The Fringe at Tramlines will return to Sheffield city centre from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July, bringing hundreds of live performances to venues across the city as part of one of UK’s biggest free music celebrations.

Supported by Sheffield BID and Sheffield City Council, The Fringe at Tramlines once again transforms Sheffield into a city-wide stage, with pubs, bars, clubs, independent venues and outdoor spaces hosting live music throughout the weekend. Organisers are expecting tens of thousands of people to attend as the city comes alive alongside Tramlines Festival in Hillsborough Park.

Organisers have revealed the first part of this year’s programme with the announcement of the Devonshire Green Main Stage line up.

New for 2026, the Devonshire Green Main Stage will open on Friday evening for the first time in many years, extending the celebrations into a full festival weekend in the city centre. Curated by Open Decks FC, the Friday night programme will bring together some of Sheffield’s best loved DJs and presenters for an evening of feel-good music spanning the decades.

The line-up includes award-winning broadcaster Dixie, who will host and headline the evening, alongside international DJ Kavita Varu and Sheffield favourites Jesus Hairdo, bringing a soundtrack of pop classics, dancefloor favourites and festival anthems to kick start the weekend.

The weekend programme has been curated by legendary Sheffield promoter Papa Al of The JuJu Club and brings together artists spanning brass, soul, folk, ska, reggae, dance, world music and community performance.

Saturday’s programme culminates with Sheffield favourites Kiziah and the Kings, whose blend of reggae, soul and Caribbean rhythms has made them one of the city’s most loved live acts. They are joined by rising Sheffield artists Malachite, genre bending collective Solar Love Society, folk influenced duo Tavira, the soaring sounds of Blue Street Brass and community performers including Disco Choir and Chekere Dance.

Sunday belongs to some of The Fringe’s most celebrated names. Closing the weekend are Jungle Lion, regarded by many as Fringe at Tramlines royalty after years of crowd-pleasing appearances across the event. They are joined by folk punk favourites Shanghai Treason, soul collective Soul Division, community performers Sparkle Sistaz and a special presentation of Jamaican Carifolk Dance from Ripton Lindsey.

The Devonshire Green Main Stage has received additional support from the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, helping a number of artists take part in this year’s programme and continuing the Foundation’s commitment to supporting grassroots music in Sheffield.

Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see this much-loved festival return to the heart of Sheffield. Events like this bring real energy into our city centre, supporting local businesses and creating a vibrant atmosphere that benefits everyone who lives, works and spends time here.

 “We’re proud to be working to help make it happen. The Fringe at Tramlines is all about showcasing the very best of Sheffield, from our venues and performers to our independent businesses and welcoming spaces. “Just as importantly, it’s open and accessible to all. With so much free activity on offer, it gives people of all ages and backgrounds the chance to come together, enjoy the city, and be part of something special. That sense of community is what makes Sheffield unique, and this event really celebrates that.”

Diane Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer, Sheffield BID said: “The Fringe at Tramlines brings people into the city centre at scale, drives footfall for our pubs, bars, and venues, and creates the kind of trading conditions businesses depend on. It’s a signature event for the BID, and one we’ve helped shape from the start with our partners.

“For us, the focus is always on making the city centre work well for the businesses who trade here. Extending the Devonshire Green Main Stage across the full weekend strengthens a festival that delivers clear economic value for the city centre. This partnership continues to deliver for local businesses, and we’re focused on ensuring The Fringe brings another strong weekend for Sheffield’s economy this July.”

First launched by Sheffield BID, Sheffield City Council and Tramlines Festival in 2018, The Fringe at Tramlines was created to bring festival energy into the heart of the city centre during Tramlines weekend. Since then it has grown into one of Sheffield’s most important cultural events, attracting around 40,000 visitors each year and providing a significant boost to city centre businesses.

The most recent Fringe generated an estimated £1.86 million for the city centre economy. Alongside the Devonshire Green Main Stage, hundreds of performances will take place across venues throughout the city centre.

Further programme announcements will be made in the coming weeks. A new Fringe clash finder is also being developed to help audiences navigate the huge range of performances taking place across the weekend.