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Nottingham Comedy Festival 2026: chatting to the performers

Starting Friday 30 October, the Nottingham Comedy Festival is back, bringing ten days of national talent and hilarity to bars, pubs and clubs of Nottingham. We spoke to a few comedians involved to find out what’s so funny…

Nottsword answers #201 November 2026

This month's crossword was themed around some of the people we have intervie4wed in LeftLion over 200 issues. Did you get the answers right?

Mansfield Town Film Festival Celebrates Independent Film at 2026 Awards

The 2026 Mansfield Town Film Festival celebrated independent cinema and diverse voices, recognising filmmakers across a range of categories. With award-winning films, inspiring stories from local and international creatives, and its BIFA-qualifying status, MTFF continues to champion emerging talent and establish Mansfield as a growing hub for independent filmmaking.

Festival review: Beeston Oxjam 2026

LeftLion Issue #200 October 2026

It's our 200th issue featuring Kid30, Claire Ward the Mayor of the East Midlands, Hockley Hustle, Neon Raptor, Nottingham Arts Theatre, psychic Kerry Ward and lots more...

Overheard in Notts: September 2026

Nicotine and the Babadook feature in this month's Overheard in Notts. 

In photos: Sonic Boom Festival 2026

Sonic Boom, the independent and - amazingly - free music festival, once again took over Burton on Trent town centre, showcasing the best local artists and some from further afield. Nigel King documented the day...

Art Fest 2026: what's happening this year?

After bringing over thirty murals to Nottingham in the past five years, Art Fest is doing things differently in 2026. Through exhibitions, street art tours, talks and workshops, this year’s programme celebrates Nottingham’s visual artists while opening conversations about what comes next… 

Undercover artist: Iulia Matei celebrates creative pastimes with our September 2026 cover

This month’s cover artist Iulia Matei talks comics, creativity and letting things figure themselves out.

Left Brian Sept 2026 - Glasnerism

For fans of the red team it’s been quite the summer for upgrading to a new leader who seems to have genuine beliefs and a determination to implement them. For this edition of Left Brian, I’ll focus on the steady opening month for Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest...

Mansfield Town Film Festival 2026: in conversation with director Jay Martin

Coming up later this month, Mansfield Town Film Festival provides a packed three day schedule of working-class voices, locally made films, live screenings, masterclasses, and Q&As. We spoke to festival director Jay Martin about representation, community and why Mansfield is putting the East Midlands firmly on the cinema map… 

In photos: Foolhardy Folk Festival 2026 at The Arboretum

Skilfully curated by honorary Notts-man Beans on Toast, Foolhardy Folk Festival has become a hugely popular bank holiday event. With the bandstand as its focal point, this year's festival once again combined the best elements of nature and music. This year's lineup included Badly Drawn Boy, Skinny Lister, 3 Daft Monkeys, K.O.G and Beans on Toast himself...

Left Magpie: September 2026 - Everything Flows

It's been an encouraging start to the season for the (at the time of writing unbeaten in the League) Notts County FC. To celebrate our columnist Julian McDougall has gone all Zen Buddhist on us...

Overheard in Notts: August 2026

Karma and iPad watches feature in this month's Overheard in Notts...

The Thompsons on St Ann's Allotments, singing and summer 2026

Our latest chat with Nottingham's most opinionated grocers. 

LeftLion Issue #199 September 2026

Featuring playwright Beth Steel, musician Jim Ghedi, photographer Alan Lodge, The Garage in Chilwell, hidden spots in Nottingham, creative opportunities, and more...

Festival review: LeftLion at 110 Above

Almost hidden on a Leicestershire plateau set at the lofty altitude of 110m above sea level, the lucky few (hundred) can discover a music festival like no other. Without any sign of corporate sponsorship or gimmick, 110 Above exists to create a shared experience, for all ages, based on good music. LeftLion spent two special days there...

Theatre Review: The Mantrap at Theatre Royal

Set on a wet and wild winter night, a desperate husband is searching for his missing wife and is confronted by a woman claiming to be her... 

Nottingham Book Festival 2026 is coming to Broadway Cinema

For the first time in ten years, Nottingham is celebrating all things books. The Nottingham Book Festival will call Broadway Cinema home this year. LeftLion turns the page and delves into the small print…

Undercover artist: Lucy Holt on music industry design and her August 2026 cover for LeftLion

Our August cover artist Lucy Holt talks about projection art, previous projects and inspiration…

Theatre Review: Anybody For Murder at Theatre Royal Nottingham

Murder, mayhem and mistaken identities are all tangled together in a cynical comedy from two of British TV’s finest writers, as part of this year's Classic Thriller Season...

Festival review: LeftLion at Y Not 2026

Left Magpie: The 2026 Season Preview