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What's happening at Gloworm Festival 2026?

It's less than a month now until Thoresby Park is transformed into the ultimate children's wonderland for Nottinghamshire annual family festival: Gloworm. As ever, it's going to be an exciting one, with 20+ meet and greets, a packed main stage program, and more than 100 live shows, performances, workshops, and hands on experiences to discover and enjoy around the festival site. 

If you're considering taking your little one(s) along, and making some great summer memories, here's everything you can expect...

Out of Time: Noel Coward in Nottinghamshire

Noel Coward is remembered as a playwright and actor most often associated with the West End and London. Yet, his work has been performed for decades on stages across Nottingham’s leading theatres, with his film adaptations regularly screened in our historic cinemas. The Midlands also became something of a retreat for him. Here’s the role that our part of the world played in his life… 

Exhibition review: Physical Culture and And The Soul is for the Birds at Nottingham Contemporary

Two very different exhibitions are currently displayed at the Nottingham Contemporary. In one, classical sculptures intersect with modern fitness culture. In the other, a Brazilian artist creates an imagined folklore… 

Artists, Lovers, Outsiders: the new exhibition at Nottingham Castle

The latest exhibition over at Nottingham Castle tells the story of Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, two Scottish artists, lovers, and outsiders, whose mark on mid-century Modernist art has largely been overlooked. Sophie Gargett caught up with curator and award-winning writer Damian Barr, whose fictional biographical novel The Two Roberts sheds light on a love story that was hidden for decades.

Long live the queens! We chat to the Gladrags drag queens ahead of Nottingham Pride

Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup… 

Theatre Review: The Market Deeping Model Railway Club at Nottingham Playhouse

The third of Nottingham Playhouse's new season by local playwrights is a charming production, written by William Ivory. It focuses on a group of seven men (and one woman) who bond and overcome personal traumas by exhibiting model railways...

Pride and Joy: the organisers of Nottingham Pride talk parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival

Later this month Notts Pride is set to take over the city once again, bringing a celebration of colour, unity, diversity, and acceptance. Local author Becki Jayne Crossley met Chairperson Leigh Ellis who has been organising the festival for the past ten years. They covered how parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival…

Splendour Festival's last hurrah, musicals, ballet and immersive art experiences: here's what's on in Notts this week: events 13 July - 19 July

This week is one for the books, including Splendour Festival celebrating their final weekend, Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh, a convention for hit sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, and events for theatre, music and ballet fans alike.

Another triumphant year for Gate To Southwell Festival

Dodging the heatwaves, we spent a couple of days on site at Gate To Southwell Festival. Pushing the envelope of folk, and with a collaboration with some of the most exciting Canadian musicians, it was easy to see why this local event is going stronger than ever...

Theatre Review: Dyke Systems Ltd by Fag Packet at the Nottingham Playhouse

This award-winning theatre double act come to Nottingham with a comedy show that is part queer fever dream and part corporate seminar, and much more...  

Forged by Nottingham: how artist Alicja Biała turned community stories into a new Maid Marian statue

Ahead of the unveiling of Maid Marian Way’s new statue, artist Alicja Biała talks to LeftLion about her creative process, community involvement and why representation of women in public spaces matters.

Altered State: Nottingham’s vital role in 1990s dance culture

In his book Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House, journalist Matthew Collin documents the cultural explosion sparked by the potent combination of house music and MDMA, which catalysed a remarkable upsurge of creative activity, from London to Glasgow, Manchester to Belfast – and Nottingham. Matthew tells us what made the city integral in this powerful cultural movement.

Gig review: mary in the junkyard at Rough Trade Nottingham

The avante garde South London trio mary in the junkyard chose Nottingham for the first stop in their album promo tour, appearing at Rough Trade for an instore performance and singing. We were there to experience their unique, genre-spanning approach to music...

Meet 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis: the champs of the Future Sound of Nottingham award 2026

Last month the Future Sound of Nottingham awards took place once again, giving seven artists the chance to battle it out on Rock City’s main stage. With a diverse line up of exceptional talent, ranging from folk and alternative rock to soul and grime, the audience and industry panel placed their votes for who should play at this year’s Splendour Festival. We spoke to winners 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis to hear where they came from and how they’re feeling about opening Splendour.

When We Were B Boys: how breakdancing took over 1980s Nottingham

This year marks the tenth anniversary of a documentary about a less widely recognised part of Nottingham history. NG83: When We Were B Boys, follows a particular few years in the mid 80s when, through happenstance, Notts became the UK’s unofficial breakdancing capital. In advance of two events celebrating the anniversary of the film, two of its co-directors: Claude Knight and Luke Scott, reminisce on making it.

In photos: Radfest 2026

A warm midsummer's day and a packed line-up of talented young artists and bands from our area - what could be better? For its ninth edition, Radfest once again delivered great music, food and drink, family entertainment and the opportunity for younger performers to be seen and heard. Here are our photographer Nigel King's shots of this year's voyage of discovery...

Splendour Festival preview: In Conversation with Editors

They are arguably one of the most underrated bands in Britain. For over two decades, Birmingham alt-rock outfit Editors have barely put a foot wrong - from forging a consistently exciting and eclectic discography, to always delivering with their euphoric and pulsating live shows. With their eighth studio album, Surface, Echo & Sound, due for release in October and the band set to join Snow Patrol to close out the final ever Splendour Festival in style, we caught up with Editors’ bassist and founding member Russ Leetch, to discuss their storied career, their forthcoming new album and performing in Nottingham through the years…

Actor Chelsea Da Silva talks about Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile at Nottingham Puppet Festival

Later this week, as part of Nottingham Puppet Festival, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile comes to Theatre Royal. Lead actor Chelsea Da Silva tells us more...

Gig review: Midrift, Glare and Glixen at The Bodega

The Bodega may not sound like the best place to be on a sweltering hot June evening, but when there’s cold drinks, air con and a night ahead of you that’s full of shoegaze magic, there’s nowhere much better. There are three bands on the bill, but each band is alternating as headliner each night on the tour. This is both unusual and exciting; and maybe something more bands should take note of...

Interview: Author Ian C Douglas' new creative writing courses at Nottingham Trent University

This summer, local author Ian C Douglas is teaching two new world-building courses as part of Nottingham Trent University's Creative Short Courses programme. He chats to LeftLion about making stuff up... 

Nottingham Puppet Festival, music at the waterfront, film quiz, and history made fun: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 29 June - 5 July

This week our list of things to look out for this week includes the Nottingham Puppet Festival, Waterfront music festival, a walk down memory lane with events for music, film, and the sewing history in prisons.