{"id":329,"date":"2026-10-15T09:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk\/2026\/?post_type=news&#038;p=329"},"modified":"2026-10-15T08:44:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:44:50","slug":"festival-of-the-mind-returns-to-sheffield-with-over-40-free-events-this-november","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk\/2026\/news\/festival-of-the-mind-returns-to-sheffield-with-over-40-free-events-this-november\/","title":{"rendered":"Festival of the Mind returns to Sheffield with over 40 free events this November"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The University of Sheffield&#8217;s Festival of the Mind returns to Sheffield city centre from 6\u201315 November 2026, offering an array of free, family-friendly events, performances, experiences and exhibitions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The festival pairs local artists and creatives with academics to translate complex research &#8211; ranging from historical drink recipes and Roman glassmaking to fusion energy and interstellar nurseries &#8211; into engaging public events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Featuring over 40 projects across multiple city centre venues, this edition promises to be the most ambitious yet, marking the final Festival of the Mind under the leadership of outgoing Director Professor Vanessa Toulmin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A mind-blowing celebration of the University of Sheffield\u2019s world-leading research is heading to the city centre this autumn, as Festival of the Mind returns with over 40 free live performances, exhibitions, films and interactive events.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The nine-day family-friendly festival, which has brought more than 200,000 visitors into Sheffield city centre since 2012, returns to venues across the city centre from 6 &#8211; 15 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Festival of the Mind 2026 brings Sheffield\u2019s creative talent together with its brightest academic minds. Through collaborations in art, film, performance and more, local artists and academics will transform university research into engaging, entertaining and immersive experiences for the public to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Returning for its eighth edition, this year\u2019s edition promises to be the most ambitious yet. Highlights range from an immersive star-birth installation and tastings of centuries-old drinks recipes to an exhibition unravelling an ancient mystery and a live, crowd-sourced performance by dub pioneers The Black Dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By taking research out of lecture theatres and into public spaces, the festival gives people the opportunity to explore how university research helps tackle some of society\u2019s biggest issues. From the frontiers of robotics and sustainable futures to explorations into history, culture, politics and the arts, there is something at the festival to spark imaginations of all ages<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than 300 events across 43 projects covering exhibitions, interactive activities, talks, performances and screenings will take place in venues throughout the city, including the Millenium Gallery, the Winter Gardens, Persistence Works and, new for 2026, Channing Hall on Surrey Street. There will also be one-off events in the Sheffield Library Theatre and the Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visit the Festival of the Mind website for full programme details. While all the events and exhibitions are free to attend, advance registration is recommended for events and performances at Channing Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2026 highlights include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Sound of the Crowd: <\/strong>Experience the culmination of a unique sonic experiment featuring a special live performance of The Sound of the Crowd by electronic music pioneers The Black Dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Old Drinks for New Tastes: <\/strong>The <em>Old Drinks for New Tastes<\/em> project found lost recipes for ale, beer and spirits from the 16th and 17th centuries and asked some of the most talented independent brewers and distillers in the UK to work with them to create delicious new beverages inspired by these forgotten formulas. Join the researchers to hear more &#8211; and there will be a chance to sample the brews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Anatomy at Sheffield: A VR Journey: <\/strong>Tracing its origins back to 1828, the University of Sheffield\u2019s medical school comes alive in a virtual reality journey. Using 3D modeling and archival imagery, visitors can track the evolution of anatomy education from its humble beginnings to today&#8217;s high-tech classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Birds of Paradise &#8211; Colours of the Spectrum:&nbsp; <\/strong>Birds of paradise are among the most vibrant creatures on the planet, using their spectacular plumage to show off and attract mates. Marvel at the giant bird-of-paradise sculptures and discover the fascinating science behind these wonderful birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Furnace to Fusion: <\/strong>Anchored by University research, this immersive film combines animation, archival footage and rich storytelling to connect our industrial past with a low-carbon, fusion-powered future. A chance to share your own take on fusion energy and the city&#8217;s place in tomorrow&#8217;s innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Orion: Animating a Stellar Nursery:<\/strong> Witness the birth of stars in Orion: Animating a Stellar Nursery, an immersive audio-visual installation. Inspired by Hubble and James Webb space telescope data, the piece visualises pioneering astrophysics research, showing how massive stars shape the cosmic nurseries where future worlds are born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Calling Barnsley:<\/strong> Step inside a larger-than-life phonebox, lift the receiver and listen to a collection of vivid and revelatory stories about, and set in, the town of Barnsley. Calling Barnsley is an interactive audio installation showcasing monologues adapted from interviews with people of Barnsley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ancient Secrets, Modern Light: The Lycurgus Project: <\/strong>Step into a 1,600-year-old mystery and discover the secrets of the Lycurgus Cup \u2013 a world-renowned 4th-century Roman cage cup made from dichroic glass that shifts from jade green in reflected light to ruby red in transmitted light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>This year\u2019s festival marks the end of an era as Co-founder and Director Professor Vanessa Toulmin steps down after 15 years at the helm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe spark for Festival of the Mind came from a simple conversation with my friend, collaborator and local sculptor Anthony Bennett,\u201d said Professor Toulmin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe realised that the University needed to do far more to demonstrate its deep roots in Sheffield, and we wanted an event that mirrored our own relationship &#8211; bringing the city\u2019s creative talent together with academic research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver the past 15 years, that single idea has grown into a cultural landmark. We have facilitated over 800 researchers sharing their world-leading work with hundreds of thousands of visitors, proving that university research belongs to everyone. Our events have always been free and open to all, reflecting the rich, dynamic diversity of Sheffield\u2019s communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe 2026 festival is the ultimate culmination of that vision. Our mission remains simple: to entertain, inspire and engage. We can\u2019t wait to once again invite the people of Sheffield and beyond to join us on what will be a breathtaking journey of discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A mind-blowing celebration of the University of Sheffield\u2019s world-leading research is heading to the city centre this autumn, as Festival of the Mind returns with over 40 free live performances, exhibitions, films and interactive events. The nine-day family-friendly festival, which has brought more than 200,000 visitors into Sheffield city centre since 2012, returns to venues [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":404,"template":"","class_list":["post-329","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Festival of the Mind returns to Sheffield with over 40 free events this November - Festival of the Mind 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/festivalofthemind.sheffield.ac.uk\/2026\/news\/festival-of-the-mind-returns-to-sheffield-with-over-40-free-events-this-november\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Festival of the Mind returns to Sheffield with over 40 free events this November - Festival of the Mind 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A mind-blowing celebration of the University of Sheffield\u2019s world-leading research is heading to the city centre this autumn, as Festival of the Mind returns with over 40 free live performances, exhibitions, films and interactive events. 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