Off the Shelf Festival of Words is one of the largest literary festivals in the north. Celebrating books, reading, ideas and conversations, it offers a bold, diverse and wide ranging programme of events for all ages each October in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The festival programme is a blend of live on stage and digital events that excites and inspires.

Popular with audiences and participants alike, the festival celebrated 30 years in 2021. It brings some of the best names in fiction and non-fiction, poetry, politics, journalism, music, history and arts to Sheffield each year. Guests at previous festivals inlcude Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith, David Peace, Val McDermid, Simon Armitage, Benjamin Zephaniah, Bernardine Evaristo, Malorie Blackman, Michael Morpurgo, Jamie Oliver, Sandi Toksvig, Kirsty Wark, Robert Webb, Miriam Margolyes and Professor David Olusoga to name just a few. The festival works with regional partners to offer events in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.

Off the Shelf Festival of Words is run by the University of Sheffield with support from Arts Council England and Sheffield Hallam University.

Enjoy our archive of talks, readings, films, digital commissions, events for children, conversations with authors and more from previous festivals.