An internationally recognised film festival will be celebrating its 10 th anniversary with a bumper programme, after receiving more than 1,000 submissions from around the world. Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, which will run from May 12-18, will feature a range of screenings of different genres, from drama and comedy to horror and sci-fi, along with industry workshops and masterclasses. Screenings will take place at Omniplex Cinema, Pop Recs and the newly refurbished Media Centre Cinema in the University of Sunderland's St Peter’s Campus. Tickets from the Sunderland Shorts website.placeholder image
An internationally recognised film festival will be celebrating its 10 th anniversary with a bumper programme, after receiving more than 1,000 submissions from around the world. Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, which will run from May 12-18, will feature a range of screenings of different genres, from drama and comedy to horror and sci-fi, along with industry workshops and masterclasses. Screenings will take place at Omniplex Cinema, Pop Recs and the newly refurbished Media Centre Cinema in the University of Sunderland's St Peter’s Campus. Tickets from the Sunderland Shorts website. | Submitted

16 big festivals, shows and events heading to Sunderland in 2025

By Katy Wheeler

Lifestyle Editor

Published 22nd Apr 2025, 11:31 GMT
Updated 16th May 2025, 16:13 GMT

From food festivals and the opening match of a global tournament to blockbuster musicals and top headliners, there’s plenty happening in Sunderland this year.

Here’s just some of the big festivals and shows so far - with more events expected to be announced, especially around the opening of the new footbridge in August and Culture House in autumn.

Shaggy will headline Kubix Festival in Herrington Country Park. The festival, which has become one of the highlights of the city’s events calendar, returns on Saturday, July 12 2025. Shaggy is joined on the line-up for 2025 by Basshunter, Blue, Another Level, Liberty X, Louise, Blazin’ Squad and more.

9. Kubix Festival, Herrington Country Park, July 12

Shaggy will headline Kubix Festival in Herrington Country Park. The festival, which has become one of the highlights of the city’s events calendar, returns on Saturday, July 12 2025. Shaggy is joined on the line-up for 2025 by Basshunter, Blue, Another Level, Liberty X, Louise, Blazin’ Squad and more. | Submitted

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Monument Festival returns to Herrington Country Park on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Mercury Music Prize-nominated Yard Act and BRIT Award-winning The Fratellis, will both make their Monument Festival debut, with Doves headlining. The lineup also includes Red Rum Club, The Sherlocks, The Twang and more.

10. Monument Festival, Herrington Country Park, July 19

Monument Festival returns to Herrington Country Park on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Mercury Music Prize-nominated Yard Act and BRIT Award-winning The Fratellis, will both make their Monument Festival debut, with Doves headlining. The lineup also includes Red Rum Club, The Sherlocks, The Twang and more. | Submitted

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There's a whole host of gigs taking place for the Summer Parties series at The Parade Ground at The Fire Station. It starts with The Futureheads on August 2. On August 3 Elles Bailey makes her Parade Ground debut alongside singer- songwriter Kezia Gill. On August 16 Celtic punk rockers Ferocious Dog take to the stage. On August 29 cult rockers Terrorvision are set to rock the venue. It's ladies night on August 30 with The Diva Show and Ibiza in Symphony on August 31.

11. The Summer Party series returns to The Fire Station

There's a whole host of gigs taking place for the Summer Parties series at The Parade Ground at The Fire Station. It starts with The Futureheads on August 2. On August 3 Elles Bailey makes her Parade Ground debut alongside singer- songwriter Kezia Gill. On August 16 Celtic punk rockers Ferocious Dog take to the stage. On August 29 cult rockers Terrorvision are set to rock the venue. It's ladies night on August 30 with The Diva Show and Ibiza in Symphony on August 31. | Claire Louise Photography

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Sunderland’s new footbridge will be open in time for the Women’s Rugby World Cup this August and will play a key role in the tournament’s opening match celebrations. Fan zones, fireworks and more than 150 colourful flags and banners will all add to the party atmosphere in the city centre, together with a fan parade to the Stadium of Light across the new Wear Footbridge connecting the city centre to the stadium. England's Red Roses are due to kick off the opening match of the tournament against the USA at the Stadium of Light at 7.30pm on Friday 22 August and tickets are already selling fast.

12. Women's Rugby World Cup Fan Parade, new footbridge, August

Sunderland’s new footbridge will be open in time for the Women’s Rugby World Cup this August and will play a key role in the tournament’s opening match celebrations. Fan zones, fireworks and more than 150 colourful flags and banners will all add to the party atmosphere in the city centre, together with a fan parade to the Stadium of Light across the new Wear Footbridge connecting the city centre to the stadium. England's Red Roses are due to kick off the opening match of the tournament against the USA at the Stadium of Light at 7.30pm on Friday 22 August and tickets are already selling fast. | Sunderland Echo

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