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26 Things to do in Leeds this May – it’s Mayfest in the city!
3rd April 2026
Looking for the best events in Leeds this May? From major music festivals and food events to art exhibitions and family-friendly days out, here’s your complete guide to what’s happening across Leeds.
1) Trevor Nelson’s Soul Nation
The Wardrobe – 2nd May – from £25
Kick off May Bank Holiday with a night of the best 80s, 90s & 00s soul & RNB from DJ Trevor Nelson.
2) The Great Leeds Print Fair
Leeds City Museum – 2nd May
Expect creatives selling prints, zines, books and more using lino printing, risograph, screen printing, letterpress, book binding and many more techniques.
3) MiNT Festival
Newsam Green Farm – 2nd & 3rd May – from £49.50
Yorkshire’s largest dance festival returns to Newsam Green Farm, with a brand-new selection of four breathaking stages and six arenas.
4) Brighton Beach
Project House – 3rd May – from £12
Legendary club night Brighton Beach takes over Project House with a nostalgic night of Britpop, 60s Soul, Northern Soul and R&B.
5) Guiseley Sounds Festival
Nethermoor Park – 9th May – from £17 under 16s, £29 for adults
With headliners Toploader, Dodgy and The Dunwells, the inaugural Guiseley Sounds Festival is going to be a great day out full of uninterrupted music.
6) North Leeds Food Festival
Roundhay Park – 9th & 10th May – from £6.95 under 16s, £11.95 adults
North Leeds Food Festival is a family-friendly celebration of international cuisine and local talent, and celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Taking place over two days in one of Europe’s biggest urban parks, expect international street food, chef demos and artisan markets, along with live music, bars and children’s entertainment.
7) Art In Your Eyes 2026
Holy Trinity Boar Lane – 9th & 10th May
Showcasing over 50 artists across different mediums including paintings, ceramics, photography and glasswork.
8) Mindful Market
Leeds Corn Exchange – 9th & 10th May
The Mindful Market will be hosting at the spectacular Leeds Corn Exchange, with a variety of small, ethical businesses.
9) Rob Burrow Marathon
Start line AMT Headingley Stadium – 10th May
Starting and finishing at Headingley Stadium, this marathon offers a challenging yet unforgettable 26.2-mile route through the beautiful countryside and communities of Leeds. A fitting tribute to Leeds Rhinos’ sporting legend Rob Burrow.
10) Angine De Poitrine
Brudenell Social Club – 10th May – £17
Space-time voyagers Klek and Khn de Poitrine make their way to Brudenell for the start of their European tour.
11) Toddler Raves
Leeds City Museum – 13th May – Give What You Can
Join Boomchikkaboom at the Toddler Raves, with singing, pompoms, shakers, dance battles and BIG energy for 0-4 year olds.
12) Thor’s Tipi
Leeds City Square – 14th May to 31st August
Cocktails, disco tunes, live music and outdoor games will be waiting at City Square when Thor’s Tipi returns for their Summer Residency.
13) Phantasmagoria: Folkloric Sculpture for the Digital Age
Henry Moore Institute – 15th May to 30th August
Working across sculpture, moving images, performance, video games and installation, this new exhibition explores the collision of folklore and contemporary digital culture.
14) Hop City
The Old Flax Store – 15th & 16th May – from £55
Northern Monk presents a curated two-day festival of world-renowned breweries, live music, wine from Rinse Natural Wine, cocktails from award-winning bar Below Stairs and street food including local legends Bundobust.
15) The Leodis Cup
Kirkstall Abbey – 16th & 17th May – free under 16s, £5 for adults
History collides as the first Leodis Cup kicks off at the historical Kirkstall Abbey. A two day re-enactment and medieval sports tournament, featuring a living history camp, entertainment, food stalls, markets and a Buhurt Tournament (full contact fighting).
16) Threads Textile Festival Market 2026
Sunny Bank Mills – 16th & 17th May – from £4
Over 50 stalls featuring homeware, textile art, haberdashery materials and clothing, plus a programme of workshops and talks.
17) Leeds Jazz Festival
Various venues – 21st to 25th May – Check individual performances for price
A city-wide festival celebrating the rich culture of Leeds Jazz, with a jam-packed programme featuring the best of national and international musicians alongside home-grown talent.
18) UNEARTHING(S) & Garth Evans: The Anti-Virus Sculptures
Leeds Art Gallery – 22nd May to 30th August/3rd October
Two brand new exhibitions land at the Leeds Art Gallery. UNEARTHING(S) is the first exhibition in her home county from artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Hannah Catherine Jones, commissioned by Yorkshire Contemporary. Garth Evans’ on-going series of sculptures will be showcased at the first solo exhibition dedicated to them.
19) World Goth Day
Leeds City Museum – 23rd May
To celebrate World Goth Day, the Leeds Festival of Gothica will be taking over the Leeds City Museum. The Duchess Stage (at the Music Leeds Us exhibition) and the Museum’s Cafe will be hosting performances throughout the day.
Find out more at Festival of Gothica’s socials.
20) R&B Mania
Project House – 23rd May – from £16.50
Enjoy sunshine and R&B hits at this outdoor festival.
21) Great British Food Festival
Harewood House – 23rd to 25th May – from £8 for child, £19 for adults or £52 for a family ticket
Street food, artisan markets, chef demos, workshops, live music, family friends activities, foraging walks and much more! With your ticket you also get entry to Harewood House, the gardens and adventure playground.
22) Slam Dunk
Temple Newsam – 24th May – from £130
The UK’s biggest one-day alt music festival Slam Dunk brings European exclusive headliners Good Charlotte to the stage, as well as Sublime, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, President, Goldfinger and Hawthorne Heights.
23) The Great Exhibition of Prize Ales
The Tetley – 29th to 31st May
Back for its triumphant fourth year and at a brand new venue! Amazing beer, food and live music are all on offer at this unique celebration of the history of brewing, all taking place at the historic Tetley Brewery.
24) Beyond The Woods Festival
Hazelwood Castle – 30th May – from £48
Leeds’ first forest festival with artists Mella Dee, Archie Hamilton and more playing disco, house and techno.
25) Country Club: Country Music Festival
O2 Academy Leeds – 30th May – from £15.85
The UK’s biggest touring country music festival heads to O2 Academy Leeds with line dancing, Rodeo Bulls and full-throttle vibes.
26) Yoga Morning with Harewood Holistics
Harewood House – 31st May – £40
A beautiful outdoor experience on the Terrace of Harewood House. Enjoy a guided 60 min practice of Sun Salutations and grounding meditation, before a guided tour of the Charlotte Verity Exhibition.
*keep an eye on our Blog section for a May School Holiday roundup!