, Flannels, and AllSaints.

Darren Pearce, Centre Director at Meadowhall, said:

“Pull&Bear is a fantastic addition and we know it will be incredibly popular. The fact that both Pull&Bear and Stradivarius have chosen Meadowhall as the location for their first stores in Yorkshire speaks volumes, and we’re really excited by the breadth of fashion brands we’re now offering our visitors.”