The Best and Most-Awaited Annual Festivals in Leeds

If anyone tells you Leeds is a snoozefest, they’re either chatting utter rubbish or just haven’t made it to any of the city’s festivals. 

From wild street dance parties and cheeky dog parades to all-out mosh pits and intimate foodie shindigs, Leeds’ annual festivals have it all, and then some.

Need the lowdown? We got them. Below, we’ve rounded up Leeds’ most banging events and festivities—so good even our team introverts can’t resist getting involved.

Reading and Leeds Festival

From officialrandl

Address: Bramham Park

Schedule: Late August

Website

Starting with a proper bang, we have the iconic Reading and Leeds Festival. Since the ’60s, this absolute belter of a music fest has been smashing it, rocking the city with sounds of alt, indie, electronic, and hip-hop.

No half-measures here either; we’re talking about headliners like Nirvana and Alice Cooper back in the day. The best part? 2024 is no different, as it was led by industry giants such as Blink-182 and Lana Del Rey.

Tip: Water bottles during the festival cost a lot. Bring a refillable one, and look for the free water points.

Leeds International Beer Festival

From leedsbeerfest

Address: Kirkstall Abbey

Schedule: Early September

Website

Why fork out for Oktoberfest when the Leeds International Beer Fest is right here? For four days, it’s all pints, top-notch UK brews, and live tunes—no passport needed.

We bobbed into the 2024 fest, and the vibe was bang on; there were tons of street food stalls and beer-lovers lining up the abbey. There were also several breweries, but it was Amity Brew Co that had us sorted, especially with their tropical, hazelnut-y Waterpistol.

Tip: You can bring a service dog. However, regular pets aren’t allowed.

Leeds West Indian Carnival

From leedswestindiancarnival

Address: Potternewton Park

Schedule: Late August

Website

Just in case you need a reminder of how Caribbean culture can knock your socks off, pop over to the Leeds West Indian Carnival. It ticks all boxes—street dancing, island beats, and grub like Jamaican dumplings and curry goat.

However, the real hype awaits at the end of this ecstatic three-day festival. We’re talking about a lengthy parade of floats, dancers, and the kind of tunes that’ll have you grooving whether you mean to or not.

Tip: There’ll be lots of dancing and walking during the event. Don’t wear high heels!

The North Leeds Food Festival

From northleedsfoodfestival

Address: Roundhay Park

Schedule: Mid May

Website

One of our top commandments is to never miss The North Leeds Food Festival. To be fair, that’s a no-brainer; nobody wants to skip lip-smacking street food like Greek gyros and Yorkshire puds.

This 2024 though, we went straight into the pad thai and other pan-Asian treats, with some New York pizza thrown in for good measure. Beyond that, we shopped for cured meats and cheeses at the artisan market, one of the event’s beloved staples.

Tip: Early birds can snag ticket discounts!

Leeds Indie Food Festival

From leedsindiefood

Address: 24 New Briggate

Schedule: Mid to late May

Website

As if we’d stop at just one festival. Leeds Indie Food Festival is another must-see. This 10-day event shows off the city’s indie grub scene with everything from cook-offs to tastings and demos.

When it comes to the grub, it’s a mishmash of primo stuff, all whipped up by Leeds’ finest food creatives. At one stall, you’ll be devouring Wagyu, omakase, or ramen; elsewhere, it’s all about asados, tacos, and nasi lemak.

Tip: Names of festival participants are posted in their ‘Gram.

Leeds Pride

From leedsprideofficial

Address: Millennium Square

Schedule: Late July

Website

Leeds Pride might only last a day, but it’s Yorkshire’s biggest bash for LGBTQ+ life. The parade starting at Millennium Square is an absolute riot of colour, with everyone from sports teams to community organisations and religious groups, showing up to support.

Once the parade lands at Lower Briggate by The Calls, it’s full-on party mode. This 2024, Louisa Johnson and Sonique lit up the stage, keeping the tunes and dancing going strong till 10 pm!

Tip: If you’re planning to join the parade, make sure you’re at Millennium Square before noon.

Slam Dunk

From slamdunkmusic

Address: Temple Newsam Park

Schedule: Late May

Website

Born from the pop-punk scene of the legendary Cockpit Club, Slam Dunk drops rough riffs and catchy choruses right in Leeds. As a cherry on top, it’s a playground of heavy hitters—Paramore, Fall Out Boy…yeah, you get the picture.

Now, it’s not just pop-punk; you have emo, metal, punk, and rock to keep you thrashing all day. Just make sure to get good sleep since you’ll likely be headbanging from morning to the late hours alongside 50,000 hyped-up fans.

Tip: Come full. Bringing outside food or drinks isn’t allowed, and the festival grub can be bank-breaking.

Leeds International Tattoo Expo

From leedstattooexpo

Address: First Direct Arena

Schedule: Late June

Website

Leeds International Tattoo Expo has made its mark, no pun intended. With around 200 global artists inking away, it’s the spot for anyone looking for fresh artwork or just up for an ogle at the best tats in the game.

Competitions are also massive here, even including a showdown for people with fantastic beards. Plus, you have tons of things to browse, from dark, mysterious jewels to stylish piercings. 

Tip: Familiarise yourself with the artists and their works, especially if you want to get inked.

Leeds Black Music Festival

From blkmusicfest

Address: Potternewton Park

Schedule: Late August

Website

Starting in ’85, the Leeds Black Music Festival has only gotten louder and prouder. Now the biggest open-air reggae fest in Europe, it has pulled in icons like Teddy Dan and Luciano, alongside rising stars such as Wohdee. 

Don’t think it’s just reggae, though; last August 2024, we witnessed R&B, hip-hop, and even gospel acts. To top it off, there were funfair rides and crafts, both enjoyed by our kids and kids at heart.

Tip: Be early to get the best viewing spots. Usually, the festival starts at 2 pm.

DogFest

From dog_fest

Address: Harewood House

Schedule: September

Website

DogFest is paws-down Leeds’ goodest fest, pulling in pups of all breeds and sizes for competitions. These show-offs feature unique categories too, like waggiest tail, fastest dog, best rescue, and even most embarrassing pup.

Workshops, agility courses, and loads of doggy merch stalls round out the event. A splash zone ready for soaking also awaits both sprogs and puppers, and it all doesn’t cost much, with prices starting at £16.80.

Tip: Keep an eye on festival updates, particularly if you’re planning to enter the competition.

Leeds International Festival of Ideas

From leedsintfest

Address: 104 Briggate

Schedule: Early October

Website

Creatives and thinkers get the spotlight at the Leeds International Festival of Ideas. Typically spanning four days, this gathering of minds brings leading thinkers into one room to discuss topics like arts and politics.

We swung by the 2024 edition, and, no surprise, it served novel and thought-provoking mullings. They kicked things off with a riveting discussion on addiction, then moved on to AI, neurodiversity, and a whole lot more mind-bending topics. 

Tip: You can park at the Victoria Leeds multi-storey car park.

Leeds Queer Film Festival

From leedsqueerfilm

Address: Hyde Park Picture House

Schedule: Mid to late March

Website

If you’re looking for primo LGBTQ+-themed films, the non-profit Leeds Queer Film Festival (LQFF) has some of the best in town. Feature films, shorts, indie flicks—this event screens them all.

Fancy a bit of hands-on fun? The event’s workshops will take care of that; think DJing and burlesque. And after, you can hit up the annual karaoke party, which boasts hot dogs and cakes served at wallet-friendly rates.

Tip: You can bring service dogs, but pets are a no-no.

VW Festival

From vwfestival

Address: Harewood House

Schedule: Early to mid-August

Website

As massive fans of Volkswagens, we make it a point to always come by the VW Festival. We did that last August 2024 too, when Harewood House was packed with classic rides, including a standout Type 1 Beetle display.

However, the theme changes every year, so the ‘Back to the 90s’ vibe we experienced probably won’t be the same next year. But you can always count on live music, dog shows, and fairground rides to be there, no matter the theme.

Tip: Dogs are allowed, though they should be on a leash at all times. You must also clean up after them.

Ageless Festival

From kalasangam_arts_centre

Address: Leeds City Centre

Schedule: Mid-July

Website

Ageless Festival takes ‘dance transcends age’ to heart, and the performances show it. Bold and full of life, the performances you’ll see here explore, reimagine, and defy the concept of age and ageing.

On top of the jaw-dropping spectacles, the Ageless Festival has workshops that’ll make you rethink the whole ageing thing. These inspiring talks and sessions are usually led by industry icons like Susan Kempster and Funmi Adewole Elliot. 

Tip: Anybody interested in dancing can join one or two of Yorkshire Dance’s workshops even if it’s not yet time for the festival.

Leeds Waterfront Festival

From leeds_wf

Address: Leeds Dock

Schedule: Late June or early July

Website

Sun-soaked and family-friendly—the Leeds Waterfront Festival is a celebration of the city’s waterways. Stretching across five miles of Leeds’ best canals, it rolls through Granary Wharf and Leeds Docks, showcasing the history and culture connected to the waters.

As for activities, you can hop on a kayak (kayaking leeds), stand-up paddleboard, or canoe (canoeing leeds)—usually all for free! And when you’re done getting soggy, there’s a smattering of live music and food stalls by the waterways, all part of the festival.

Tip: You can join the dragon boat competition next year. Just reach out at [email protected] for the complete deets.

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