We've now stepped into 2026 and we’re taking a moment to look back at everything we achieved together in 2025. It was a year filled with brilliant events, new features, local partnerships, and plenty of milestones that helped bring South Yorkshire’s communities even closer.

From celebrating culture and supporting festivals, to launching new ways to travel more easily, 2025 was all about making journeys simpler and strengthening the places we call home.

Celebrating Our Region

Lunar Chinese New Year - Year of the Snake

Back in February 2025, Sheffield burst into colour for Chinese Lunar New Year. We joined the celebrations with a Special CityWide mTicket, helping people move around the city with ease as the festivities took over Sheffield.

And we’re excited to say we’ll be brining this popular special mTicket back again in 2026 for the Year of the Horse.

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival

In May, we proudly supported the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, helping audiences reach world‑class performances across the city. The atmosphere was electric, the artists were extraordinary, and we loved being part of a celebration that shows off Sheffield’s creativity and culture.

A special shout‑out to everyone who used our exclusive travel code for Sheffield Theatres members, we hope it made your visit just that little bit smoother.

Tramlines Fringe & Together Festival

Summer was buzzing too. We were thrilled to be the official travel partner for The Fringe at Tramlines, making it easier for festival-goers to get into the heart of the action with a 25% discount on select TravelMaster tickets.

In August, we also backed the Together Festival at Sheffield Theatres. A free, joyful celebration of arts and performance. With our 5% event travel discount, we helped families, friends, and theatre lovers travel sustainably and affordably.

Supporting Local Causes

In 2025, we were especially proud to support Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. Through exclusive TravelMaster app discount codes, we helped raise awareness and make travel more accessible for those attending their fantastic fundraising events.

Supporting Local Businesses

Throughout 2025, we partnered with brilliant independent businesses across the region through our Explore SY offers.

By simply showing a TravelMaster smartcard or ticket, customers unlocked discounts at participating cafés, shops, and restaurants. It’s been a joy to champion local businesses and help people discover new favourites across South Yorkshire.

Making Travel Smarter, Simpler, and More Flexible

Smartcard Ordering in the App

In March, we made it easier than ever to get started with TravelMaster tickets with standard smartcard ordering available directly through the TravelMaster app for just £1, delivered straight to your door.

With access to our full range of tickets (from 1‑Day to Annual) your smartcard keeps travel simple across buses, trams, and trains. And yes, nicknaming your smartcard is still one of our favourite features.

Launch of TravelMaster and Derbyshire Wayfarer mTickets

2025 was also a real breakthrough year for digital travel, with more of our most loved tickets becoming available at just the tap of a phone. December 2024 saw the launch of TravelMaster mTickets, making everyday journeys quicker and simpler by removing the need for paper tickets and smartcards altogether, just buy, activate, and hop on board. And in the summer of 2025, the popular Derbyshire Wayfarer joined the TravelMaster app as a 1‑day mTicket, making it easier than ever to escape into Derbyshire’s towns, trails, and scenic countryside. Rail customers then benefitted, with SYConnect+ and Wayfarer Ranger rail mTickets going live in December 2025, giving people a much smoother way to plan trips across South Yorkshire and beyond. Altogether, these launches marked a huge step forward in making travel more flexible, convenient, and ready for wherever the day takes you.

Community Programmes, Partnerships & Achievements

Christmas Travel Offer with BetterPoints

December also brought a brilliant partnership with Sheffield City Council, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and BetterPoints, all working together to make festive travel easier and encourage greener ways of getting around the city.

As part of the Christmas Travel Offer, anyone who collected 50 BetterPoints through walking, cycling, or wheeling could redeem them for a free 1‑Day CityWide ticket, giving unlimited bus and tram travel across Sheffield for a whole day. It was a simple, rewarding way to support active travel during one of the busiest times of the year, and many people took up the offer to enjoy shopping trips, visit friends and family, or soak up the seasonal events across the city. It was a fantastic example of how small incentives can make a big difference to both travel habits and everyday convenience.

Award‑Winning Ticketing

One of our proudest moments this year - our SYBus ticket won the CIHT Yorkshire & Humber Award for Best Small Project. It’s fantastic recognition of our commitment to simple, multi‑operator travel across South Yorkshire.

Sheffield Business Awards

In October, we were honoured to be the official travel partner for the Sheffield Business Awards, offering a free special SYConnect 1‑Day Ticket to help attendees get to the event with ease. We've also sponsored both the unLTD Business awards and Exposed Awards which champion local businesses.

Championing Independent Events

Across the year, we also partnered with a range of brilliant local independent events, helping communities come together and ensuring everyone can get involved. One highlight was sponsorship of the Sheffield Lord Mayor's Awards celebrating local heroes.

Looking Ahead to 2026

With so many milestones behind us, we’ve stepped into 2026 energised and determined to keep improving travel across South Yorkshire. From more digital innovations to new partnerships, and support for even more local events, we’re excited for what’s to come.

We kicked off excitement for 2026 with a competition to win tickets to the ISU European Figure Skating Exhibition of Champions. Thanks to everyone who entered, and congrats again to our lucky winner! Our special travel ticket for the event added more value for attendees including many visitors to the region.

Thank you for travelling with us, supporting us, and being part of our journey throughout 2025. Here’s to another year of making travel simpler, greener, and better connected.