A huge, completely free festival will be taking over one of Sheffield's proudest independent neighbourhoods this weekend.
A whopping 20 venues will come together for Abbeydale Live, turning Abbeydale Road into a bustling hive of live music, family-friendly activities, and more.
The free event will be back this weekend after a successful debut last year - and this time, it's even bigger than before.
Abbeydale Live will be taking place on both 18 and 19 April right across Abbeydale Road, with different venues hosting live performances all weekends.
Expect to hear everything from jazz to alternative, with the festival running into the early hours at local bars and nightlife hotspots.
Corner will be taking part in Abbeydale LiveTwo Thirds is another spot on the Abbeydale Live trailAbbeydale Picture House
There's a new stage being added to Abbeydale Live's line-up this year, with the Sarah Nulty Music Foundation Stage in the Abbeydale Ballroom car park, raising awareness for its work supporting grassroots music and community projects.
Some of Sheffield's top independent venues, which all happen to be based here in Abbeydale, will be taking part this year, including The Broadfield, The Gin Bar, Simz Golf, Two Thirds, Corner, Abbeydale Ballroom, Abbeydale Tap, Jameson’s, Over The Yardarm, Best Boy Bagels, Cole’s Corner, STYR, Smashed & Pulled, Dead Donkey, Rumkeg 876, Amici & Bici, Nether Edge Pizza, and The Bear.
The line-up will include two-time Grammy-nominated vocalist Steve Edwards, Louis Louis Louis, and Montuno, with more acts to be announced.
There'll be a trail all the way along Abbeydale Road, encouraging visitors to explore the full length of the road and all of its many local traders.
Nicole Jewitt, organiser of Abbeydale Live and Chair of the Abbeydale Independent Traders Association, said: "Abbeydale Live is about what happens when a street really comes together. It’s independent businesses, artists, students, families, everyone playing their part.
"You can start at one end of Abbeydale Road and walk all the way through, discovering music, food and new places as you go. It’s completely free, open to everyone, and it’s something we’re really proud to build together as a community."
Get ready for ‘Sip Fest’ - a new citywide celebration of coffee and café culture.
Taking place in sunny Sheffield from Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, Sip Fest will bring a full week of free citywide events alongside a major weekend at Trafalgar Warehouse.
Founded by Matt Cottrill of Steam Yard and Corner Store and Neil Midgley of Motore Cafe, you just know you're in good hands.
The festival programme is built around three parts, so let's break it down.
Images: The Sheff
From Monday 28 September to Sunday 4 October, Sip Fest will host a free citywide fringe, with events taking place across more than 40 coffee shops, cafés, bars, brunch spots, roasteries and spaces in Sheffield.
On Friday 2 October, Trafalgar Warehouse will host a free industry party for people working across coffee, hospitality, food, drink, events and the wider independent business community and on Saturday 3 October, Trafalgar Warehouse will become the main Sip Fest hub for a ticketed public event, split across morning and afternoon sessions.
The Saturday programme will feature more than 30 stalls, talks, tasters, freebies, Sheffield’s biggest latte art competition, Coffee School sessions, street food, DJs and the UK’s biggest coffee run.
The festival has been created to celebrate Sheffield’s independent coffee scene and the people behind it, and we're sure it's going to do just that.
Matt Cottrill said: “Sheffield has one of the most exciting independent coffee scenes in the country and we want to showcase this to the city and beyond.
“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.”
Inside Sheffield’s new supersize JD Sports Store that has just opened in Meadowhall
Clementine Hall
Meadowhall has just welcomed a brand-new JD Sports Store - and it is absolutely mega.
Trainer and sportswear lovers, this one's for you as JD Sports has just opened the doors to its newest store.
Located in Meadowhall shopping centre on the Lower Level of the High Street, the new store is almost triple its previous size and spans a whopping 29,225 sq ft.
Shoppers can now browse an ever bigger selection of clothing, footwear and sportswear from big brands like Nike, Montirex, New Balance, Adidas and Berghaus just to name a few.
Image: The Sheff
To make your shopping experience even smoother, the new store features self-service tills so you can be in and out within a flash.
To celebrate the opening, Chunkz and Kenny from popular Youtube collective Beta Squad officially opened the store today and held a meet and greet for fans.
Image: The Sheff
And the celebrations don't stop there, as from Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August customers can get involved in JD's Spin-to-Win, with the chance to win gift cards, trainers and JD-branded merchandise.
Not only that, but Montirex will be hosting games all-weekend-long.
And if you can't make it that weekend, then do not fear. As on Friday 7 - Sunday 9 August, The Crep Protect truck will be rolling into Meadowhall giving out free goodie bags for customers who sign up to JD Status and follow Crep Protect.
Image: The Sheff
Sneaker Throne will also be offering a shoe-cleaning experience, with demonstrations showing customers how to keep their trainers fresh using products available in-store and goodie bags will be on offer which will also include tokens to play the Cop & Flop game.
So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you there for a fresh new fit.
Daisy Jackson -
16th April 2026 
