Off the Shelf Festival of Words, one of the longest running literary festivals in the UK, returns to Sheffield for a packed 35th edition this autumn
From 28 September - 25 October, the University of Sheffield festival will host over 50 live and online events, bringing local, national and international literary talent to the city
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins, Guardian columnist Marina Hyde, international bestselling author Lee Child, Doctor Who and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall and Bradford West MP Naz Shah are among those gracing Sheffield stages this autumn
Tickets are on sale now: www.offtheshelf.org.uk
Icons from the worlds of literature, art, media and sport are heading to Sheffield as Off the Shelf Festival of Words returns for its 35th edition from 28 September - 25 October.
Delivered by the University of Sheffield, this year's edition will bring some of the finest local, national and international literary talent to stages across the city centre.
Featuring a programme of over 50 live and online events, this year's festival will play host to a packed lineup of household names, including:
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins, sharing his journey of survival and self-discovery in his deeply personal memoir, The Chain
Award-winning Guardian columnist Marina Hyde, chronicling absurd political times with her satirical new book, What a Time to Be Alive! Scenes from a Strange Age
Much-loved stand-up comic and writer Lucy Porter, with her rallying cry to middle-aged women, Middle-Aged Women Get Sh*t Done
World number one bestselling author Lee Child with his brother Andrew Child, discussing the latest exhilarating chapter in the Jack Reacher saga, Chain Reaction
They’ll be joined by bestselling neuroscientist Dr Hannah Critchlow exploring how we survive in the face of AI, Dr Who and Broadchurch scribe Chris Chibnall with his second gripping crime thriller, Member of Parliament for Bradford West Naz Shah. charting her extraordinary journey from childhood trauma to national political life and acclaimed Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri whose latest work, Waking the Warriors, is set in a dystopian world of invading armies, terrified refugees and demotic tyrants.
If all that were not enough, Off the Shelf 2026 will also welcome Great Pottery Throwdown judge Keith Brymer Jones, whose book Firing Earth charts his very personal journey through the history of ceramics. Joining him is the UK’s leading forensic scientist Professor Lady Sue Black, who will put forensic science itself on trial with a fascinating exploration of shocking landmark cases, while historian and geopolitical expert Arthur Snell will discuss his groundbreaking study exploring how the climate crisis is reshaping our lives while offering an alternative, hopeful vision for the future.
The festival will also shine a spotlight on the city and region, showcasing some of the most exciting emerging talent from Sheffield and beyond. Journalist Daniel Dylan-Wray will present his musical love letter to the city as he charts Sheffield’s musical history like never before in his new book, Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, featuring 150 interviews with the likes of Pulp, Cabaret Voltaire and Self Esteem, while Sheffield Poet Laureate Beth Davies will premiere a poem commissioned specially for Off the Shelf to mark the end of her tenure and reveal the identity of her successor.
As a champion of underrepresented voices, the festival will host a free Roots and Futures interactive exhibition at the Winter Garden from 18 to 21 October, celebrating diversity through history, heritage and storytelling.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Off the Shelf Festival Director at the University of Sheffield, said: “This will be my last Festival as Director, as I will be stepping down in December to return to the community of scholars within the School of English.
“I am immensely proud of the role the University has played in saving, investing in and enabling the Festival to grow since taking it on over ten years ago. The Festival will continue to be shaped by its audience, its long term supporters and the vibrant cultural community it is part of - and this year we have a bumper series of events.
“We take equal delight in the role Off the Shelf plays in the city’s cultural vibrancy, bringing tens of thousands of people to venues across Sheffield to celebrate their love of the written and spoken word.
“As we prepare to mark our 35th edition as one of the longest-running literary festivals in the UK, this year promises to be one of our boldest and most vibrant yet.
“The University’s strong global reputation enables us to attract acclaimed international voices, all while continuing to champion the unique talent, creativity and grit that set our city and region apart.
“Whether you’re a seasoned ‘Off the Shelfer’ eager to mark your picks in the festival brochure or a first-timer curious to see what all the fuss is about, we can’t wait to welcome you to what will be a festival to remember.”
The full programme and tickets are available on the Off The Shelf website from Friday 14 August at 12 noon. Printed programmes will be available at venues throughout Sheffield. Tickets can also be obtained in person or by telephone (0114 249 6000) from Sheffield Theatres Box Office or by visiting: www.offtheshelf.org.uk
Learn more about how independent thinking and shared ambition drive the University’s vision for a better future at www.sheffield.ac.uk/ambition/about
