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14 great music festivals in and around Nottingham for 2026

You can feel it starting... The evenings are lighter and the first warm weekends spark everybody into optimism, and suddenly someone shares a line-up in a group chat and writes, ‘We have to go!’

Across Nottinghamshire and the wider east midlands, 2026 is shaping up to be another packed one. Big-name headliners, grassroots weekends, city takeovers and quieter escapes all sit side-by-side. If you want to start planning your festival season soon, here are some suggestions. 

Gig review: Vona Vella at The Bodega

On a crisp Tuesday evening in late April, The Bodega gradually filled with punters there to see Vona Vella, a band who have become East Midlands indie circuit royalty over the last five years. The Nottingham-based five-piece recently released their debut album Carnival, and marked a triumphant homecoming to end their Funhouse tour...

Book Review: The History Boys Part II by David Marples

Gareth Watts takes a leaf through a new book by Dave Marples' new book about more great goals seen at the World Famous City Ground...

Locating Lawrence: April 1926

‘It is queer, this Fascist movement: one wonders what the end will be.’

Gig review: Badly Drawn Boy in conversation and song at Metronome

Gig review: Marvin's Revenge at The Bodega

After a triumphant set at Paint by Numbers festival in December last year, and a recent Coach Party support slot at Rescue Rooms, the alt-rock three-piece powerhouse that is Marvin's Revenge made their own headline show at The Bodega an occasion to remember...

Gig review: Lace Thief album launch at Rough Trade

Marking the official launch of her debut album Inheritance, Lace Thief took to Rough Trade Nottingham to perform the record in full following its release the day before…

Comedy Review: Russell Kane in Chuckl Comedy at Nottingham Playhouse

Russell Kane headlines a night of comedy at Nottingham Playhouse, under the Chuckl comedy banner.  And he has got Gen Z and the world of toxic masculinity in his sights...

Record Store Day 2026 in Nottingham

Music aficionados united in Nottingham for Record Store Day 2026, a celebration of everything vinyl. We visited three of the city’s top record shops to soak up the vibe of a day dedicated to physical music and the enduring strength of independent retail...

Gig review: IST IST at Rescue Rooms

IST IST are a band that has always been an enigma. They operate at what is the perfect size for a  band - they have the facilities to do shows such as The Albert Hall in Manchester, but yet they still feel like a well-kept secret. We uncovered some of that secret at Rescue Rooms...

Classical Music Review: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Domingo Hindoyan at the Royal Concert Hall

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is yet another orchestra proving you do not need to go down south to see world-class concert music. And now they're back with a new conductor. Can they still cut the musical mustard... 

How ANTI All Genders Barber adds an extra dose of inclusivity to cutting hair in Nottingham

While getting a haircut is a fairly ordinary part of life for some, having a stranger alter your appearance can feel daunting for others, especially if you’re trans or non-binary and find yourself tangled up with widely-debated, unequal gender-based prices, or neurodivergent and don’t feel great about the socially-sanctioned small talk. Nottingham’s ANTI All Genders Barber is looking to provide a solution to that… 

Interview: BalletBoyz directors Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt at Nottingham Playhouse

After 25 years of pushing boundaries, BalletBoyz return to Nottingham with a radical new show celebrating their silver anniversary. Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt talk to Leftlion about the story so far...  

Five worthwhile bottomless brunches in Nottingham (with a twist)

There is only one social occasion where it’s acceptable to be double-parked with margaritas before midday, and the best part is it sometimes comes with pancakes. Bottomless brunch has become a go-to activity for catch-ups with friends, thanks to the promise of unlimited cocktails without sacrificing a good night’s sleep. Nottingham has dozens of bottomless brunch experiences but these five independents all have something unique to offer, from drag queen bingo to table-side magic and even a sober option for foodies

Competition: Win Nottingham Wing Fest 2026 Tickets

The world’s biggest chicken wing festival lands in Nottingham for the first time ever at the new Out Nottingham venue. We have two pairs of tickets to give away to our clucky readers...

Gig review: The Kairos at The Bodega, with Florentenes & The Rossettis

Some gigs feel like a night out; others feel like a moment you’ll keep tucked behind your ribs for a while. On Friday, The Bodega, leaned firmly into the latter as The Kairos turned a sold-out room into something closer to a living, breathing organism...

Plans for new statue of Maid Marian in Nottingham City Centre unveiled

Nottingham City Council, Backlit Gallery and It’s in Nottingham, have announced plans for a new statue of Maid Marian to be unveiled this summer and located on Maid Marian Way...

Screen Review: asses.masses

A single spotlight. A black podium. A PlayStation controller. 70 strangers, filing into a cinema
room at once. On the wall, a banner: ASS POWER. We hear from Abbie Leeson, who recently went to the live playthrough of asses.masses at Broadway Cinema.

Theatre Review: Cinderella Ice Cream Seller at Lakeside Arts

Lakeside Arts offers a retelling of a fairy tale classic with a blend of storytelling, live music, and theatrical magic. Cinderella's is now an ice cream factory, and therein lies the tale...

Gig review: Basht. at The Bodega

There’s a particular kind of intimacy reserved for a sold-out show. It’s the kind that presses in on you, that asks something of you before a single note is played, and when fast-rising Irish rock band Basht. took to the stage at The Bodega, it felt like everyone in the room understood they were about to be part of something rather than just witness it...

Why Nottingham could be the UK’s next indie film city

Last month, we were lucky enough to be invited to the Q & A screening of The Correction Unit hosted by the folks at cinema collective Lounge Trip. From there, we mingled with the cast and crew of the film as well as local filmmakers to find out just what Nottingham needs in terms of funding for films, plus one big question: could Nottingham become the UK’ next indie film capital? 

Alex Hale and the Private Sector talk new name and new music

Alex Hale is a well-known name for anybody versed in the Nottingham music scene. In the newly-named Alex Hale and the Private Sector, joined by bandmates Daniel Barradell, Dominic Brady, Luke Gilborn, Stephen Marsh and sometimes (when he's not busy running The Grove) Cam Worne, he is embarking on a new era…

Concert Review: Orquesta Sinfónica De Galicia at Royal Concert Hall

The Galicia Symphony Orchestra is reputed to be one of Spain's most prominent orchestras with fans across the world. But how did they go down with the Nottingham audience... 

Theatre Review: Death On The Nile at Theatre Royal

A British murder mystery classic takes the stage at Theatre Royal Nottingham for it's European premiere...

Gig review: James at Motorpoint Arena

Touring across sold-out arenas throughout England on their Love is the Answer tour, James returned to Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena giving an awe–striking performance to an ever-eager crowd. Support came from Doves...