There's so much going on in Leeds this month, we're absolutely spoilt for choice.
From food and drink festivals to film screenings under the stars and the much-anticipated Leeds International Festival of Ideas, there's plenty to keep you occupied throughout September.
Keep reading to discover our top ten picks for things to do in the city this month.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas
Promising a series of compelling talks on themes like morality, the future of food, the planet, inequality and the power of the media, Leeds International Festival of Ideas kicks off this month - bringing with it some impressive guests speakers Look forward to appearances from the likes of Katherine Ryan, upskirting campaigner Gina Martin, MOBO-founder Kanya King CBE and ought-after Scandi TedX speaker Emilia Van Hauen.
Promising four days of "outdoor cinema, street food, live comedy, short films, craft beers, prosecco, gin, and cocktails" the Film and Food festival lands at Roundhay Park with screenings of favourites like Grease, The Joker and The Greatest Showman, live comedy from Eshaan Akbar and a host of tasty street food traders curated by Street Food Warehouse.
The Leeds piano trail takes place over two weeks, popping up at sites including Kirkgate Market, Cookridge Street, Leeds Playhouse, Tiered Gardens and Leeds Train Station / Image: The Leeds piano trail
Leeds piano trail
Promising to bring music to "every street corner" this September, the Leeds piano trail features sculptures made entirely from upcycled pianos created by critically-acclaimed artists’ collective Pianodrome. These will appear alongside ten instruments that have been transformed by community groups.
4–19 September. Find out more and view the full programme of events here.
North Leeds food and drink festival
Returning for two dates in September, the North Leeds food and drink festival returns to Roundhay park for 2021 bigger and better than ever. Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, expect a host of international street food traders alongside independent bars, live music and art.
The annual family-friendly, 1980s-oriented music festival returns to Leeds this month, bringing with it a host of retro rock artists like Adam Ant, OMD, ABC, Kim Wilde, Sister Sledge, Howard Jones and Tony Hadley amongst others. if you're a lover of all things 80s, you won't want to miss this.
Harewood House will be screening some all-time favourites this month in collaboration with the Luna open-air cinema / Image: Luna open-air cinema
Luna open-air cinema
Watch cinema favourites under the stars at the Luna open-air cinema this month. Returning to Harewood House from Thursday 16, look forward to screenings of Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman and Downtown Abbey over the course of four days.
This festival celebrating local music from around the world takes place in Leeds this month, coming to the city on the last weekend of September. From 1920's swing to energetic Kaminari taiko drummers, folk songs about rebellion and so much more, there are some brilliant acts to be discovered here across the weekend.
This rescheduled show was originally meant to take place in March 2020. It finally lands in Leeds this month, bringing comedians Jon Richardson, Lost Voice Guy, Micky P Kerr, Barbara Nice and more to the 02 Academy for an afternoon of laughs. If you've previously bought tickets, these are still valid.
Draculaa: the Untold Story comes to Leeds playhouse this month and it sounds brilliant. Taking you back to New Year’s Eve, 1965, this co-production tells the story of a young woman who enters Marylebone police station to confess to a brutal murder. She also claims to be Mina Harker, the last living survivor of the intrepid group that witnessed Count Dracula’s destruction 70 years before - but Ms. Harker hasn't been seen since 1901 and would be 90 now.
Ben Randm comes to the Brudenell this month with his show Original Randm Material. Promising "high adrenaline wit matched with intelligence, [and[ beautifully layered storytelling" it sounds pretty decent to us.
Leeds Festival 2026 is officially underway and we've rounded up drinks prices at the bars on the festival site.
While many of us will be sipping on warm cans of cider and boxes of wine at the camp sites, you can't take any of your own alcohol into the arena (where all the stages are) itself.
So you'll need to budget for drinks over the course of the weekend if you want to watch the headliners with a pint in hand.
And with headline performances from the likes of Fontaines D.C., Raye, Florence and the Machine and Dave, there's masses of amazing live music on the horizon at Leeds Festival 2026.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We're already on site at Leeds Festival ready to bring you all the action and updates from this massive weekend - staring with, importantly, drinks prices.
So, let's get into it...
This year you're looking at paying around £7 of beer and £7.50 £7.50 for a pint of cider.
Different for this year, is you'll get 10% off if paying with a Paypal debit card which you can get for free - which we think is pretty class and well worth your time.
You can take your own empty water bottles in to refill at water stations around the festival site.
You're also allowed to bring in sealed water/soft drinks which are 500ml or less.
And if you're taking your own booze into the campsites, remember that there's no glass allowed, so you'll need to decant anything into plastic bottles.
Here are all your drinks prices for Leeds Festival 2026
Beer and cider
Budweiser - £7 (£6.30 with Paypal discount)
Corona Extra - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Crisp Apple - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime - £7.70 (£6.93 with Paypal discount)
Rose - 175ml £10 / btl £35 (£9/£31.5 with Paypal discount)
Italian sparkling - 200ml £10 (£9 with Paypal discount)
No and Low
Budweiser Zero - £5.80 (£5.22 with Paypal discount)
Water - £2.50 (£2.25 with Paypal discount)
And that should just about do you in terms of booze - as always, please drink responsibly and look after each other.
For all the other important information, you can consult our complete 2026 Leeds Festival guide down below.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
News
Leeds Festival warning issued as police announce speed cameras and traffic restrictions
Clementine Hall
Leeds Fest is almost here, but festival-goers heading to Bramham Park by car have been warned to take extra care on the roads.
Driving to Leeds Festival has never been particularly easy, but West Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to those driving by car in an attempt to make it somewhat easier.
Ahead of Leeds Festival 2026, temporary traffic management measures will be in place from Wednesday 26 August until Monday 31 August.
The measures are designed to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and help ensure the safe movement of the tens of thousands of people expected to attend the event.
Speed camera enforcement vans will be operating throughout the festival period alongside clearways surrounding the festival site.
Police have warned that drivers caught breaking the temporary restrictions could face prosecution, so it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for the signage as you approach the festival.
Superintendent Dan Wood said: “Leeds Festival is one of the largest events in West Yorkshire and attracts a significant increase in traffic to the local road network.
"The temporary speed restrictions and clearways are being introduced to help keep everyone safe, including festival-goers, local residents and road users.
"We would ask all motorists to pay close attention to the temporary signage in place and allow extra time for their journeys. Speed enforcement will be carried out during the event, and we encourage drivers to comply with all restrictions for their own safety and that of others."
Festival attendees are also being urged to follow the event signage rather than relying solely on their sat nav. Dedicated routes will direct different categories of visitors to the correct locations, including:
Camping entrances
Day / Non-camping ticket parking areas
Drop-off and pick-up points
Staff and authorised vehicle access routes
Motorists who follow sat nav directions alone may be directed to unsuitable routes, causing unnecessary delays for themselves and other road users.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd September 2021 
