Off The Shelf Festival of Words 2023

Sheffield's annual festival celebrating books, words and ideas! Off the Shelf is one of the UK’s largest literary festivals.

Every October the festival brings the biggest names in local, regional, and international literary talent, media and the arts to South Yorkshire.

Now in its 32nd year, the 2023 edition of the festival is set to take place 13 - 29 October. 

Delivered by the University of Sheffield, this year’s vibrant and diverse festival will play host to over 70 live and online events across the city including household names such as Environmentalist Chris Packham (BBC Earth, Springwatch), star of stage and screen actor Richard Armitage, Pulp drummer Nick Banks, classicist Dame Mary Beard, Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee and Guardian food critic Grace Dent, popular TV Personality Dr Amir Khan, BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer MP Rachel Reeves and many more. 

Visit offtheshelf.org.uk to see the full programme of events for 2023 and/or peruse a digital version of the event brochure here.