Leeds

You can boost your serotonin and cuddle with a litter of Dalmatian puppies in Leeds

Cruella, look away.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 1st May 2026

A pooch therapy session is coming to Leeds where you can cuddle with a litter of adorable Dalmatian puppies.

If you're feeling down in the dumps and looking for a dopamine hit, then there's an event taking place in Leeds just for you.

Pooch Therapy offer a unique and heartwarming initiative dedicated to enhancing the lives of both puppies and humans through specially curated sessions.

Each event includes on hour of play and cuddles with the puppies and are designed to support the early socialisation of puppies while providing participants with a powerful boost to their mental wellbeing.

This Sunday 3 May, 13 Dalmatian puppies will be heading their way to The Woods in Chapel Allerton from 1-2pm for all your cuddling needs.

So get ready for cuddles, snuggles, wagging tails and plenty of spots.

Here's what Pooch Therapy say about the event: "These sessions aren’t just cute, they’re purposeful too. You’ll be helping the puppies through their final stages of socialisation before they head off to their forever homes, while giving yourself a moment to switch off, reset, and soak up some seriously wholesome energy.

"Participants in our sessions enjoy the scientifically backed benefits of animal-assisted therapy. Interacting with playful, affectionate puppies helps reduce stress, elevate serotonin and dopamine levels, and promote an overall sense of calm and happiness.

"Each public event is thoughtfully planned 2-7 weeks in advance to ensure a safe, enriching environment for both the puppies and participants. In addition, we run private events, from care homes, corporates to pop-stars dressing rooms, we deliver moments of joy, connection and wellbeing wherever we go."

To find out more and to book your ticket, take a look at Pooch Therapy's website.

Read more: Jarvis Cocker and Kim Sion to curate special art exhibition titled ‘The Hodge Podge’ at The Hepworth Wakefield

Featured image - Pexels

Leeds

Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Two R&B greats are heading out on a joint headline tour for the first time, as Ne-Yo and Akon visit Leeds' First Direct Arena.

Both artists are Grammy Award winners, and each has a formidable back catalogue of chart-topping hits.

For Ne-Yo, that includes songs like Miss Independent, So Sick, and Closer; while for Akon, he’s responsible for huge tracks like Smack That, Lonelty, and Right Now (Na Na Na).

Between them, they’ve shaped and defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture for decades.

This 2026 tour will see the pair performing on the same stage – for Leeds that's the First Direct Arena – for a co-headline Nights Like This tour.

Tonight, Thursday 30 April, they’ll perform in a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show.

You might have already seen some pretty iconic videos of their tour already circulating the internet, so it's safe to say you're in for a treat.

The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.

Are there tickets left for Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena?

It looks like tickets are limited for tonight, but you may be able to grab a few last minute ones HERE via Ticketmaster.

Ne-yo and Akon setlist for 2026 tour

Judging by previous nights of the tour, the current set list is looking like this...

Ne-Yo

  • The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson cover) (Snippet)
  • ⁠Miss Independent
  • ⁠Because Of You
  • Nobody
  • ⁠Champagne Life
  • ⁠One in a Million

Akon

  • Akon's Beautiful Day
  • Smack That
  • I'm So Paid
  • Locked Up
  • Soul Survivor (Jeezy cover)

Ne-Yo

  • She Knows
  • Single
  • Mirror
  • Sexy Love

Akon

  • Bananza (Belly Dancer)
  • Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) (Wyclef Jean cover)
  • Bartender (T‐Pain cover)
  • Body on me (Ashanti cover)
  • Dangerous (Kardinal Offishall cover)

Songs Ne-Yo/Akon Produced

  • Let Me Love You (Mario cover)
  • Titanium (David Guetta/Sia Cover) / Take A Bow (Rihanna Cover) / Drunk In Love (Beyoncé Cover) / Irreplaceable (Beyoncé Cover) / Just Dance (Lady Gaga)

Akon

  • Don't Matter
  • Danza Kuduro (Remix)
  • The Sweet Escape (Gwen Stefani song)
  • Shut It Down (Pitbull song)
  • Angel
  • Ghetto
  • Sorry, Blame It On Me
  • Lonely

Ne-Yo

  • So Sick
  • Mad
  • NIGHTS LIKE THESE
  • Simple Things
  • Up Out & Gone
  • Beautiful Monster
  • Closer

Akon

  • QUE CALOR (Akon crowd surfs in an inflatable ball)
  • I Wanna Love You
  • Right Now (Na Na Na)
  • Beautiful
  • Sexy Bitch (David Guetta cover)
  • Til the Sun Rise Up (Bob Sinclair cover)

Ne-Yo

  • Let's Go
  • Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)
  • Time of Our Lives
  • Give Me Everything

Encore:

Play Hard (David Guetta cover) - Akon & Ne-Yo on stage

Stage times for Ne-Yo and Akon at First Direct Arena

  • Doors open: 6.30pm
  • Gig starts: 8pm
  • Gig ends: 11pm

How to get to First Direct Arena

Bus Station

Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.

Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.

Nearest Bus Stops

  • Clay Pit Lane
  • Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
  • Woodhouse Lane

Nearest Train Station

Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.

Parking

There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here

The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.

None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.

Hiring Bikes in Leeds 

If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:

  • Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
  • Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.

Read more: Yorkshire veterans Shed Seven set for 10th anniversary of Shedcember shows

Featured image: Publicity picture

Leeds

Leeds International Festival of Ideas announces first wave of BIG names for 2026 festival

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) has announced its first wave of big names on the lineup for the 2026 festival this autumn.

Returning to the city in October, LIFI is set to bring together some of the most innovative and thought-provoking minds from around the world for five days of talks, panels, and ideas that encourage conversation, connection, and curiosity - with the first three speakers having been announced today as Tim Minchin, Ashley James, and Dr Mya-Rose Craig.

The festival, which'll be taking place 6-10 October at Leeds Playhouse, says it's 'delighted' to reveal the first three names on the bill.

Tim Minchin is a musician, writer, actor and comedian, and the multiple Olivier and Helpmann Award-winning, Tony and Grammy nominated composer-lyricist of two stage musicals - including the beloved Matilda the Musical.

At LIFI26, he is set to bring three decades of songwriting, storytelling, and sharp social commentary to the stage.

LIFI26 has announced its first three speakers / Credit: Supplied

Ashley James is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of BIMBO and a social and political commentator on ITV's This Morning, and her LIFI26 appearance promises a 'frank, funny, and fearless' contribution to an important conversation.

Finally, Dr Mya-Rose Craig is an environmentalist and race activist campaigning for equal access to nature, to stop biodiversity loss and climate change, and to ensure global climate justice, and she's set to bring a vital voice to LIFI26 on the intersections of nature, equality, and the future of our planet.

"We're thrilled to be back for another exciting year of LIFI, and these first three names set the tone for what's to come," commented Festival Director Martin Dickson as the first three speakers were announced.

"Tim, Ashley and Mya-Rose each bring something truly different - music and satire, feminism, and cultural commentary, environmental activism and youth voice.

"LIFI26 is shaping up to be our most ambitious programme yet, and we can't wait to bring it to Leeds Playhouse this October." 

Read more: Leeds Festival announces second wave of artists including Skepta b2b set

LIFI26 will take place from 6-10 October 2026 at Leeds Playhouse, and is brought to the city by LeedsBID and Welcome to Leeds, supported by Weightman, City of Maths, Pinsent Mason, and AV Matrix.

The full programme announcement is expected on 3 June, with tickets going on priority sale on 4 June and general sale on 10 June.

All the latest LIFI26 information can be found online here.

Featured Image - Supplied


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