No Bounds Festival will return to Sheffield and Rotherham from 9-11 October 2026, bringing together internationally acclaimed artists, grassroots venues, community organisations and pioneering cultural practitioners for a special edition ahead of the festival’s tenth anniversary year.

Taking place across ten independent venues and exhibition spaces, No Bounds is a festival exploring the intersections of music, art, technology and place through performances, exhibitions, discussions and community-led projects. The 2026 festival marks a deliberate return to the grassroots spirit that first shaped No Bounds. Alongside a programme of live music, exhibitions, talks and club events, the festival will launch a new symposium and discourse programme designed to help audiences, artists and local communities shape the future of the festival as it approaches its tenth birthday in 2027.

A central figure in this year’s programme is Rotherham-born artist, composer and electronic music innovator Mark Fell, whose influence on contemporary electronic music, sound art and experimental composition has made him one of South Yorkshire’s most internationally respected cultural figures. Fell returns to No Bounds to premiere new work, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to celebrating artists whose practice continues to shape global conversations around music, technology and culture.

The opening night sees acclaimed electronic composer and audiovisual artist Max Cooper present his immersive 3D audiovisual show at Peddler Warehouse. The performance will feature music from his new album Feeling is Structure alongside material spanning his career, with support from Sheffield’s Emergence Collective.

Across the weekend, No Bounds welcomes headline performances from South Yorkshire techno pioneer Blawan, dubstep innovator Mala, bassline star Oppidan, Copenhagen’s Main Phase, XL Recordings artist KAVARI, and Sheffield electronic music pioneers The Black Dog, who will perform a special edition of Loud Ambient, marking their first appearance at the festival since the death of founding member Ken Downie in 2025.

Reflecting No Bounds’ deep roots in South Yorkshire’s musical culture, this year’s programme features a host of influential local artists and organisations. Sheffield hip hop artist and visual artist Kid Acne will premiere his new album live, while a new collaboration between Toddla T’s Steeze Factory, Pattern + Push, Slambarz and Tracks will showcase and support emerging talent from across the region.

The programme also includes a UK debut performance from Gyrofield alongside major new projects from festival residents 96 Back and Rian Treanor. Treanor will present a new music and dance work developed with young Roma participants from Rotherham, while performances and projects created through his Electronic Music Club initiative will feature members of Rotherham Sight & Sound.

Community collaboration remains central to the festival, with Sheffield collectives including Gut Level, Wub Club, The Beatriarchy, Bass Off, Unity Underground, La Rumba, Funky Drummer and many more contributing to the programme.

This year also sees Kitchen Radio join as No Bounds’ official local radio partner, while new partnerships with Yorkshire Sound Women’s Network, Outlands and the Oram Awards will support artists working across music, sound and technology.

Alongside the music programme, No Bounds will present a series of exhibitions across Sheffield and Rotherham. Highlights include an exhibition exploring Daniel Dylan Wray’s work documenting Sheffield’s independent music history, a showcase connected to Kid Acne’s forthcoming publication, and a presentation exploring three years of Rian Treanor’s Electronic Music Club project.

Liam O’Shea, Director of No Bounds Festival, said: “No Bounds has always been about creating space for new ideas, new collaborations and new ways of experiencing music, art and technology. As we look ahead to our tenth anniversary, it felt important to return to the grassroots energy that shaped the festival in the first place, working closely with independent venues, local communities and artists from South Yorkshire and beyond. This year’s programme brings together internationally recognised names alongside emerging talent, while creating opportunities for people to help shape what No Bounds becomes over the next decade. We’re excited to welcome audiences back to Sheffield and Rotherham for what promises to be a very special edition of the festival.”

Founded in Sheffield in 2017, No Bounds has grown into one of the UK’s leading festivals exploring the relationship between music, art, technology and place. As it approaches its tenth anniversary, the festival continues to build on South Yorkshire’s rich cultural heritage while welcoming artists and audiences from across the UK and beyond.

Weekend and event tickets are on sale now. Click here to find out more.