Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival 2026

36 Plays. 50+ Creatives. You Choose The Winner.

Come and See Yorkshire's Next Great Talent Before Everyone Else Does.

The Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival returns to Harrogate this August for its biggest and most exciting year yet.

Over three weeks, audiences will experience 36 original ten-minute plays from Yorkshire and International Short + Sweet writers, brought to life by talented local actors and directors. From laugh-out-loud comedy and gripping drama to romance, satire, thrillers and everything in between, every heat offers a completely different line-up of new work.

This year, the competition is bigger than ever, featuring four heats, a Semi-Final, a Judges' Showcase Matinee and a Grand Final & Awards Ceremony, where audience votes and judges' scores combine to determine who takes home the Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival 2026 title.

Whether you're a theatre lover, supporter of local talent or simply looking for a great night out, there's never been a better time to discover new writing in Yorkshire.

📅 Festival Schedule

Heat One

Friday 7 August 2026-  7pm

The first heat of nine original ten-minute plays compete for a place in the Semi-Final. The top three as voted by the audience go through to the semi-finals.

Heat Two

Saturday 8 August 2026 -7pm

The second with a brand-new line-up of original short plays takes to the stage. The top three as voted by the audience go through to the semi-finals

Heat Three

Friday 14 August 2026 -7pm 

The third heat with another exciting selection of writers, actors and directors compete for audience votes. The top three as voted by the audience go through to the semi-finals.

Heat Four

Saturday 15 August 2026 -7pm

The final heat before the competition reaches its knockout stages. The top three as voted by the audience go through to the semi-finals

Semi-Final

Friday 21 August 2026

Twelve plays, (the top three for each heat) return to compete for a place in the final. Only eight make it through. The audience gets to choose.

Judges' Showcase Matinee

Saturday 22 August 2026 – Afternoon

Grand final performance one- the top 8 plays perform for industry judges and audience members.

Grand Final & Awards

Saturday 22 August 2026 – Evening

The top eight plays from across the festival compete one final time before the votes of the two performances are combined and the winners are announced.

Audience votes, judges' scores and festival awards combine to create an unforgettable celebration of new writing and performance.

🎟 Ticket Prices

Individual Tickets

£14 Standard

£12 Students & Pensioners

⭐ Four Heat Pass

£46

Attend all four heats and save £10.

Includes:

• Heat One
• Heat Two
• Heat Three
• Heat Four

Value £56 | Save £10

Perfect for theatre lovers who want to follow the competition from the opening heat through to the Semi-Final qualifiers.

🏆 Full Festival Pass

£68

Experience the complete Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival journey.

Includes:

• Heat One
• Heat Two
• Heat Three
• Heat Four
• Semi-Final
• Grand Final & Awards

Value £84 | Save £16

The best value option for audiences who want to follow every twist, surprise and standing ovation from opening night through to the crowning of the festival champions.

Why Come?

✔ 36 original ten-minute plays

✔ More than 50 actors, writers and directors

✔ Audience voting

✔ Industry judges

✔ Comedy, drama, romance, thrillers and satire

✔ A different programme at every performance

✔ Support Yorkshire's creative talent

✔ Discover tomorrow's writers before everyone else does

Who Will Make It To The Final?

Only the top three plays from each heat will progress to the Semi-Final.

From those twelve plays, just eight finalists will earn a place in the Grand Final.

Who will make it through? Who will win over the judges? And which play will become the audience favourite? 

There's only one way to find out.

Join us this August and help decide who takes home the Short + Sweet Yorkshire Festival 2026 crown.

Book early. Performances sold out last year.

Supported by Creative Harrogate and The Writers Collective.