The year in Leeds
The big moments of the year in Leeds: Leeds International Film Festival, Leeds Christmas Markets, Leeds Song Festival and more, with their dates.
Leeds International Film Festival
The 40th Leeds International Film Festival, 18 days of screenings at cinemas and venues around the city. It ends on 15 November.
Leeds Christmas Markets
The Christmas market in City Square, run this year by THOR's, with a second site of market cabins, bars, a carousel, a big wheel and the covered Ice Cube rink at Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens.
Leeds Song Festival
Eight days of song recitals, talks and workshops, the festival formerly called Leeds Lieder. The 2027 edition is called The Song Within.
Slam Dunk Festival North
The northern day of the pop-punk and rock festival, at Temple Newsam on the east side of Leeds, with a second day at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire.
Classics in the Square
A summer evening of orchestral music from the Orchestra of Opera North in Millennium Square. Admission is pay what you can.
Leeds Pride
The parade through the city centre and the festival around Millennium Square. The 2026 edition was the 20th anniversary. Watching is free.
Leeds Festival
The Leeds half of the Reading and Leeds festival, four days of camping and music at Bramham Park, near Wetherby, at the end of August.
Leeds West Indian Carnival
The Caribbean carnival parade in Chapeltown on the August bank holiday Monday, with costumed troupes and steel pans starting and finishing at Potternewton Park.
Leeds International Piano Competition
The competition runs once every three years. Pianists play a first round in several cities in spring; the second round and semi-finals follow in the Great Hall at the University of Leeds, and the two concerto finals are at Leeds Town Hall. Sir Stephen Hough is the artistic director for 2027.
Light Night Leeds
Two free evenings of light installations and projections across the city centre. In 2026 it moved into the October half-term for the first time.
