Sheffield DocFest, the UK’s leading documentary festival, has announced the full 2026 public festival programme, bringing over 100 events to the city from 10 to June 15, which will offer the chance to see highly anticipated World, International, European and UK premieres of the latest documentaries before they reach cinemas, public broadcasters and streaming services. The programme celebrates the best in non-fiction storytelling across multiple platforms, including documentary features, shorts, docuseries, podcast live events, immersive and extended-reality exhibitions, talks, masterclasses, and more.
Across 80 feature films and 24 shorts, there will be first-look screenings from BBC, Channel 4, HBO, Netflix, SKY, Universal, Prime Video, Mindhouse, Passion Pictures, Tigerlily World of Wonder, and more. This year’s selection is curated from over 2,900 submissions and includes 45 World Premieres, 17 International Premieres, 5 European Premieres, and 35 UK Premieres from 64 Countries. Events will take place in iconic venues and unusual spaces throughout Sheffield, with screenings at The Showroom, The Light, and Curzon cinemas; talks at The Lyceum, The Montgomery, The Crucible Playhouse, and Crucible Adelphi; and the Alternate Realities programme at Yorkshire Artspace: Persistence Works. Public tickets are on sale now.
Unifying themes of this year’s selections, talks, and industry sessions are Journalism & Freedom of the Press; Activism & Storytelling; Artificial Intelligence; Indigenous Voices; Games & Play; Climate Crisis & Environmental Justice; Queer Narratives; Archival Work & Historical Memory; and Content for Young Audiences.
Sheffield DocFest is made possible by the huge support of partners, funders and sponsors, including Principal Funders the BFI Audience Projects Fund, which awards National Lottery funding, Sheffield City Council and Arts Council England.
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