Podcast festival, Crossed Wires, announces first wave lineup for 2026

Described as "buzzy" ", zippy", and "great fun" by The Sunday Times, Crossed Wires is one of the biggest podcast festivals in the world. Since its second edition, Crossed Wires has expanded to give 1st-time goers and returning faces a chance to immerse themselves across 4 days from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th July 2026. 

Returning to to Sheffield,  the first wave lineup so far consists of Dig It with Jo Whiley & Zoe Ball, How to Fail with Elizabeth Day, The Blindboy Podcast, If I Speak with Ash Sarkar & Moya Lothian McLean, Get A Grip with Angela Scanlon & Vicky Pattison, and Bold Politics with Zack Polanski. 

Plus so many more, including the return of BBC Sounds, which will have even more of the BBC’s signature storytelling and household names at the heart of the festival, for free.

With space for 35,000 people to descend on the city, expect Crossed Wires 2026 to be a banger with live podcast recordings, a buzzing Fringe, after-parties, and one-off events across Sheffield's most iconic venues. And it doesn't stop there, as there will also be opportunities to discover new favourites, meet fellow fans, and immerse yourself in the thriving podcast scene that now calls Sheffield home. From intimate pop-ups to immersive storytelling, Crossed Wires is constantly evolving.

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Header image credit: Crossed Wires / Facebook.com