Leeds Festival of Gothica to host massive free museum takeover this World Goth Day

The ultimate celebration of alternative culture is returning to the subculture's spiritual birthplace this weekend as the Leeds Festival of Gothica prepares to host a massive, immersive takeover.

This long weekend (May 23), the Leeds City Museum will be transformed into a sprawling sanctuary of all things dark, macabre, and creative, and the spectacular event is completely free to enter as it honours the legacy of World Goth Day by championing the city's unique position in alternative music and subcultural history.

The packed daytime itinerary features an array of live music, spoken word poetry, independent alternative markets, academic talks, performance art, and specialised architecture walks.

The festival will be officially opened by acclaimed novelist, poet, and The March Violets vocalist Rosie Garland. Following the opening, visitors can explore a vast Alternative Market weaving through the museum’s historic spaces - including Brodrick Hall, the Thoresby Room, the Upper Circle, and the main exhibition galleries - showcasing the very best dark artisans, independent creators, and alternative traders.

In the main Brodrick Hall, electronic-goth mainstays Zeitgeist Zero will be spinning dark alternative sounds, while vocalist Teresa Dead will be on-site promoting her upcoming 'gothumentary' film, 'It’s not easy being strange'.

Over in the Herbarium Café, the atmosphere will turn distinctly avant-goth. Visitors can immerse themselves in dark piano recitals curated by the Leeds International Piano Competition, performed on a custom 'Gothic Piano' styled by creative students from PINC College.

The café space will also play host to an intimate spoken word performance from Rosie Garland, alongside an exclusive, highly anticipated acoustic set from legendary gothic rock band Inkubus Sukkubus.

The museum takeover also directly intersects with local music history, featuring live sets curated by the Leeds Conservatoire inside the Leeds Music Leads Us exhibition space, while for those looking to delve deeper into history, folklore and the arts, other activities this weekend include Victorian-inspired portrait sessions with artist Ellie Andrews, bookable Brutalist architecture walks around the city centre with The Biro Guy.

Two free talks will also take place in the Denny Room: ‘Who Is the Real Dracula?’ with Georgian Balog, followed by Dr Bethan Juliet Oakes discussing the Satanic Panic.

Beyond the museum walls, the festival’s footprint extends across the city centre with independent businesses and classic venues hosting specialised fringe events throughout the day and night.

Visitors can explore a curated collection of gothic graphic novels at OK Comics, revisit goth clubbing history at The HiFi Club with a nostalgic afternoon event by Le Phonographique catch Inkubus Sukkubus and The Exceptional Mr Hyde performing live at Boom Leeds, and cap off the night at Wharf Chambers with Nox Club’s Gothic Discotheque until the early hours.

For full details and timings for the events, check out Leeds City Museums and Galleries’ website or Leeds Festival of Gothica’s social channels, including Facebook.