A collage showing some of the speakers and events which are part of Sheffield DocFest 2026.

Sheffield DocFest announces first launch of programme for June 2026 festival ‘Realities In Motion’

Featuring this year’s Festival Guest of Honour Maxine Peake, Miriam Margolyes, Chris Packham, Andrea Arnold, a special event dedicated to one of the world’s most famous living documentary makers, Sir David Attenborough, plus a brand new family strand - 'GEN DocFest' - and its first event ‘A Thoroughly Horrible Morning’, featuring the cast of Horrible Histories and Horrible Science!

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Grab your 2026 Festival Pass

Grab your Standard Pass NOW for £350 + VAT. Get yours by 27 May (17:00 GMT) to save £75 compared to the Last Minute rate.

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Grab a DocLover Ticket Bundle

With a DocLover ticket bundle, you can get the best value for money on tickets to all film screenings in our public programme.

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Become a Member!

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Sheffield DocFest Memberships – your year-round connection to the UK’s leading documentary festival packed with discounts, exclusives and insider access.

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Relive the magic of our 32nd edition of Sheffield DocFest!

Experience some of our favourite moments from the 2025 festival - 90 seconds of pure DocFest joy to brighten your day.

2025 Festival Report front cover - a blue, purple and pink geometric shape sits on a black background. On top, in white bold text reads festival report, Sheffield docfest '25, 18-23 June. Underneath a logo with white arrows facing each other and black text on top which reads 'where perspectives meet'.

Read our 2025 Festival Report

Our 2025 Festival Report is out now! Take a closer look at this year’s festival and discover how our 32nd edition made waves and celebrated documentary in all its power.

Five people are shown in front of a pink backdrop with the Sheffield DocFest logo repeated on it in white. One of the people is sat in a wheelchair with their hand up in a wave and another person, stood behind holds a white chihuahua.

Check out our Best of Sheffield DocFest 2025 photo album

So many incredible events and memories made across Sheffield DocFest 2025 it really is hard to choose the 'best bits' but we've managed to round up some of our favourite photos from across the fest!

Headshots of Maxine Peake and Paul Sng
Maxine Peake in Conversation with Paul Sng
Headshots of Miriam Margolyes and Simon Draper
No Filter: In Conversation with Miriam Margolyes
Headshot of Chris Packham
The BBC Interview: In Conversation with Chris Packham
Headshot of Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold in Conversation: Storytelling Without Scripts
Headshot of Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough at 100: A Living Legacy
An image for from the BBC for our A Thoroughly Horrible Morning! event.
A Thoroughly Horrible Morning!

Latest News

Read all news
A collage showing some of the speakers and events which are part of Sheffield DocFest 2026.

Sheffield DocFest announces first launch of programme for June 2026 festival ‘Realities In Motion’

Sheffield DocFest has announced the initial line up for this year’s festival. The 2026 edition of Sheffield DocFest, ‘Realities in Motion’, will take over Sheffield from 10 - 15 June, featuring this year’s Festival Guest of Honour Maxine Peake, Miriam Margolyes, Chris Packham, Andrea Arnold, alongside a special event dedicated to one of the world’s most famous living documentary makers, Sir David Attenborough.
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News, Press, Arts
Published on April 7
A group of people attending Sheffield DocFest walk through a park.

Announcing our From Door to Doc fundraising programme

Our From Door to Doc fundraising programme creates accessible pathways to Sheffield DocFest for people who might otherwise be unable to attend. We remove barriers like travel expenses, ticket costs, and the feeling that cultural events aren't 'for them'.

Join us in making Sheffield DocFest accessible to all. Support From Door to Doc by donating, sharing, or spreading the word.
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News, Community
Published on March 31
A graphic of our David Attenborough competition.

Sir David Attenborough at 100: Create a Birthday Card Competition!

In partnership with Sheffield Libraries, we're inviting young artists across Sheffield to create a birthday card to celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday!
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Arts, Community, News
Published on March 27
An image from last year's Climate Spring event, with this year's titles on it.

Climate Spring Digital-First Pitch 2026 now open for applications

The Climate Spring Digital-First Pitch returns for 2026, with four Sheffield DocFest pitch slots and a £10,000 prize for the winner up for grabs.
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News, Industry
Published on March 24

Be a part of Sheffield DocFest 2026

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Become a Member
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Buy your 2026 Festival Pass
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Grab a DocLover Ticket Bundle
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Film Entries
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MeetMarket Entries
A poster with outstretched hands, and the text 'Something I Want You To Know..." which is the title of the our mini-doc call for entries initiative
"Something I Want You To Know..." Mini Doc - Call For Entries Open

Sheffield DocFest is the UK's leading documentary festival

Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects. We champion and present the breadth of documentary form – film, television, immersive and art – in the vibrant city of Sheffield each June. We offer a place for inspiration, debate, development, learning and challenge. Our programming represents our core values – creativity, empathy, freedom, inclusivity and internationalism.

Festival begins
10 - 15 Jun 2026
Nine weeks to go
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Is it for me?

"All year round you work and try to find inspiration. Sheffield DocFest is 100% about inspiration. I come here to be reminded why I do what I do."

Industry Delegate

"The character of the festival extends further than the programme of films and talks, it’s imbued in the staff, volunteers and attendees, and through this community, soaked up into the city itself. I walked home every day buzzing with insight and brimming with new documentary recommendations for anyone who would listen."

Alaina Briggs, Sheffield DocFest Local Advisory Group

"DocFest is the best documentary festival in the UK. It offers access to film makers, fosters community and collaboration and showcases the best of the industry’s work. It is irreplaceable."

Industry Delegate

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