From Leeds Festival and the West Indian Carnival to food festivals, family days out, theatre and plenty of bank holiday celebrations, this is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Leeds.
There’s a big bank holiday weekend in Leeds to look forward to, with the city’s annual biggest music event, a major cultural celebration and plenty of family-friendly things to do all taking place over the long weekend.
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Leeds this bank holiday weekend, family days out or something a little different, here are some of the events taking place from Friday 28th to Monday 31th August.
Looking for somewhere to eat in Leeds? Here is our guide to the best restaurant offers in the city this month.
Friday 28th August
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Leeds Festival at Bramham Park. One of the biggest events in the Leeds calendar returns to Bramham Park this bank holiday weekend as Leeds Festival brings three days of live music to the city. With seven stages, more than 100 acts and tens of thousands of festival-goers expected, it’s one of the biggest weekends of the summer. This year’s headliners include Charli XCX, Dave, RAYE, Chase & Status, Florence + The Machine and Fontaines D.C., alongside a huge line-up of other artists across the festival’s stages.
High Society at Leeds Grand Theatre. The summer season gets suitably glamorous as High Society arrives at Leeds Grand Theatre. The lavish musical stars Call the Midwife’s Helen George as socialite Tracy Lord and you can expect romance, chaos and plenty of Cole Porter classics including Let’s Misbehave as plans for the society wedding of the year begin to unravel. The cast also includes Freddie Fox, Nigel Lindsay, Julian Ovenden and Malcolm Sinclair.
Brewed in Leeds at Horsforth Brewery. Beer lovers can spend the bank holiday weekend discovering the best of the Leeds brewing scene at Brewed in Leeds. The three-day festival returns to Horsforth Brewery for its second year, bringing together breweries from across Leeds and the surrounding postcodes covered by Leeds City Council. There’ll be plenty of beer to sample, alongside pizza from Meanwood Pizza, with sessions running across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Rapunzel at Leeds Industrial Museum. A familiar fairy tale gets a funny new twist at Leeds Industrial Museum as award-winning family theatre company Wrongsemble presents Rapunzel. In this adaptation, Rapunzel isn’t waiting around for a prince to rescue her. Instead, she’s taking charge of her own destiny in a musical adventure packed with magic, music and crazy schemes. There are two performances on Friday with start times of 11am and 1.30pm, with the outdoor setting meaning you’ll need to dress for the Yorkshire weather.
Saturday 29th August
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White Cloth Hall’s 2nd Birthday Party. White Cloth Hall is celebrating its second birthday with a bank holiday weekend party. There’ll be DJs, food, drinks and party vibes throughout Saturday and Sunday, plus the essential birthday cake. Whether you’re a regular visitor or have only recently discovered the city centre venue, everyone is invited to come along and raise a glass.
Football in Fabric at the Merrion Centre. If football is a big part of your life, Football in Fabric offers a chance to explore the culture and memories behind the beautiful game. The exhibition, created by lifelong football enthusiast and collector Nicol Rorrison, brings together football shirts, memorabilia, photographs and personal stories. It explores everything from childhood memories of the 1986 World Cup to the way football connects communities and generations.
African and Caribbean Food Fest at City Square. Leeds City Square will be filled with food, music, colour and culture at the African and Caribbean Food Fest. This year’s theme is Living Square, Rooted in Harmony, with food stalls serving everything from jerk chicken and curry goat to jollof rice, meat patties, Caribbean street food and vegan dishes. There’ll also be live steelpan and calypso performances, a Carnival Flash Mob Parade, arts and crafts, children’s activities and free food samples from some traders.
Art House Art Fayre at Leeds Kirkgate Market. Browse work from artists and makers at the Art House Art Fayre at Leeds Kirkgate Market. The event brings together paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more, offering the chance to meet artists, discover new work and perhaps find something to take home. The art fair began at Kirkgate Market seven years ago before expanding to other Leeds venues, including the Corn Exchange, and returns to where it all began this bank holiday weekend.
Sunday 30th August
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70s & 80s Disco Brunch at Electric Shuffle. If you’re looking for a bank holiday brunch with a difference, head to Electric Shuffle Leeds for its 70s & 80s Disco Brunch. The event combines classic disco tunes with two hours of bottomless pizza, a Tequila Sunrise on arrival, a bottle of Prosecco or four beers per person, and 60 minutes of shuffleboard. There’s going to be a live DJ playing 70s and 80s classics, plus a competitive Studio 21 Shuffle-off to finish the session. There are three sessions each day – 12-2pm, 2.30-4.30pm and 5-7pm – and dressing up is encouraged, so go all out with flares, glitter, glam rock and full-on disco fever.
Black Music Festival at Potternewton Park. The Black Music Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a day of live music and community in Chapeltown. Taking place at Potternewton Park, the festival will celebrate the contribution of Black artists and musicians with performances spanning reggae, dancehall, rap, grime and R&B. The event runs from 12pm to 8pm and is a chance to celebrate four decades of Black music, culture and community in Leeds.
An Evening with Sir David Jason at Leeds Grand Theatre. Spend an evening with one of Britain’s best-loved actors as Sir David Jason takes to the stage at Leeds Grand Theatre. Joined by presenter Mike Bushell, he will share stories from his remarkable career, from his early days in amateur dramatics to iconic roles in Only Fools and Horses, Open All Hours and A Touch of Frost. The evening also includes some behind-the-scenes stories, rare clips and plenty of nostalgia, including memories from some of Only Fools and Horses’ most famous moments.
Pickle Party at Northern Monk. Fancy doing something a little different this bank holiday? Head to Northern Monk for a full day dedicated to all things pickled and fermented. The Bank Holiday Pickle Party includes a three-course Eastern European-inspired supper club hosted by Holly Pickles, with beer pairings available, plus a £2 pickling workshop where you can learn how to pickle your own vegetables. There’ll also be Stiff Tea Kombucha and picklebacks available throughout the day.
Monday 31st August
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Leeds West Indian Carnival. It’s another huge Leeds event on Bank Holiday Monday with the return of Leeds West Indian Carnival. Now in its 59th year, the carnival is a spectacular celebration of Caribbean culture, with colourful costumes and Caribbean food and entertainment filling the streets of Leeds. The Carnival Costume Parade starts at 2pm from Potternewton Park before making its way through Harehills and Chapeltown.
GirlyPop Fest at Project House. Get ready for a very pink bank holiday at GirlyPop Fest, a pop party taking over Project House. The event brings together live tribute performances celebrating Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift, alongside roaming performers, glitter and glam stations, confetti, bubbles, sweet treats and interactive activities. The Pink Pony Birthday Party-themed event is aimed at young pop fans looking for a high-energy way to spend the bank holiday.
Mongolian Summer at the Royal Armouries. Bank Holiday Monday is the last chance to catch Mongolian Summer at the Royal Armouries, part of the museum’s celebration of its Genghis Khan: How the Mongols Changed the World exhibition. The free programme includes spectacular Mongolian-style horse shows featuring mounted archery and demonstrations of the skills and combat techniques used by Mongolian horsemen.
A Lotherton Summer Holiday. It’s the final weekend of Lotherton’s summer holiday programme, with plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy before the school holidays come to an end. The summer programme includes entertainment, fairground rides, a sandpit, crafts, classic seaside games, photo opportunities and a trail around the house. Sunday also brings live music as part of Leeds Music Services’ Bands in Parks programme.
Prices and timings were verified as correct at the time of publishing in August 2026. However, event details can change. We recommend checking with the individual venue before making a special journey. Cover image copyright Leeds-List 2026
