A celebration of snooker on the day before the 2026 Halo World Championship will give fans in Sheffield the chance to see their heroes on a special green carpet at the Crucible.

Following the great success last year’s ‘green carpet’ spectacular, World Snooker Tour, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Theatres are joining forces again to give local people the opportunity to come to Tudor Square and see the all-time greats of the sport just before the tournament begins.

On Friday April 17th, from 1pm to 2pm, the world’s top 16 players will gather in the centre of Sheffield and walk from the Winter Garden to the Crucible on a carpet, which matches the colour of the green baize.

All fans are welcome to line the carpet with the chance for autographs and selfies. Last year many hundreds of people from Sheffield and far beyond came to enjoy the occasion.

Entertainment in Tudor Square will start at 11am with music, then from 12.15pm snooker’s Master of Ceremonies Rob Walker will take to the stage and will be joined by special guests including legendary players.

From 1pm to 2pm, the 16 players will walk the green carpet, and then join together for a group photograph outside the Crucible. After 2pm, selected players will take on fans on snooker tables in the Fanzone area, outside the Crucible.

The World Championship itself, which has been staged at the Crucible every year since 1977, starts the following day and runs from April 18 to May 4. The top 16 will be joined by 16 qualifiers to battle for the famous trophy and a top prize of £500,000.

Tom Rowell, WST's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said: “Last year we were thrilled to see so many fans lining the green carpet and getting close to their heroes. And the players have told us how much they enjoyed the occasion and the support from the city of Sheffield. We’d love to see an even bigger turn out this year as the World Championship continues to grow as a huge global event.

“Once again in Tudor Square and around the city there will be a range of activities for fans which build the whole experience for everyone in the city.”

Councillor Mohammed Mahroof, Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up once again with World Snooker Tour and Sheffield Theatres to launch this brilliant event right in the heart of the city, marking the start of this year’s World Championship.

“With thousands of snooker fans travelling from across the globe – along with our amazing Sheffield community – everyone is invited to come along and join the fun, whether that’s meeting the players or picking up some exclusive giveaways.

“Sheffield loves snooker, and the World Championship is a huge moment for the city. This event opens the celebrations up to everyone, whether or not you’ve got a ticket for the main tournament.”

Sheffield To Roll Out Green Carpet For Snooker's Biggest Stars