What’s on in Leeds in September 2025

As ever, Leeds’ festival series shows no signs of slowing down in September. Following the big music festivals of the summer, this month is all about variety, with everything from Leeds International Beer Festival to Leeds Digital Festival to choose from. We may be moving into Autumn, but with household names lighting up Leeds’ stages and some seriously nostalgic rave-era immersive events to try out, it’s not time to hibernate just yet.

Festivals

Back for its 13th round, Leeds International Beer Festival takes over the stunning Kirkstall Abbey from 4–7 September. Think world-class brews, seriously good street food, live music echoing through medieval ruins, and lots of brilliant beer-related things. There’s not a lot of info out on this one yet, but if you’ve visited in previous years, you know how good it’s going to be.

EmoFest presents Emo Festival is back in Leeds! Smudge that eyeliner. Pull on your hi-tops and scream your heart out, immersing yourself in the emo scene at The Warehouse on Saturday, 27 September. Expect a full-throttle night of live bands, throwback anthems, DJs, confetti, and chaos. Tickets start from £16.99.

Calling all dog lovers for the ulti-mutt day out! DogFest returns to Harewood House between 13 and 14 September. Expect activities, live entertainment, shopping and plenty of fun for the whole family, including your four-legged friends! Take part in a big dog walk, fun dog shows, breed meet-ups and get advice from some of the UK’s top trainers and behaviourists. You’d be barking mad to miss it. Tickets start from £19.50 for adults. Children under 11 go free.

Head down to Leeds Kirgate Market on 20 September for the launch of Leeds Biodiversity and Regenerative Food Festival, a day celebrating local growers, producers and organisations that contribute to a wilder, more nature-filled region. You’ll learn about everything from agroecological food production to fermented and preserved foods. But it’s not all learning, there’ll be plenty of goods to try and crafts to browse, too. 

The Ocean Film Festival returns to the Carriageworks Theatre on 24 September, featuring a top haul of the world’s most incredible oceanic short films. Meet surfers, paddlers, divers and scientists as they embark on wild, seafaring voyages that plunge into the wonders of breathtaking marine life. Dive into the deep from your theatre seat. Tickets start from £18.70 for adults and £16.50 for under 16s.

The largest open-platform tech event in the North will return for its 10th anniversary this year. Leeds Digital Festival will come to various venues throughout the city between 22 September and 3 October. #LDF25 will offer an exciting programme of over 200 events. The lineup is yet to be announced, so check into leedsdigitalfestival.org or follow the event on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram for more details. 

If Leeds International Beer Festival whet your appetite for another all-dayer, Oktoberfest is sure to quench your thirst. Germany’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest, returns to Leeds, this time at TESTBED on 27 September. Beer halls don’t get much better than TESTBED, a 10,000 square foot events venue just down from Crown Point Shopping Centre. It’s gonna be a good one.

Following the success of its May drum and bass festivals (which saw over 7,000 people dance their way through the May Bank Holidays), Better Days Festival Chapter 11: Summer Closing returns to Beaverworks Complex on Saturday, 20 September for another multi-stage, 12-hour groove with music, dancing and entertainment. Next one’s not ‘til 2026, so don’t sleep on it!

Events

The Motorist – a hub for car and bike enthusiasts in Sherburn in Elmet – is hosting a series of Saturday Socials throughout September. Visit the venue, which has an impressive onsite café, for socials featuring Supercars on Saturday 6 September, Italian vs French on Saturday 13 September, German on Saturday 20 September and All Out American on Saturday 27 September. The Motorist has loads of weekly events – or just go for the food! It’s definitely one to check out if you’ve not been yet.

The biggest careers fair in the north. Leeds Digital Careers Fair will return to the First Direct Arena for the fourth successive year on Tuesday, 30 September. Organised by Leeds City Council’s Employment and Skills Service, it’s an opportunity to explore the diverse career paths and training courses available within the growing digital sector. Ready to connect with top employers? This one could be for you.

The internationally acclaimed, award-winning interactive VR experience, In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats  (IPRB),  landed at TESTBED, Leeds in August, and it’s here until Wednesday, 17 September. Arriving fresh from the Barbican in London, IPRB was created by immersive artist Darren Emerson and produced by East City Films, allowing participants to explore British acid house culture in a physical playspace. Ooh-er, it looks good. Prices start from £25.50 for standard adult tickets. 

Peek behind closed doors and discover the hidden stories of Leeds at this year’s Leeds Heritage Open Days series, exploring the theme of Architecture. From 12 to 21 September, explore secret sites, striking architecture, and surprising history,  with many venues that normally charge an admission fee free to enter. Events include Minibeast Metropolis: Building for Biodiversity in Kirkstall, Exploring back-to-back houses in Harehills and a Leeds Industrial Museum architecture trail. Download the booklet for full event listings to start plotting your route.

Music, theatre and comedy

Multi-platinum selling Tom Grennan has just announced his biggest run of shows to date, with the GRENNAN ‘25 tour hitting the First Direct Arena on Thursday, 18 September. Tom needs no introduction, with two number one albums, multiple Brit and Ivor Novello nominations and an MTV award for Best UK act under his belt. Grab your tickets – they won’t last long!

Also at First Direct Arena is a 90s/00s nostalgia overload week! Revered Scottish band Deacon Blue on 23 September and iconic soul and pop band Simply Red on 26 September. Fans of Busted and McFly are in for a treat as the bands take each other on in the Busted vs McFly tour on 27 and 28 September, marking 20 years since both bands formed.

Leeds City Varieties Music Hall is on fire this month, with many well-known faces gracing its stage: 

• Heartbreak: The Tom Petty Show 

The Grammy Award-winning artist and all-round American legend, Tom Petty arrives with a sensational new show on 4 September featuring hit songs by Tom Petty, The Heartbreakers, Travelling Wilburys and Stevie Nicks.

• Tony Christie: The Great Farewell Tour 

The legendary crooner will continue his farewell unplugged tour on 8 September, performing hits like Is This the Way to Amarillo?, Avenues and Alleyways, and Walk Like a Panther.

•  John Lydon: I could be wrong, I could be right

John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, of the Sex Pistols, will take you on a pyrotechnic, one-off tour through how he sees life on 19 September

• Eddie Izzard performs Shakespeare’s HamletAkin to the original performances of Hamlet, Eddie will perform on the blank canvas of a bare City Varieties Music Hall stage, letting Shakespeare’s words and pure storytelling take the spotlight.

• Rosie Jones: I can’t tell what she’s saying

On 25 September, BAFTA-nominated powerhouse and star of Taskmaster Rosie Jones brings her brand new stand-up show to Leeds. Get ready to hear about the big stuff – and also boobs.

Want to catch a glimpse of a national treasure? Over at The Old Woollen, Sunnybank Mills, in Farsley, broadcaster, sports presenter and now award-winning author Clare Balding will discuss her debut novel Pastures New in An Afternoon with Clare Balding on Wednesday 24 September. 

Craft, flea and art markets

Little Fox Charity Craft Fairs will bring a range of lovely local makers to Leeds Corn Exchange on 6 and 7 September.  Expect handmade and homemade items, made with love, to the highest of standards – in the true spirit of the Corn Exchange, which also houses exciting retailers like Goods In, vintage industrial and salvaged homewares, and independent bookshops Colours May Vary and Next Chapter

The Leeds Arts Union (LAU) will host an Art Market at Leeds City Museum on 16 September, featuring student-made arts, prints, jewellery and accessories. The event is open to the public, taking place in the Broderick Room.

The Big Leeds Vintage Flea Market is back on Sunday, 21 September at TESTBED. For just £3 entry, shop cool and unique mid-century, vintage fashion, furniture and homeware, while enjoying street food and a DJ.

New to Leeds this September? Leeds Freshers Week 2025  is your guide to the best of Leeds student life,  from campus parties to society socials. Get connected via WhatsApp groups, Insta accounts and university Linktrees. Welcome to the city!