Richard Ashcroft, The Streets, Wunderhorse, The Kooks and Milburn lead four days of live music, world-class circus and street food at Don Valley Bowl.
Rock N Roll Circus is set to return to Sheffield next month, bringing more than 40 live acts, around 40 circus performers and one enormous mechanical elephant to Don Valley Bowl.
Taking place across the August Bank Holiday weekend, from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August, the festival’s biggest Sheffield edition yet will combine major live performances with contemporary circus, immersive entertainment and some of Yorkshire’s best independent street food.
At the centre of the festival will once again be its iconic Big Top, where audiences can watch every headline performance beneath the canvas rather than from the far reaches of a traditional festival field.
The format promises the energy of an arena show with the intimacy of a theatre production, while carefully planned scheduling means none of the festival’s major performances will clash.
This year’s event begins on Thursday with a celebration of two landmark British indie albums. The Kooks will perform their debut record, Inside In / Inside Out, in full to mark its 20th anniversary, while Sheffield favourites Milburn will play Well Well Well in its entirety. Miles Kane also appears on the opening-day line-up.
Friday belongs to The Streets, with Mike Skinner and co performing A Grand Don’t Come for Free in full beneath the Big Top.
Wunderhorse will then headline Saturday in what is currently expected to be the band’s only outdoor headline performance of the summer. They will be joined by Baxter Dury, English Teacher and Fat Dog, alongside a packed supporting bill.
The weekend reaches its finale on Sunday as Richard Ashcroft brings a greatest hits set to Don Valley Bowl, fresh from supporting Oasis at their stadium shows. The former Verve frontman will be joined by The Fratellis, Cast and Yorkshire favourites Embrace.
Alongside the established names, the festival’s Discovery Stage will once again offer a platform to emerging artists from Sheffield, Yorkshire and beyond.
The Molotovs, Gurriers, Basht., Bleech 9:3, The North, The Clause, Day We Ran, Heidi Curtis, Goo, Sundress, Tidetied and Sonni Mills are among the rising acts appearing across the weekend.
A new generation of musicians carrying some familiar surnames will also perform, including Cruz Beckham and The Breakers, Spanish Horses – featuring guitarist Albert Cocker, son of Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker – and Villanelle, fronted by Gene Gallagher.
The music is only one part of the Rock N Roll Circus experience. More than 40 circus performers will appear throughout the weekend, including aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, fire performers and roaming theatrical characters.
Internationally acclaimed high-wire performer Ellis Grover will return after appearing at the festival since its earliest editions, while a world-class unicycle artist from Sheffield will also perform.
Towering above the action will be the festival’s life-sized mechanical elephant, which will roam the site as part of an immersive programme designed to blur the lines between a music festival and a theatrical production.
Festivalgoers will also be able to tuck into a wide selection of independent street food, including the Yorkshire Burrito, Unit Burger, Greek Street Food and God Save The Toasties.
An expanded hospitality offering, upgraded VIP facilities and a new GA+ area will also be introduced for 2026.
Festival Director Ali O’Reilly said: “Sheffield has played a huge part in the Rock N Roll Circus story and every year the city pushes us to think bigger.
“To welcome artists like Richard Ashcroft, The Streets, Wunderhorse, The Kooks and Milburn alongside around 40 live acts and 40 circus performers makes this our strongest Sheffield programme yet.
“This festival has always been about bringing together legendary artists, the next generation of talent, incredible food, world-class circus and an atmosphere you simply don’t find anywhere else. We can’t wait to bring it back to Don Valley Bowl for another unforgettable Bank Holiday weekend.”
Gates will open from 4pm on Thursday and 3pm on Friday, allowing fans to head to Don Valley Bowl after work for a full evening of live music and entertainment.
Rock N Roll Circus Sheffield takes place at Don Valley Bowl from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August 2026. Tickets and further information are available from the Rock N Roll Circus website.
