What's On in Nottingham This Weekend

Nottingham Beyond Van Gogh — Motorpoint Arena is transformed into something extraordinary as Beyond Van Gogh wraps you in floor-to-ceiling projections of the master's brushstrokes, pulling you inside Starry Night and Sunflowers like you have never experienced before. With entry slots running from 10:00am right through to 6:00pm, you can choose a time that suits your day — morning light or a late-afternoon treat. Prices are listed on the website, so check ahead and book your slot before they fill up.

BBQ & Blues — Red Dog Saloon is already one of Nottingham's most beloved spots for big flavours and bigger sounds, and their BBQ and Blues night at 6:30pm is the kind of Friday evening that feels like a holiday in itself. Expect slow-cooked smoke, cold drinks, and live blues guitar that loosens the shoulders after a long week. Tickets range from free up to £60 depending on your package, so there is a way in for everyone.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — One of the most celebrated and inventive British musicals in recent memory arrives at Theatre Royal Nottingham for a 7:30pm curtain, and if you have not caught this wildly clever show yet, tonight is your moment. Based on the jaw-dropping true story of a Second World War deception operation, it is funny, moving, and utterly unlike anything else on stage right now. Check the Theatre Royal website for tickets — and go in knowing as little as possible, because the surprises are half the joy.

Bieber Live | Binks Yard — Binks Yard hosts a full-scale Justin Bieber tribute experience from 6:30pm, and whether you are a devoted fan or just someone who cannot resist belting out Baby, this promises to be an enormously fun Friday night out. Tickets are priced between £10 and £30, making it a cracking-value evening in one of Nottingham's most atmospheric venues. Expect the big hits, big energy, and a crowd that is absolutely here for it.

The Mystery Train Riders - Live @ Billy's — For something a little more intimate and wonderfully unpretentious, The Mystery Train Riders take the stage at Billy Bootleggers from 8:00pm for a live set that will cost you no more than £2 — genuinely one of the city's great bargains. Billy's has that brilliant dive-bar warmth that makes every gig feel like a secret worth knowing about, and a band called The Mystery Train Riders sounds like exactly the kind of thing you will still be talking about on Saturday morning. Rock up, order a drink, and let the music do the rest.

Black Parade - 00's Emo Anthems — When the clock strikes 11:00pm, Billy Bootleggers Bar becomes a cathedral of eyeliner and catharsis as Black Parade delivers a full night of noughties emo anthems — think My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and everything that soundtracked your teenage bedroom walls. At just £6 on the door, it is a wildly good-value late-night plunge into nostalgia, and the crowd will absolutely know every word. Dust off your skinny jeans and come ready to scream.

Nottingham Beyond Van Gogh — Running in sessions from 9:00am right through to 5:00pm, this extraordinary immersive experience turns the Motorpoint Arena into a living, breathing painting, wrapping you in thousands of Van Gogh's swirling brushstrokes projected floor to ceiling all around you. It is the kind of thing that makes you gasp a little and then stand very still, taking it all in — perfect for art lovers, curious teenagers, and anyone who wants something genuinely different from a Saturday morning. Check the website for session times and ticket prices, and book ahead because sessions are filling fast.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — The smash-hit West End show that had London audiences on their feet rolls into the Theatre Royal Nottingham for both a 2:30pm matinee and a 7:30pm evening performance, so you can take your pick. Based on the audacious true story of a World War Two Allied deception operation, this is musical theatre at its most thrillingly inventive — funny, moving, and genuinely surprising in equal measure. Check the website for ticket details and do not sleep on this one; it is exactly the kind of show people talk about for weeks afterwards.

Save The Rave: Indoor/ 90's Festival Experience - Nottingham! — From midday, this indoor 90s festival experience promises to drag you straight back to the golden era of neon bucket hats, euphoric piano riffs, and hands-in-the-air anthems that simply do not make themselves anymore. The venue is to be confirmed, so check the website for the location, but the concept is gloriously simple: dress up, let go, and dance like it is 1995. Whether you actually lived through the decade or you are coming to it fresh, this is pure, uncomplicated joy.

Red Dog's Bottomless Country Brunch — At £40–£46 a head, the Bottomless Country Brunch at Red Dog Saloon from 2:00pm is the kind of gloriously indulgent afternoon that turns into an early evening without anyone quite noticing. Think hearty Southern-inspired food, bottomless drinks, and a live country soundtrack filling the room with warmth and twang. It is rowdy, it is fun, and it is the perfect way to kick off a big Saturday night — or simply to make the afternoon the main event.

Reggae Bingo - Nottingham - Sat 1st Aug — Bingo gets a serious upgrade at The Mixologist Cocktail and Wine Bar from 6:00pm, where the numbers are called to a soundtrack of reggae classics and the atmosphere is anything but your nan's village hall. At £18–£20, it is a brilliant early-evening option that brings together great music, friendly competition, and the kind of room where strangers quickly become teammates. Arrive early, grab a cocktail, and prepare to argue very passionately about whose card is closest.

ROMANCE: Nottingham's biggest indie club night — From 10:00pm at the legendary Rescue Rooms, Romance delivers exactly what Nottingham's indie faithful have been waiting for all week — wall-to-wall guitar anthems, a room packed with people who know every single word, and the kind of sweaty, communal energy that reminds you why you love going out. At just £5 on the door, it is one of the best-value nights in the city, and the Rescue Rooms' reputation as a venue that genuinely cares about atmosphere means the sound will be spot on. This is the one you stumble out of at 3am, hoarse and completely delighted with yourself.

Nottingham Beyond Van Gogh — Step inside the paintings and let Van Gogh's vivid, churning brushstrokes surround you on every wall, floor, and ceiling at Motorpoint Arena. This immersive experience turns some of the most beloved works in art history into a full-sensory spectacle that is genuinely moving whether you know your Starry Night from your Sunflowers or are simply chasing something beautiful. Sessions run throughout the day from 9:00am right through to 5:00pm, so there is no excuse not to find a slot that fits — check the website for ticket prices and to book your time.

Retro Football Fair Nottingham — Tucked inside Nottingham's The Nest at Notts County FC, this charming fair is a treasure trove for anyone who has ever loved the beautiful game — think vintage programmes, rare shirts, old sticker albums, and the kind of football memorabilia that sends grown adults straight back to their childhoods. It kicks off at 10:30am and at just £4 entry it is one of the most affordable and genuinely joyful ways to spend a Sunday morning in the city. Bring cash, bring a bag, and prepare to fall down a very satisfying rabbit hole.

Red Hot Riot - Live @ Billy's — For a Sunday afternoon with a proper pulse, Billy Bootleggers hosts Red Hot Riot from 2:00pm, bringing live music to one of Nottingham's most characterful bars for somewhere between nothing and two quid. It is the kind of gig where the room is small, the energy is large, and you end up staying far longer than you planned — and that is precisely the point. Entry is £0–£2, so there is really no reason not to wander in and see what all the noise is about.

BILLY'S SMASH HITS - Every Sunday Night — If the day has been good, why let it end quietly? Billy Bootleggers keeps the Sunday spirit alive from 11:00pm with its beloved Smash Hits night, a riotous celebration of pop anthems that turns the tail end of the weekend into a full-blown party. It is unpretentious, unapologetic fun — the kind of night where everyone in the room knows every word and nobody cares who is watching. Check the website for entry details and get yourself down there.