One of the UK’s longest-running literary festivals, Off the Shelf Festival of Words, returns to Sheffield this autumn with a stellar programme of events featuring literary legends, rising stars and homegrown talent. Now in its 34th year, the 2025 edition will run from 10 October to 10 November, bringing together more than 60 live and online events across the city.
Delivered by the University of Sheffield, this year’s festival celebrates the power of words in all forms – from poetry and memoir to political discussion, historical deep-dives, and music-infused performances.
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Director of City, Culture & Public Engagement at the University of Sheffield, said: “The University of Sheffield is proud to deliver a festival with such a rich history and a stellar national and international reputation. Our aim is to curate a programme that not only reflects our institutional and city strengths but also appeals to a broad spectrum of tastes. Each year, we attract ever more distinguished literary talent alongside some beloved household names, reinforcing the festival’s integral place in Sheffield and the UK’s cultural calendar.”
“It’s a genuine thrill to see local communities embrace and engage with the festival and this year’s programme is a true reflection of our city – diverse, vibrant and welcoming to all. Whether you’re a seasoned ‘Off the Shelfer’ or simply curious about the written word, we can’t wait for you to join us for an inspiring month to celebrate books, words, and ideas.”
Among the headliners for 2025 are Olivier Award-winning actress Alison Steadman, Sheffield-born comedian Graham Fellows, broadcaster John Suchet, historian Lucy Worsley, actor and writer Nigel Planer, and acclaimed novelist Mick Herron, who returns with his hotly anticipated spy thriller Clown Town.
Poetry lovers will be treated to an evening with Simon Armitage, who’ll read from his latest works Dwell and New Cemetery before joining his band LYR for a unique set blending spoken word and music. The acclaimed trio – also featuring Richard Walters and Patrick J Pearson – have become known for their genre-crossing sound and celebrated live performances.
Another standout moment will come from Lemn Sissay OBE, whose compelling live show will draw from Let the Light Pour In, combining poetry, storytelling and razor-sharp commentary. The BAFTA-nominated writer and performer is known for his emotionally resonant work and dynamic presence on stage.
International guests include Bora Chung, the South Korean author behind the International Booker Prize-shortlisted Cursed Bunny, who will discuss her chilling new novel The Midnight Timetable, and Mizuki Tsujimura, the bestselling Japanese author of Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon.
Closer to home, Jamie Taylor brings Sheffield’s musical heritage to life in Studio Electrophonique: The Sheffield Space Age, a journey through the electronic scene that launched acts like The Human League and Pulp, told through interviews with Jarvis Cocker, Martyn Ware, and others.
Also appearing is Sonita Alizada, the Afghan rapper and activist who rose to prominence with her viral track Daughters for Sale, created after she escaped a forced marriage at the age of 10. Her appearance is set to be one of the festival’s most powerful moments, sharing her story and message through performance and conversation.
Festival regulars will be pleased to see the return of respected historians and broadcasters Tracy Borman and Stuart Maconie, while a timely discussion on race, identity and class will see Sunjeev Sahota joined by Kenan Malik to explore themes in Malik’s book Not So Black and White.
Celebrating local voices remains central to Off the Shelf’s ethos. Poet Helen Mort will read from her new poem A House for Jane, commissioned to mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, while Sheffield’s current Poet Laureate Beth Davies presents work selected from The North, the Poetry Business’s influential magazine.
Ruth McDonald, Race Equality Business Lead at Sheffield City Council, curates a moving Black History Month strand, celebrating Black writers and inviting the public to daily readings at the Winter Garden, highlighting poetry, lyrics, and storytelling from Sheffield and beyond.
Tickets for all events go on sale at 12 noon on Friday 15 August and are available via www.offtheshelf.org.uk. Printed programmes will be available in venues across the city, and tickets can also be booked in person or by calling the Sheffield Theatres Box Office on 0114 249 6000.
