The school holidays are upon us, the Women's Euros has come to an end and we've got four full weekends to get through before autumn starts to creep into our lives.
To make the most of the final few weeks of good weather, we've rounded up the top ten things to get involved in across Leeds.
There's everything from new bottomless brunches, Pride celebrations and pup-up dog cafes to dinosaur trails and Leeds' biggest festival to look forward to, just keep reading to find out more...
Love Island Final Showing
Monday 1 August 2022 | Manahatta Merrion Street and Headingley
Image: ITV / Manahatta
Manahatta is showing the Love Island Final at both Manahatta Merrion Street and Manahatta Headingley to mark the end of the two-month-long TV series. Every attendant even gets a complimentary drink of the hilariously named cocktail, ‘I licked her spritz… or whatever’, plus 50% off food with the code MYTYPE.
The show will start at 9pm before ending at 10.35pm, but if you want to get yourself the best view in the house, arrive early and grab a bite to eat in advance- all that suspense is bound to work up an appetite anyway.
Monday 1 August - Sunday 7 August 2022 | Across Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
To celebrate Yorkshire Day, four restaurants across Leeds are offering complimentary cocktails and fizz for bookings made throughout the week. It's no secret that Yorkshire folk love a bargain, so this will be an incredibly popular foodie offer.
East 59th, Issho, Angelica and Crafthouse will all be taking part in the offer, though the particular dates and offers vary between each restaurant. For more information, check each restaurant's Instagram page or website.
Find out more here.
Breeze in the Park
Friday 5 August - Thursday 18 August 2022 | Various locations
Image: Leeds City Council
Expect an inflatable obstable course, bouncy castles, arts, crafts, interactive play and fair ground rides, all in one place for 0-19 year olds to make the most of the summer sun.
The pop up family fun event will be touring through the following locations during August:
Friday 5 August – Cross Flatts Park, Beeston
Wednesday 10 August – Kirkstall Abbey
Thursday 18 August – West Park Leeds RUFC, Bramhope
The best of 90s and 00s music will be hitting Millenium Square on Saturday 6 August 2022, when seven acts performing ten number one hit singles.Expect to see the remaining members of S Club 7 performing their best hits alongside the likes of Peter Andre, 5ive, Fatman Scoop, Whigfield and the Cheeky Girls.
Between the seven acts, there will be plenty of trending hits to transport you back to the early 00s across a whopping seven and a half hour set (5.30pm-11pm). Priced at £34.95, remaining tickets are all available on the Popworld Festival website.
Located in the gorgeous pastel-coloured setting of PASTEL cocktail bar on Kirkgate, this is a ninety minute free-flowing experience supersizing the best of Leeds booze for one unforgettable afternoon. Serving up a range of the cocktail’s signature bar, Pastel has joined forces with one of Leeds most-sought-after pizza makers, Homeboy Pizza Co.
We'll be ordering the The Nuthin’ But Cheese Thang, it's a bestseller for good reason. A classic veggie dish with San Marzano tomatoes, Fior Di Latte, basil and topped with EV Olive oil, but there's plenty more to enjoy from the collab brunch offer. Think Pastel lager, Prosecco and Pastel favourites like the Good Time Spritz, an Aperol alternative with Bandara Al Fresco, Prosecco, Yuzu Tonic and grapefruit that’ll become you never summer go-to in no time.
Sunday 7 August 2022 | Lower Briggate, Leeds City Centre
Image: Leeds Pride
Pride in Leeds is one of a very few free Pride events in the UK and in 2019 attracted over 65,000 people making it one of the biggest events held in the city centre, so you can bet that this year, the celebrations will be more exciting than ever before.
This Sunday will see the annual parade return to Lower Briggate and across Leeds with special tribute to the late Robert Payne, who sadly passed away in December 2021. A new route and name has been given to the parade in his honour.
Sunday 14 August 2022 | Revolution Electric Press, Millenium Square
Image: Pup-Up Cafe
Leeds' favourite pop-up dog cafe is bringing together hundreds of teeny four-legged Dachshunds for an afternoon, and it's guaranteed to be every dog-lover's dream. Set up as an Instagram-worthy bar with photo ops aplenty, make friends with up to 75 other dogs per session and even take home a goodies from local dog businesses.
If you don't actually own a dog, you're still able to buy tickets and be a part of all the action, human tickets can be purchased in addition to the dog versions via the Pup-Up website.
Leeds Festival has returned for yet another year, and the team behind Leeds' biggest festival is bringing global musical talent to the city like you've never seen before. Arctic Monkeys, Dave and Bring Me The Horizon are set to headline each day, with a further 70+ performers from around the world taking to the stage across the three-day festival.
Some of the most notable names include Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Willow (Smith), Beabadoobee, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, All Time Low, The Lathums and The DMA’s.
This month, there's five new tasty street food options to choose from at Trinity Kitchen. There's Yoi Fried Chicken with Pan-Asian fried goodness, The Waffle Cone's sweet treats with ice cream and fruit options; Dog Almighty's artisan hot dogs, as well as The Little Pasta Company's carb-fuelled pasta options with burrata (a personal favourite) and Yard Burger, a US-inspired menu with burgers aplenty.
Throughout August, all vendors will be serving up a small, but considered menu from Trinity Kitchen on the top floor of Trinity Shopping Centre.
Monday 1 August - Wednesday 31 August 2022 | Various locations
Image: The Hoot Leeds
You might have already spotted a few of these as you walk about Leeds, but there's a total of twelve speciality built, life-size beasts dotted around the city for children to seek out and explore.
Spanning across 4km (or 2,000 dino steps), there's a trail to track each dinosaur from the dedicated programme across Leeds or use the digital map, which can be found here on the Leeds Jurassic Trail website.
Leeds Festival is returning to Bramham Park for perhaps its biggest lineup yet, and here’s everything you need to know ahead of this huge live music weekend.
The enormous annual festival - twinned with Reading down south - will this year welcome headline performances from Fontaines DC, Florence & The Machine, Dave, Raye, Charli XCX, and Chase & Status.
But the wider lineup will cover everything from hip hop to pure pop, indie rock to metal, because if there’s one thing that Leeds Festival boasts, it’s an eclectic and diverse music soundscape for all to enjoy.
Leeds Festival has been providing Yorkshire residents and festival-goers from across the UK with some cracking acts and performers since 1999 - and this year is no different.
Here's everything you need to know if you're going to Leeds Festival 2026.
Leeds Festival 2026 lineup
Fontaines DC are one of the headliners of Leeds Festival 2026
Headliners for Leeds Fest 2026 will include Charli XCX, Chase & Status Live, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE, with Kasabian making history as the first-ever Thursday night headliner at Leeds Festival.
They are joined across the weekend by the likes of Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, JADE, Maisie Peters, Keo, Kneecap, Geese, Kettama, Holly Humberstone and many more.
The 2026 festival will also look very different on site, with The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom and The Canopy making up the new-look stage offering, alongside returning late-night favourite LS23.
The revamped layout is being billed as the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival 2026 stage times - Thursday 27 August
The Grid
7pm – Arkayla
7:55pm – The Lathums
9:20pm – Kasabian
LS23
10pm – CamUKG
11:15pm – Halfpint
12:30am – C100
2am – Lens
Friday 28 August
Chase & Status will perform at Leeds Festival 2026Florence and the Machine will perform at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:15pm – 54 Ultra
1:30pm – Dylan John Thomas
2:45pm – Arthur Hill
3:55pm – Blossoms
5:25pm – Role Model
7:20pm – Florence + The Machine
9:30pm – Chase & Status Live
The Gallery
12pm – Mulaa Joans
12:50pm – After
1:40pm – Holly Humberstone
2:45pm – Julia Wolf
4pm – Duke Dumont
5:30pm – The K’s
7:15pm – Kettama
9:40pm – Kneecap
The Warehouse
12:25pm – [IVY]
1:25pm – Saint Ludo
2:55pm – Hamdi
3:55pm – Notion
5:25pm – SOTA
6:25pm – Hedex
7:25pm – Hybrid Minds
The Ballroom
12:40pm – Betty
1:45pm – Westside Cowboy
2:55pm – Dexter In The Newsagent
4:10pm – The Clause
5:45pm – WHATMORE
7:20pm – Bassvictim
9:30pm – Paris Paloma
The Canopy
12pm – Alex Spencer
12:40pm – She’s Green
1:20pm – Raynor
2pm – December 10
2:50pm – Untitled
3:40pm – Kilu
4:35pm – Violet Grohl
5:55pm – F3miii
LS23
11pm – ZERO
12:30am – 1991
1:45am – CROSSY
Saturday 29 August
Charli XCX is a Saturday headliner
The Grid
12:30pm – Beth McCarthy
1:25pm – Keo
2:35pm – James Marriott
3:45pm – Declan McKenna
5:15pm – Skepta
7:10pm – Charli XCX
9:20pm – Fontaines D.C.
The Gallery
12pm – JD Cliffe
12:30pm – DJ EJ
1:30pm – Rose Gray
2:45pm – ADELA
4pm – Skye Newman
5:20pm – Geese
7:20pm – SINN6R
9:05pm – 4AM Kru
The Warehouse
12pm – Meeshy
1:15pm – Djammin
2:30pm – Julian Fijma
3:30pm – Omar+
5pm – Locky
7pm – Alisha
9:05pm – Skepta B2B East End Dubs
The Ballroom
12:20pm – Bleech 9:3
1:30pm – Cardinals
2:40pm – Clementine Douglas
4pm – Overpass
5:30pm – Florence Road
7:15pm – Unpeople
9:15pm – YT
The Canopy
12pm – Tooth
12:40pm – Lamb
1:20pm – Florentenes
2pm – The Guest List
3pm – People I’ve Met
4:05pm – Day We Ran
5:05pm – Villanelle
6:05pm – Camille Blackman
LS23
11pm – Delilah
12:30am – Osmosis Jones
1:45am – Soul Mass Transit System
Sunday 30 August
Raye and Dave headline Sunday at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:05pm – Absolutely
1:35pm – Slayyyter
3pm – Maisie Peters
4:15pm – JADE
5:50pm – Sombr
7:35pm – RAYE
9:35pm – Dave
The Gallery
12pm – M60
12:45pm – Say Now
1:50pm – Clara La San
3:05pm – Kingfishr
4:15pm – Niko B
5:50pm – Nine Vicious
7:20pm – Jamie Webster
9:25pm – Josh Baker
The Warehouse
12pm – Jack Marlow
1:30pm – Silva Bumpa
2:45pm – In Parallel
4pm – Riordan
5:30pm – Mall Grab
7:15pm – Rossi.
The Ballroom
12:30pm – Garage Flower
1:45pm – The North
3pm – Basht.
4:15pm – Bar Italia
5:45pm – The Lilacs
7:40pm – SPEED
The Canopy
12pm – Sade Olutola
12:40pm – Pozzy
1:25pm – Amma
2:05pm – Ruby Roberts
3pm – Cruz Beckham And The Breakers
4pm – Kibo
4:50pm – Finessekid
6pm – Gurriers
LS23
11pm – Megra
12:30am – Pretty Girl
1:45am – Riria
Where can I get tickets for Leeds Festival 2026?
Tickets are available through the official Leeds Festival website and Ticketmaster, with weekend camping, non-camping, and individual day tickets among the options.
At the time of writing, official prices include £325 for weekend camping, £295 for weekend non-camping, £55 for Thursday, £125 for Friday, £155 for Saturday, and £125 for Sunday.
Two-day non-camping tickets are also available at £230.
You can see the latest availability and buy tickets HERE.
Where is Leeds Festival?
Leeds Festival 2026 headliners announced. Credit: Georgina Hurdsfield
Of course you may be thinking this is a silly question to ask considering its location is mentioned in the festival title, however Leeds Festival actually isn’t in the city centre.
Located in Bramham Park, this bank holiday weekend music destination is a 30 minute drive from the city centre.
The full address is: Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Leeds, England, LS23 6ND.
How to get there
From Leeds City Centre
If you’re travelling from Leeds city centre, the easiest option is to head to Leeds Train Station and catch the dedicated Leeds Festival shuttle bus to Bramham Park.
The festival shuttle operates from Sovereign Square Park, next to Leeds Train Station, from Wednesday 26 August through to Monday 31 August. Tickets can be bought through the First Bus app.
Leeds Train Station is around a 30-minute drive from the festival site, although journey times can vary considerably during the festival due to traffic.
There are regular trains into Leeds from major UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and London, making the train-and-shuttle combination one of the simplest ways to reach Bramham Park without driving.
From around the UK
If you're travelling from further afield, the official festival travel partner Big Green Coach is offering return coaches to Leeds Festival from dozens of locations around the UK. Weekend services can arrive on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and return on Monday, while day-return services are available for Thursday through Sunday.
For those driving, festival parking is included with tickets. Drivers should head towards the A1, M1 or A1(M) and then follow the festival's temporary signage, as routes into Bramham Park vary depending on where you're travelling from. The festival advises following the on-the-ground signage rather than relying on old sat-nav directions or printed maps.
If you're being dropped off or collected, use the dedicated Pick Up and Drop Off zone off York Road (A64). There is no pick-up or drop-off facility near Yellow Gate, and the festival warns against stopping or waiting on the A64 or access roads.
For those flying in, Leeds Bradford International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from Bramham Park. You can take the 757 bus into Leeds and then use the festival shuttle from Leeds Train Station, or take a taxi to the station before continuing to the site.
‘Unprecedented’ El Niño to batter UK with storms when it arrives this autumn
Emily Sergeant
This autumn, the UK is being told to brace for a series of storms when the 'unprecedented' El Niño weather event arrives.
It's already been a summer of extremes for the country, with multiple heatwaves over the past couple of months, but now it appears that autumn and winter are set to have some extremes of their own, as the Met Office is warning that this upcoming El Niño could be one of the most significant in recent memory.
El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average, which therefore impacts global rainfall patterns and average temperatures.
The natural warming of sea temperatures is forecast to reach more than 3°C in the coming months, according to the Met Office, making this year’s weather event have the potential to be 'the largest since the 19th century'.
El Niño will create a heightened risk of drought in the tropics, southern Africa, and north eastern Australia, but over in north western Europe - including the UK - it means we are likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions.
The UK, and of course Yorkshire, is absolutely no stranger to a storm around this time of year, but forecasters say this could be an entirely different beast.
The UK is set to be battered by storms as 'unprecedented' El Niño arrives this autumn / Credit: Johannes Plenio (via Unsplash)
"We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event," warned Professor Adam Scaife, who is the Head of Long Range Forecasting at the Met Office.
"I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts."
Professor Scaife concluded: "A typical El Nino leads to an equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperature rise of between one to 2°C, with 2°C being a really big event. This implies that, if the forecast is accurate, and other forecast systems show similar extreme values, then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Niño and its worldwide climate influences.'
Forecasters and officials, however, have warned that it could take months of sustained rainfall before rivers, reservoirs, and groundwaters are 'completely replenished' - which is when a drought can officially be declared as over.
It also warned drought conditions could persist into the new year as, despite El Niño, as current forecasts do not suggest this autumn will have the amount of rainfall needed to drive recovery.
Sophie Smith -
1st August 2022 
