The Fringe at Tramlines: more than a music festival
Each summer, Tramlines brings tens of thousands of people into Sheffield, attracting music fans from across the region and beyond.
But while the main festival takes place in Hillsborough Park, another important part of the weekend unfolds across the city centre – The Fringe at Tramlines.
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Since 2018, The Fringe has extended the energy of Tramlines into the city centre. Across bars, venues and public spaces, live music and performances create a city-wide experience, drawing people into the centre and encouraging them to explore what’s on offer.
This matters for a simple reason: it spreads the benefits of a major event more widely.
The latest economic impact assessment estimated that The Fringe generated £1.86m for Sheffield’s economy and attracted around 45,000 attendees, underlining the value of bringing festival activity into the city centre.
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Diane Jarvis, CEO of Sheffield BID, said: “The Fringe shows Sheffield at its best. It gives people more reasons to spend time in the city centre, discover its fantastic venues and experience the creativity and energy that make Sheffield such a vibrant destination. Just as importantly, it helps businesses across the city share in the success of one of Sheffield’s biggest weekends.”
Large-scale festivals can often feel contained within a single location. The Fringe changes that dynamic by bringing the wider city centre into the festival experience, giving businesses the opportunity to be part of the atmosphere and benefit from increased footfall.
For many venues, especially independent bars and live music spaces, The Fringe is more than a busy weekend. It helps them reach new audiences, raise their profile, and build lasting customer relationships.
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It also reinforces something Sheffield does well – its reputation as a city of live music. While Tramlines brings the headline acts, The Fringe highlights the breadth and depth of talent across local venues, creating a more inclusive and accessible experience.
Importantly, The Fringe isn’t a single event in one location – it’s a collective effort. Venues, promoters, and businesses all contribute to a programme that feels organic, diverse, and reflective of the city itself.
This is where partnership becomes key.
Since 2018, Sheffield BID has invested in The Fringe at Tramlines, supporting the free Devonshire Green stage in partnership with Sheffield City Council while helping raise the profile of activity taking place across the city centre. The result is a broader festival experience that benefits businesses, venues and visitors alike.
For Sheffield BID, continued investment in The Fringe reflects its commitment to creating a vibrant city centre and helping businesses benefit from major events that attract thousands of visitors.
Success isn’t measured solely by attendance at a single event. It’s about how that energy carries into the wider city, supporting businesses, creating vibrancy, and encouraging people to experience more of what Sheffield has to offer.
The Fringe at Tramlines does exactly that. It turns a major festival into a city-wide experience and helps ensure the benefits are felt well beyond the main stage.