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Long live the queens! We chat to the Gladrags drag queens ahead of Nottingham Pride

Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup… 

What's happening at Gloworm Festival 2026?

It's less than a month now until Thoresby Park is transformed into the ultimate children's wonderland for Nottinghamshire annual family festival: Gloworm. As ever, it's going to be an exciting one, with 20+ meet and greets, a packed main stage program, and more than 100 live shows, performances, workshops, and hands on experiences to discover and enjoy around the festival site. 

If you're considering taking your little one(s) along, and making some great summer memories, here's everything you can expect...

Pride and Joy: the organisers of Nottingham Pride talk parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival

Later this month Notts Pride is set to take over the city once again, bringing a celebration of colour, unity, diversity, and acceptance. Local author Becki Jayne Crossley met Chairperson Leigh Ellis who has been organising the festival for the past ten years. They covered how parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival…

Splendour Festival's last hurrah, musicals, ballet and immersive art experiences: here's what's on in Notts this week: events 13 July - 19 July

This week is one for the books, including Splendour Festival celebrating their final weekend, Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh, a convention for hit sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, and events for theatre, music and ballet fans alike.

Another triumphant year for Gate To Southwell Festival

Dodging the heatwaves, we spent a couple of days on site at Gate To Southwell Festival. Pushing the envelope of folk, and with a collaboration with some of the most exciting Canadian musicians, it was easy to see why this local event is going stronger than ever...

In photos: Radfest 2026

A warm midsummer's day and a packed line-up of talented young artists and bands from our area - what could be better? For its ninth edition, Radfest once again delivered great music, food and drink, family entertainment and the opportunity for younger performers to be seen and heard. Here are our photographer Nigel King's shots of this year's voyage of discovery...

Splendour Festival preview: In Conversation with Editors

They are arguably one of the most underrated bands in Britain. For over two decades, Birmingham alt-rock outfit Editors have barely put a foot wrong - from forging a consistently exciting and eclectic discography, to always delivering with their euphoric and pulsating live shows. With their eighth studio album, Surface, Echo & Sound, due for release in October and the band set to join Snow Patrol to close out the final ever Splendour Festival in style, we caught up with Editors’ bassist and founding member Russ Leetch, to discuss their storied career, their forthcoming new album and performing in Nottingham through the years…

Actor Chelsea Da Silva talks about Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile at Nottingham Puppet Festival

Later this week, as part of Nottingham Puppet Festival, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile comes to Theatre Royal. Lead actor Chelsea Da Silva tells us more...

Nottingham Puppet Festival, music at the waterfront, film quiz, and history made fun: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 29 June - 5 July

This week our list of things to look out for this week includes the Nottingham Puppet Festival, Waterfront music festival, a walk down memory lane with events for music, film, and the sewing history in prisons.

LeftLion at Download 2026

LeftLion'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...

The tree might have stopped growing, but the spirit of the Major Oak lives on

After the Major Oak’s sad passing was declared yesterday, Environment Editor Adam Pickering shares his thoughts and looks to the tree’s legacy, as well as countywide initiatives restoring Sherwood Forest.

Competition: Win A Pair of Tickets to Splendour Festival 2026

It's almost time for the biggest outdoor live music weekend in Notts taking place in Wollaton Park! This year's Splendour Festival line-up includes The Wombats, Snow Patrol, Primal Scream, Flaming Lips, Craig David, Editors and more. We have two pairs of tickets to give away...

What to expect from the Nottingham Puppet Festival 2026

This summer will mark the fourth year of Nottingham Puppet Festival, and if you're yet to experience it, then you’re guaranteed a very memorable time. 

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival returns for 2026

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival returns to Sneinton Market Avenues for its eighth year. Over 5,000 attendees are expected across three sessions on Fri 19 and Sat 20 June 2026.

Sam Heaton talks turning Notts County's The Nest into a versatile live events venue

In 2024 Notts County FC turned an old metal fabricators warehouse next to their stadium into a state-of-the-art live events venue. Thus The Nest was born and has since led a double life as a football fanzone and as a major player in Nottingham’s live music and events scene. We spoke to their events manager Sam Heaton about those last two years and their big plans for the future…

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2026: top picks from the program

Nottingham Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow with a 10 day city takeover. Catch shows from Brian Bilston, John Hegley, Yomi Sode, Henry Normal, Vanessa Kisuule and Nottingham’s own Nature Poet Laureate Cara Thompson. It’s a packed programme, so here's some top picks from their co-founder Henry Normal, director Tommy Rosley, and creative director Alma Solarte-Tobon...

Festival Review: Bearded Theory 2026

Now a firm staple of the local festival calendar, Bearded Theory takes place in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside and is a haven for music lovers looking to kick start their festival season with plenty of wonder and family fun. Taking place over an extremely hot and sunny May bank holiday weekend, the 2026 edition boasted one of the most stacked line-ups of local, national and international talent that we can remember. To give us an insight, LeftLion contributor Marta Tavares went along to report from Catton Park…

Festival Review: Dot To Dot 2026

One 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…

East Midlands Pamphlet Prize launched by Bad Betty, in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival

Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.

The Thompsons on festivals and killer cows

Our latest catch up with Nottingham's most opinionated grocers...