There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
Common Ground: Alan Lodge's upcoming exhibition documents protests, parties and festivals over the last fifty years
Sat 19 Sept 2026Opening this month at Bonington Gallery is Common Grounds: Counterculture & Confrontation since 1976, a retrospective of the work of Alan ‘Tash’ Lodge. One of the UK’s most prolific photographers of alternative lifestyles, Alan’s work gives a vivid first person insight into the new age traveller movement and the 90s free-party scene, raising questions about the right to gather, policing, surveillance and community.
What is Trentbelly? Inside the first river-focused episode of local podcast NottsPod
Wed 09 Sept 2026After one of his pupils caught a case of ‘Trentbelly’, the local nomenclature for illness caught from a polluted River Trent, secondary school teacher Tom Suchoruczka became curious about how the river got to the state it is now. This led Tom to team up with Notts historian and YouTuber Michael Krawec, and together they went down a research wormhole which culminated in Trentbelly – the first series of new podcast NottsPod. Here, by way of laying the groundwork for that, Michael talks us through the winding history of Nottingham’s modern day water system.
Forged in Mansfield: local playwright Beth Steel on her play Till the Stars Come Down and going international
Sat 29 Aug 2026Born and brought up in Warsop, playwright Beth Steel has seen her work performed in London, Tokyo, Mexico, Iceland, Peru and more. What’s particularly brilliant about this is that they’re usually set in her hometown of Mansfield. She tells us more about her fifth play Till the Stars Come Down, which is coming home to Nottingham Playhouse one week from now …
The Route to Cappyness: Notts filmmaker Sharon Walia on her brand new documentary
Sat 22 Aug 2026Nottingham filmmaker Sharon Walia’s work has covered a variety of topics – from guinea pigs to refugees. With her newest documentary, The Route to Cappyness, she looks at how the world’s largest rodent could be the key to positivity across the globe, from Brazil and Japan to the USA and Wheelgate Park. We spoke to Sharon about why the capybara is important, how she made the film, and her travels across the UK, USA, Brazil, and Japan.
Putting down roots: the story of the Windrush Generation and St Ann's Allotments explored in a new book
Mon 10 Aug 2026Colin Haynes’ book, Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners, tells the story of men whose love for gardening gave them much more than callaloo and oxheart tomatoes. It shares the true story of a group of Windrush residents who turned the neglected, overgrown Hungerhill Gardens, or St Ann's Allotments, as they would become known, into a Caribbean-inspired culinary and horticultural haven.
Nottingham's first citywide Citizens' Assembly creates bold plan for environment
Mon 03 Aug 2026Nottingham’s aim to reach Carbon Neutrality by 2028 (CN28) sounds like a tall order, but a new manifesto from the Nottingham Environment & Climate Assembly (NCA) might just bring it closer by connecting the public, the City Council, and local businesses.
When We Were B Boys: how breakdancing took over 1980s Nottingham
Mon 06 Jul 2026This year marks the tenth anniversary of a documentary about a less widely recognised part of Nottingham history. NG83: When We Were B Boys, follows a particular few years in the mid 80s when, through happenstance, Notts became the UK’s unofficial breakdancing capital. In advance of two events celebrating the anniversary of the film, two of its co-directors: Claude Knight and Luke Scott, reminisce on making it.
Interview: Author Ian C Douglas' new creative writing courses at Nottingham Trent University
Sun 28 Jun 2026This summer, local author Ian C Douglas is teaching two new world-building courses as part of Nottingham Trent University's Creative Short Courses programme. He chats to LeftLion about making stuff up...
LeftLion at Download 2026
Sun 21 Jun 2026LeftLion's Kieran Lister spills the tea on his first time experience at the legendary Download Festival, which last weekend - despite the crowds - once again turned Donington Park into a place of mass catharsis, self-expression and freedom...
Festival Review: Dot To Dot 2026
Sun 31 May 2026One of the hottest weekends of the year – what could possibly make it better? I know – Dot to Dot Festival! Always one of the best days in the musical calendar, the sun was shining bright this May Bank Holiday for the annual, jam-packed day of venue-hopping, new music discovery and general good times with good friends. Immersing ourselves in the festival’s unrivalled party atmosphere, this is what we encountered at another incredible Dot to Dot in 2026…
A First-Time Traveller’s Guide to Handling Airport Transfers Smoothly
Thu 28 May 2026Airport transfers can feel confusing if you’re on your first international trip, especially after a long flight. A busy arrivals hall, unfamiliar signs, different payment habits, and several transport options can make a simple journey feel harder than expected. A little preparation before landing helps you leave the airport with more confidence and reach your accommodation without unnecessary delays.
Here's why you cannot miss Dot To Dot Festival in 2026
Wed 20 May 2026Dot to Dot is a very special sort of music festival. Held in Bristol and Nottingham over a single weekend, it brings together local scenes and underground darlings, the concrete and the extreme. This year’s lineup is especially strong, with its mix of sleazy electroclash, Irish alt-grunge, rough and tough punk, and Americana emo, all culminating in a once in a lifetime experience...
Comedy, music festivals and local talent: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 18 -24 May
Mon 18 May 2026This week in Notts! Enjoy local theatre performances and live comedy, or head to Dot to Dot music festival and dance the night away in various venues across Nottingham. Here's our top picks...
Soapbox races and heavy metal documentaries: Here's what's on this week 4-10 May
Sun 03 May 2026This week in Notts! Enjoy Nottingham's first ever soapbox race, or relive Iron Maiden's career, brit pop and trip hop. Here's our top picks...
Classical Music Review: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Domingo Hindoyan at the Royal Concert Hall
Sat 25 Apr 2026The 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
Sat 25 Apr 2026While 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…
Perfect Pawtraits: Dog Life Drawing at Blend Cafe
Tue 31 Mar 2026Dog Life Drawing is much like any regular life drawing class except for one key difference; the models all have four legs! Kathy Giddins went along to the latest session at Blend Cafe...
From The Kitchen: Jake Dodsley, Head Chef at Jake’s at The Fox & Grapes talks burgers and his Ma’s Chilli
Sat 21 Mar 2026We dropped into the Fox & Grapes in Sneinton to chat to Head Chef Jake Dodsley about burgers and his Ma’s Chilli
St. Paddy's Day and... unemployed donkeys? Here's what's on this week in Nottingham, 16 - 22 March
Sun 15 Mar 2026Each week in Notts is different, but during the coming week there's set to be a particularly high amount of events that set themselves aside from the norm... here's what's going on...
Collaborative gaming and the revolutionary epic of a jobless donkey: asses.masses comes to Broadway Cinema
Mon 02 Mar 2026If you’re looking for the ultimate day full of collaborative gaming - you’re in luck - asses.masses is a totally one-of-a-kind experience that has you playing as a herd of unemployed donkeys taking turns to hold the reins as you attempt to get your job back. We sat down with the creators of the experience, Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim, to hear their thoughts behind the game…