Sheffield DocFest announces 2026 line up

Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold, actors Miriam Margolyes and Maxine Peake and naturalist Chris Packham will appear at Sheffield DocFest, it has been announced.

The event will take place between 10 and 15 June with the theme Realities in Motion, showcasing "the best in documentary, film, television, podcasts, virtual reality and art".

It will also feature a celebration of the life and work of Sir David Attenborough, who will turn 100 in May.

Creative director Raul Niño Zambrano said: "We are incredibly proud and honoured to welcome such extraordinary voices to this year's edition ... artists and thinkers who truly embody the spirit of a world in motion."

Margolyes will be "in conversation" with her long-standing collaborator and director Simon Draper, talking about the importance of speaking out.

She said: "I'm so thrilled to be coming. I'm new to 'dockos', it's so inspiring to be among the best at Sheffield, I'll learn so much."

Meanhwile, Peake, who has been described as the festivals "guest of honour", will be discussing how working class voices are represented in the media and on screen in the age of populism.

She will also take on a curatorial role, selecting films to form part of the line-up and showcasing and introducing some of her favourite documentaries.

"I feel very giddy about being this year's 'guest of honour'," she said.

"Documentary film is absolutely essential to human existence. It is able to mine and shine its focus on humanity and our lived experiences like no other medium can."

Packham will be part of a group of wildlife filmmakers and scientists, including Gordon Buchanon and Nadeem Perera, taking part in a special event to mark 100 years of Sir David.

Host Alice Aedy said: "Sir David Attenborough profoundly shaped the course of my life. To get the chance to honour him alongside an extraordinary panel, also inspired by his legacy, is something I'm really looking forward to."

Sheffield DocFest will also feature a new dedicated family strand with some of the biggest names in children's entertainment, including the cast and crew of CBBC's hit comedies Horrible Histories & Horrible Science.

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