Blogs.
MayFest – a month long line-up of some of the biggest festivals and events
4th April 2025
This May, Leeds is the place to be with the biggest events landing in the city! From foodie favourites and delightful drinks, to music and art of every genre.
(The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales, c. Kirkstall Brewery)
The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales at Kirkstall Brewery
2nd, 3rd & 4th May
Back for it’s third year, Kirkstall Brewery has once again challenged breweries across the UK to dig deep into their local history, and exhibit beers that are decades or even hundreds of years old. Expect delicious street food, live music and plenty of flat caps. Find out more here.
Turner and Austen: a Country House Encounter at Harewood House
2nd May to 19th October
To celebrate 250 years of these British icons, Harewood House’s newest exhibition kicks off their Regency Reimagined season. With rarely seen paintings, a first edition of Sense and Sensibility, period costume and even Turner’s paintbox all on display, some for the first time ever. A Candlelit concert starts off the rest of the programme which includes outdoor theatre, painting workshops and more. Find out more here.
Tower Works Street Fest
2nd to 5th May
Tower Works Street Fest will have some of the best street food and drink, music and entertainment in the Leeds area for a Bank Holiday Weekend of fun! There will be fresh produce, street food, handmade craft, original art, craft beer, speciality coffee, live music and much more, and it’s on the first weekend of the month from May to September! Find out more here.
Thirsty Boots Festival at The Old Woollen
3rd & 4th May
Enjoy a full weekend of country, folk and Americana, with performers like Rod Clements, Ellie Gowers and Jon Gomm gracing the stage at The Old Woollen. Find out more here.
MiNT Festival at Newsam Green Farm
3rd & 4th May
With six arenas, featuring world class sound system and high-tech visuals, MiNT Festival is bringing dance music to kick off the summer! Just 10 minutes out of the city centre, Newsam Green Farm is the home of garage & techno as well as a food villages, VIP areas, rides and more. Find out more here.
(Caleb Young , c. Jeffrey Crane)
The Orchestra of Opera North: The Music of Star Wars at Leeds Grand Theatre
May the Fourth be with you
The 70-piece orchestra of Opera North, along with frequent John Williams collaborator Caleb Young who will be conducting, enjoy the music from across the stars and through the galaxy. From the Imperial March to the Duel of the Fates, enjoy Star Wars Day here in Leeds… costumes and lightsabers will be welcome. Find out more here.
R&B Mania at Project House
10th May
Enjoy a day of the top R&B tunes from the 90s and 00s with live performers, glitter stations, giveaways and more at Project House. Find out more here.
The North Leeds Food Festival at Roundhay Park
10th & 11th May
Named the top non-music festival in the UK (by iNews) returns to Roundhay Park featuring street food, live chef demos, artisan markets, live entertainment and more. There’s also plenty to entertain the kids with a funfair and inflatable land, make it the perfect festival for families. Find out more here.
(Rob Burrow Marathon-Finish Line Participants-cRun for All)
Rob Burrow Marathon
11th May
In honour of the former Leeds Rhinos player, the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon saw over 10,000 participants take to the streets of Leeds, taking in some of the city’s most scenic countryside and outer suburbs. This May, the first since his passing, all abilities are welcome to join and raise money for charity. Find out more here.
Thor’s Tipi at City Square
16th May to 25th August
Sip on slushie cocktails, sing and dance your heart out at ‘Disco Saturdays’, enjoy live acoustic sessions every Thursday or play the giant games in the relaxed festival style setting at Thor’s Tipi on City Square, with more to be announced. Find out more here.
Hop City at Northern Monk Refectory
16th & 17th May
With breweries coming together from all over the world, and around 250 beers available, this festival is for a true beer connoisseur. Find out more here.
(Sunny Bank Mills, c.Joanne Crawford)
Threads Textile Festival at Sunny Bank Mills
17th & 18th May
Sunny Bank Mills’ annual Threads Textile Festival is back for its third year – celebrating textiles through a series of talks, workshops and a market featuring 50+ textile stalls each day, as well as textile artist’s works on show at the Loop Exhibition, and the Museum & Archives being open. Find out more here.
The Pixies at O2 Academy
19th May
The Pixies Headline tour follows the success of the new album ‘The Night The Zombies Came’. They remain the progenitors of rock, according to Bono, and DIY Magazine said Pixies are “one of the most consistent, influential bands on the planet”. Find out more here.
Leeds Jazz Festival at several venues
22nd to 27th May
For the fourth year, the Leeds Jazz Festival will be bringing live music to over 20 venues and outdoor spaces across the city, from local, national and international artists. Find out more here.
Scissor Sisters at first direct Arena
24th May
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of their eponymous debut album, Scissor Sisters have reunited for the first time in 12 years, with special guest Alison Goldfrapp. Find out more here.
It’s Strange Up North at Waterstones Leeds
24th May
Enjoy an evening at Waterstones Leeds joined by 15 fantasy, sci-fi and horror authors! No panels, simply a social gathering where readers can come in and chat to the authors and get their books signed with authors like Eliza Chan, Stark Holborn and Annabel Campbell. Find out more here.
(Ellur at Live at Leeds, c. Danny Payne)
Live at Leeds at Temple Newsam
24th May
Headliners Bloc Party, Manic Street Preachers and Yard Act come together for Live at Leeds, alongside the Comedy Tent, and new area The Two Legs where you can enjoy Barrioke with Shaun Williamson and The Big Pub Quiz. Find out more here.
Great British Food Festival at Harewood House
24th to 26th May
A whole weekend of fun with chef demos, a BBQ stage and foraging walks all with live music, markets and activities for the whole family. Find out more here.
Slam Dunk at Temple Newsam
25th May
For the best of alternative & punk music, Slam Dunk is the best day out, with headliners including A Day To Remember, Alkaline Trio and Electric Callboy. Find out more here.
Collective Encounters with Yorkshire Dance
30th & 31st May
Yorkshire Dance will be hosting 2 days of performances, workshops and talks which celebrate LGBTQ+ voices and experiences whilst nurturing allyship. Find out more here.
(The Glee Club, c. Jack Spicer Adams)
Frankie Boyle at The Glee Club
30th & 31st May
One of the newest venues in Leeds will be hosting Frankie Boyle for a weekend of award-winning comedy, with support from Allyson June Smith, Brennan Reece and Paul F Taylor. The Glee Club puts on comedy every Friday and Saturday night with cabaret, music and more to be announced soon. Find out more here.
Kaiser Chiefs at Temple Newsam
31st May
20 years of Kaiser Chief’s album Employment is worth celebrating and finishing MayFest off, they’re performing at Temple Newsam alongside support acts Razorlight, The Cribs, The Coral, We Are Scientists, HotWax and Ellur. Book tickets here.
Comedy at The HiFi Club
Every Saturday from 2pm
As well as live music and DJ sets, The HiFi club also runs comedy shows every Saturday from 2pm, with previous performers including Alan Carr, Joe Lycett, Russell Howard and Katherine Ryan. Find out more here.
STAY OVER
Dakota Leeds is the ultimate luxury hotel, just a short walk from Leeds Train Station. Stylish, sleek and beautifully bold, all rooms at Dakota Leeds are designed to the very finest detail.
You can also stay in The Queens Hotel, an iconic Leeds institution located just beside Leeds Train Station. Originally built in 1937, The Queens is a hotel proud of both its Art Deco heritage and 4* modern luxury.
The new Hyatt Place is a comfortable and contemporary spot ideally located by the Leeds Train Station with 2 restaurants, Zoom and Azotea, to choose from for dinner.
For something a little different there is the Art Hostel, a one-of-a-kind hostel with double rooms and dormitories each designed by a local artist. You’ll not see anything else like it.