Literary icon Matt Haig to headline special Off the Shelf event this May
Sheffield’s Off the Shelf Festival of Words has announced an exclusive extra to its 2026 calendar: a special evening with the internationally acclaimed author Matt Haig.
While the full festival programme won’t be revealed until this summer, the festival is giving fans an early treat. On Monday 18 May, Matt Haig will take to the stage at Sheffield’s Montgomery Theatre to discuss his highly anticipated new novel, The Midnight Train.
A Journey back in time
In a conversation, hosted by celebrated poet and author Helen Mort, Haig will delve into the world of his latest work, an intriguing, magical, time-traveling love story set within the same universe as his global phenomenon, The Midnight Library.
The premise of The Midnight Train poses a haunting question: If you could relive the moments that meant the most to you, would you? While the past cannot be changed, the Midnight Train offers a way back though (as Haig explores) such a journey is never without its risks.
From global sensation to Sheffield stage
Matt Haig has become one of the most influential voices in modern literature. His previous works, including The Humans, The Life Impossible, and the non-fiction bestseller Reasons to Stay Alive, have resonated with millions.
His standout success, The Midnight Library, has:
- Sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
- Been translated into over 50 languages.
- Spent 10 weeks in the UK Top Ten and topped the New York Times Bestseller list.
- Won the Goodreads Best Fiction Book of the Year.
Celebrated author Jodi Picoult described Haig’s work as “an It’s a Wonderful Life for the modern age,” and this upcoming event offers Sheffield audiences a first look at the next chapter of that visionary world.
