Culture, sport, restaurants, holidays, social gatherings and more have all been badly hit by the Covid-19 emergency, which means the calendar has been in shreds since March.
But there is much to look forward to in 2021 if, as is hoped, the roll-out of vaccines works effectively and public confidence grows.
Here are 10 of the best things that are lined up next year in Sheffield.
5. Tramlines
Sheffield's Tramlines music festival is set to return to Hillsborough Park from July 23 to 25, 2021. Photo: Dean Atkins
6. The Steel City Beer & Cider Festival
CAMRA's Steel City Beer & Cider Festival - which was booked in at Kelham Island Museum in 2020 - is expected to happen from October 14 to 17, 2021, when the time should be right to highlight Sheffield's role in real ale's success in style. Photo: Chris Etchells
7. The Bears of Sheffield
Once there were elephants, now there will be bears in a sculpture trail around Sheffield that has been postponed until 2021. A fundraiser for The Children's Hospital Charity, it will happen from July to September and is the follow-up to the Herd of Sheffield trail in 2016. Photo: Chris Etchells
8. New look for a city institution
A refurbishment of Sheffield's John Lewis department store - formerly Cole Brothers - is poised to start in mid-2021, giving the jewel in the city centre's retail crown a smarter appearance and perhaps some new features inside too. This is all part of the council-led Heart of the City II scheme - expect progress with other elements of this project in 2021 too, as the delivery of more blocks gathers pace. Photo: JPIMedia