WICKED Messy Play Party
We know the kids have not long gone back to school but half term isn’t that far away, folks! So plan ahead and grab a ticket to join us for a WICKED half term this February, all about magic and friendship WICKED MESSY PLAY – 18 FEB Green and pink WICKED themed messy play with a variety of natural sensory stations and crafting activities set up! WICKED OUTDOOR CINEMA – 20 FEB Bring your camping chairs and blankets as we snuggle up under the canopy to watch & sing along to WICKED with pizza, popcorn and pink & green drinks. Book now! Future you will thank you 00
Derby Book Festival announces shortlisted books for Award
Derby Book Festival has announced the three shortlisted books for the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award 2026, selected by 22 Derby primary school teachers. Now in its eight year, the Award celebrates picture books that children can relate to and in which the diversity and challenges of modern life are represented. Children’s publishers were invited to submit up to three books, published in 2025, which meet the Award criteria. A record number of 83 books were submitted from publishers. Members of the Festival’s Education Group selected the longlist of 10 books, before the team of teachers made their selection of the shortlist. Making the shortlist are: ‘The Great Green Island’ by Becky Colvin; ‘That’s Not Stella’ by Donna Fredin, and ‘My Rice is Best’ by Selina Brown and Maxwell A. Oginni. This year 73 Derby schools will take part, receiving copies of the three books for each class, involving 235 classes. Around 7,100 children in Years 2 and 3 will vote for their favourite book after reading them in class this term. Voting Day is 26th March and the winner will be announced on 28th March. The previous winners have been hugely inspiring books, which continue to be used by schools across the city. Shortlisted author, Selina Brown, said, “I’m so full of gratitude and excitement that ‘My Rice is Best’ has been shortlisted for the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award. This book is a love letter to family, food, and the joy of seeing your own world reflected in a story. Knowing it’s been read, enjoyed, and chosen by teachers and children across Derby makes this moment incredibly special to me.” Di Smith, Festival Trustee who has devised and organised the Award since it began eight years ago, said: “We had a very high standard of submissions again this year and recognition of the Award continues to grow. We are delighted that each year the number of books increases. This year we have had 83 books submitted by 22 publishers. We have an excellent and varied shortlist of books which will give Derby children the opportunity to see a window on their world and a mirror in which to see themselves.” A teacher at Alvaston Infant and Nursery School said: “The children always love to analyse and discuss the books that they are exposed to with the Derby Children’s Picture Book Award, thinking critically about what they like about each story and articulating why their chosen book should be the winner. Additionally, our children love to be a part of something bigger than just our school; knowing that they are contributing to a big and important decision and that their opinion very much matters!” ”Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The Derby Children’s Picture Book Award is an important part of the annual Derby Book Festival. “The award, voted for by schoolchildren across the city, aims to inspire a new generation of readers through books that reflect a range of lives and experiences. “Once again, the University of Derby is proud to be involved with the Derby Book Festival, and we look forward to another successful year.” Derby Book Festival has a strong programme of events for children, families and schools. Each year it organises Meet the Author events for Derby and Derbyshire primary and secondary schools, which last year reached over 9,000 pupils. The two primary events are held at Derby Theatre and live streamed to around 60 schools across the city and county. This year’s Meet the Author events will include current Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and author & illustrator Joe Todd-Stanton. Derby Book Festival is funded by Arts Council England and the University of Derby with additional sponsorship from local businesses. 00
Wills & Probate lawyer at Timms Solicitors promoted to Associate
Wills & Probate Solicitor, Megan Lovell, has been promoted to Associate at the leading law firm, Timms, which has offices in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter, Burton-upon-Trent, Swadlincote and Ashby de la Zouch. Megan, who celebrates her fourth anniversary with Timms this month, specialises in Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate and Trusts and Estate Administration. She supports clients through sensitive and often emotional life events, helping individuals and families navigate what can be complex legal matters. She is based at the firm’s Burton and Ashby offices. Megan qualified as a Solicitor in 2018 and joined Timms in January 2022. She studied law at Nottingham Trent University and completed her Legal Practice Course at De Montfort University in Leicester. She is also a fully accredited member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers. Timms’s Managing Partner, Fiona Moffat, said: “We are very excited to celebrate Megan’s promotion to Associate, and her new role is testament to the huge contribution she brings to the firm. “She is always fully committed, and her relentless work ethic and commitment to the local community plays a vital role in supporting younger members of the team. Megan has shown real dedication to the profession, and she is determined to provide the very best care to her clients. It has been fantastic to watch her grow and see how well she supports clients with the legal services we can offer.” Megan said: “I am delighted to have been made an Associate Solicitor at Timms, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me since I started working at the firm four years ago. “There is such an exceptional, talented team at Timms, and they have continually helped me since the start. I feel really proud to be where I am today and I am looking forward to what the future holds.” Outside of work, Megan enjoys baking, walking and spending time with her family and friends. Timms Solicitors has been providing legal services across the Midlands for over 130 years and continues to evolve to meet the needs of local families and businesses. 00
Derby Museums Launches a ‘Year of Wright’ (2025-26) in London, Derby and online
Discover the city that shaped one of the UK’s most original and visionary painters Derby Museums is delighted to announce The Year of Wright — a year-long celebration of the life, art, and enduring relevance of Joseph Wright of Derby (1734–1797), one of Britain’s most original and visionary painters. Derby Museums’ collaboration with The National Gallery, London Joseph Wright: From the Shadows opened in November 2025,and now audiences in London, Derby, and around the world online are invited to rediscover Wright’s art, and his radical curiosity, by taking a closer look at the remarkable city that inspired him – Derby. Often seen as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, as well as a centre for cultural and scientific innovation, the city formed a key part of Wright’s creative inspiration, and it was in his studio there where his many ideas came together and were committed to canvas. Everyone from academics to artists and first-time museum visitors are invited to discover this iconic 18th century artist and his world with fresh eyes. Why Derby? Because there is no Wright without Derby The city was Wright’s lifelong home, the setting for many of his most famous paintings, and a major centre of the 18th-century scientific and industrial networks that fuelled his imagination. He was a painter of huge versatility, and it is hoped people will discover or re-discover him as part of the Year of Wright. Today, the city remains the only place in the world where visitors can experience Wright’s art in the context of his life and world. Derby Museums holds the world’s largest collection of his work – paintings, drawings, letters, and artefacts – that reveal his close friendships with a broad range of people from all walks of life who influenced his thinking and his art. This ranged from thinkers, industrialists and scientists to fellow artists, poets and writers. Visitors will be able to step into Wright’s Derby through a specially curated weekend itinerary in partnership with Visit Derby, exploring the city’s links to Wright and how it inspired him through vibrant museums, historic architecture, riverside mills, and even a new locally brewed beer inspired by the artist himself. A campaign to encourage visitors to both The National Gallery and Derby Museums will run in 2026. Using images of Wright in unexpected ways it will encourage people to ‘see the bigger picture’ and ‘get up close and personal’ to this sometimes-enigmatic character, through his art and the city he lived in. ‘Derby isn’t just where Wright was born — it’s where his ideas were forged and committed to canvas,’ says Lucy Bamford, Curator at Derby Museums. ‘Wright is known throughout the world for his illusionistic depictions of light and darkness. For many people, these works have come to symbolise a world on the brink of modernity, but they also reveal an artist grappling with enduring and fundamental themes about nature and the human experience.’ ‘The ‘Year of Wright’ was inspired by the only known portrait in which Wright shows himself as an artist, Self Portrait at the Age of About Forty (c.1772), which was acquired for the nation by Derby Museums in 2022. Spanning the full breadth of Wright’s life and career, we really hope the activities and exhibitions throughout the year will inspire people to look again at the man behind the paintings, what inspired him and just how versatile and groundbreaking he really was – it is time to take a closer look.’ Highlights of the Year of Wright (2025–2026) Two major exhibitions in London and Derby Wright of Derby: From the ShadowsThe National Gallery, London: 7 November 2025 – 10 May 2026Derby Museum and Art Gallery: 13 June – 1 November 2026 The first major exhibition devoted to Wright’s celebrated candlelight paintings, From the Shadows explores and looks again at his most admired works. Seventeen of the twenty works in the show are from Derby Museums’ collections. Illuminated faces gather around a variety of objects – from classical sculptures and scientific instruments to bones, bladders and animals. Through his unflinching scenes of people watching, Wright proposes moral questions about acts of looking. The strong light and deep shadows create drama, reminding us of great painters from earlier centuries like Caravaggio. Curated by Christine Riding (National Gallery) and Lucy Bamford (Derby Museums), the show opened in London this November. Joseph Wright of Derby: Life on PaperDerby Museum and Art Gallery: 12 March – 17 May 2026 Reopening by popular demand following an initial presentation in summer 2025, this exhibition includes some of Wright’s earliest known works, made as a young teenager. It also assembles more than 70 of Wright’s, until this year, largely overlooked, personal drawings, sketches and letters, spanning the full breadth of the artist’s life and career. The exhibition is curated by Lucy Bamford (Derby Museums) and it is accompanied by a full illustrated catalogue. A new discovery for the UK – now on display in Derby A previously unknown portrait by Wright, found in a family home in the Scottish Borders in 2024, is now on display at Derby Museum and Art Gallery. The painting has been dated c.1760 and depicts the artist’s friend Edward Miller (1735 – 1807), a prominent composer who in his youth played flute in the orchestra of the famous German composer George Frederic Handel. It adds a new dimension to our understanding of Wright’s friendships and artistic network. Derby Museums’ Senior Curator of Art and the Joseph Wright Collection, Lucy Bamford, worked in partnership with Dr Martin Postle (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art) and Historian Dr Stephen Leach to authenticate the portrait. The world’s greatest Wright collection – launching early 2026 For the first time, global audiences will be able to explore Derby Museums’ Joseph Wright Collection — the world’s largest and most comprehensive resource on the artist — entirely free online. Featuring almost 600 objects, from paintings to letters and personal effects, the collection has been digitally catalogued with support from the Paul Mellon Centre, offering unprecedented public access and research opportunities. Much of the
Get down to Derby Market Place – 12 Feb 2026 – 22 Feb 2026 for the Valentines Fun Fair!
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Junior Shepherd Week
We’re thrilled to be reopening on 14 February for our Junior Shepherd Week. Step into the world of farming and create magical family memories with a packed programme of fun, learning and hands-on adventure. What’s on Lambing LiveWitness the miracle of new life as lambs are born in our Cow Palace — an unforgettable experience for all ages. Lambing LessonsHave a go with our human-sized birthing tube, learn all about the lambing process and enjoy a few laughs with our friendly farmers. Milking DemonstrationsWatch our cows being milked using our state-of-the-art robotic milker and see modern farming in action. Farmer Role PlayGet hands-on with brushing Highland cows, “calving” a cow, shearing sheep and dressing up just like a real farmer. Plus so much more A fantastic family day out filled with discovery, interaction and unforgettable farmyard fun. Book Here! 00
Can you write about ‘Hope’ in a 50-word Festival competition?
Derby Book Festival is challenging children and adults to write a story or poem in up to fifty words on the subject of ‘Hope’ for its annual Flash Fiction Writing Competition which was launched 19th January. The annual competition has been organised every year since the Festival started in 2015. In 2026, to be celebrated nationally as the National Year of Reading, it will be sponsored by Derby-based company, Derventio Education, who create education software solutions which are used by schools, colleges and universities across the world. Derby Book Festival is funded by Arts Council England National Lottery grants and the University of Derby as well as with sponsorship from local businesses and individuals. The Flash Fiction competition has three age categories: 11 years and under, 12 – 17 years and 18 years and over. Entries for all categories will be judged by a panel which includes creative writing specialists and there will be one winner in each category with a prize of a £50 book token. There are also separate categories for HMP Foston Hall and HMP Sudbury. The winning stories will be printed on a set of Festival bookmarks and distributed across Derby and Derbyshire to promote Derby Book Festival, which has two annual programmes of book-related events: the Summer Festival from 22 – 31 May 2026 and the Autumn Edition from 13 – 15 November 2026. In previous years, people have been invited to tackle a variety of themes: ‘Love’, ‘Secrets’, ‘Journeys’, ‘Space’, ‘Our World’, ‘Home’, ‘Light’, ‘Spring’ and ‘Voices’, attracting hundreds of entries each year, encouraging people of all ages to be creative and use their imaginations to write a story or poem, often inspiring them to take their first steps towards a writing career. The theme can be interpreted as widely as the author wishes, so long as the story or poem is no longer than fifty words. Professor Keith McLay, Derby Book Festival Chair and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The Flash Fiction competition is a chance for writers to share their voice, stretch their creativity and to be a part of something inspiring. “We aim to gather the widest possible range of original stories on this year’s theme – hope – in just a few powerful words. “The Flash Fiction competition is an opportunity to tell a tale that matters, remind readers why storytelling remains so powerful and to share a richness of perspectives. The University of Derby is delighted once more to be a principal partner of the Derby Book Festival, and I look forward to reading the inspiring tales that this competition always generates.” Stuart Reece, Managing Director of Derventio Education, explained the reasons for their sponsorship: “With more than 20 years of experience in education and firm roots in the city, we are delighted to be working with Derby Book Festival by becoming the official sponsors of its Flash Fiction competition. “As a Derby-based business, we’re passionate about giving something back to the local community and encouraging creativity in education. The Flash Fiction competition celebrates original thinking and storytelling, and we’re proud to help shine a spotlight on writers across the city and beyond. “This year’s theme of ‘Hope’ feels particularly important. We are all navigating a world that feels uncertain and fast-moving and creative opportunities like this offer a chance to pause, reflect and express optimism for the future. We can’t wait to see what the would-be authors come up with.” Once the winning stories have been chosen, there will be a separate illustration competition for Creative Communications students at the University of Derby, which is one of the Festival’s key funders. Each winning story will be illustrated and reproduced as Festival bookmarks, which will be available at the Summer Festival and will be distributed widely across schools, bookshops, local libraries, venues, cafes and arts centres. The Festival website has some helpful links to those who are interested in writing Flash Fiction but are not sure where to start.To enter the competition, visit the Festival website and submit your story using the online form. The closing date for the competition is 10pm on Friday 13 February. The terms and conditions for the competition can also be found on the website, where you can sign up for more information about the Festival. You can also follow the Festival on Twitter at: @DerbyBookFest and ‘like’ the Festival on Facebook: www.facebook.com/derbybookfestival Supporting #GoAllIn2026 and #NationalYearOfReading2026 00
The Oz Experience – Derby
🎮 A daring Oz adventure🏎️ Navigate your city streets🎟️ Hunt for clues and solve puzzles⌛ 2-3 hours to complete👋 Perfect for friends and families📍 All quests within ½ mile radius📱 Immersive app-only experience⏰ Play anytime The Story Dorothy and her friends have been captured by the Wicked Witch of the West – and it’s up to you to set them free. Glinda the Good has opened a secret portal to Derby, granting you the power to see into Oz through an enchanted emerald lens. But saving the day won’t be easy… Follow the Yellow Brick Road, crack puzzles, uncover hidden clues, and evade the Wicked WitchÕs dark magic as you race against the clock to rescue Dorothy and her companions. Book Here! 00
Trance In The Woods 2026 – A New Chapter Begins
Following an unforgettable legacy at Elvaston Castle, Trance In The Woods is proud to announce its biggest move yet. For our landmark 25th Anniversary edition in 2026, the festival will be relocating to the stunning Thoresby Park, an expansive site set to elevate the experience for every attendee. This exciting new chapter comes with significant upgrades: Goodgreef, one of the UK’s most iconic dance music brands, celebrates 25 years of trailblazing events in 2026. To mark this milestone, Trance In The Woods is stepping up to become the biggest edition in its history, an anniversary celebration unlike any other. The full line-up announcement is coming soon, promising a breathtaking mix of trance legends, emerging talent, and world-class production set in one of the UK’s most enchanting festival locations. Save the Date: Friday 29th – 30th May 2026 Location: Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire NG22 9EP POST LINE-UP ANNOUNCED: Nottinghamshire – [Friday 29th – 30th May] – ATA Events & GoodGreef are thrilled to announce the first phase of the Trance in the Woods 2026 line-up, marking the 25th anniversary of the iconic GoodGreef brand. Set to take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th May 2026 at Thoresby Park, near Ollerton, Newark, this two-day festival promises a weekend of immersive trance experiences across expanded festival grounds with secret sets, a woodland area twice the size, and next-level production. The initial line-up features a stellar roster of world-class DJs and producers, including Billy Gillies B2B Maddix (UK exclusive), Bryan Kearney B2B Mauro Picotto (exclusive), Chicane, Judge Jules, David Rust, Eddie Halliwell, John O’Callaghan, Will Atkinson, Nifra, Rob Tissera, and many more. With over 50 DJs confirmed and secret guests yet to be revealed, attendees can expect non-stop music and unforgettable performances. Phase One also showcases an impressive selection of support artists from A-Z, including Anselli, Dan Harrison, Euphoric Relay, Jordan Tilstone, Steve Arnold, and others. Additional guest appearances are planned, adding to the excitement of this milestone edition of Trance in the Woods. Festival Features: Friday Highlights (Campers Only): Saturday Highlights: Tickets are available via FIXR.co.uk and Skiddle.com from Monday 13th October. Early booking is recommended to secure access to what promises to be a landmark celebration in trance music. For more information: trancinthewoods.co.ukSave the Date: Friday 29th – 30th May 2026Location: Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire NG22 9EPTickets: Available via FIXR and Skiddle from Monday 13th October 00
QUEENSBERRY ‘UNDER THE LIGHTS’ – BRITISH & COMMONWEALTH TITLE SHOWDOWN BOOKED FOR 28 FEBRUARY AT VAILLANT LIVE, DERBY!
THE VACANT BRITISH welterweight championship will be on the line when Owen Cooper goes up against Constantin Ursu at Valliant Live in Derby on Saturday February 28, live on DAZN. This will be the first Queensberry Championship Boxing event at Vaillant Live. The card will feature 10-round action at super lightweight, with Olympian Luke McCormack taking on Kane Gardner, plus at middleweight, with Ben Fail facing Mason Cartwright. Tickets can be purchased from vaillantlive.co.uk. Pre sale tickets are available from 12pm on Monday 19 January and the general sale starts at 12pm on Tuesday, 20 January. Promoter, Frank Warren: “This is a cracking little show and a showcase for our up-and-coming talents. This is where prospects get to prove themselves as potential contenders and show us all that they belong on the major events moving forward. “The British title fight between Owen Cooper and Constantin Ursu should be a real banger and it is one I am looking forward to greatly because these fights nearly always deliver the goods and Owen’s fights always do anyway. “We expect big things from Luke McCormack and Ben Fail and they will both be tested in a big way on February 28.” 00
