Festivals & Special Events

Community Events

October 12, 2025 - October 12, 2025 Various Locations

Default festival category for community submitted events. This serves as the main container for general community events.

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Colour & Light 2026 (York)

February 4, 2026 - February 22, 2026 Eye of York, York, YO1 9WZ

Colour & Light returns as a free, choreographed projection and sound show that transforms the Eye of York after dark. For the first time, the projections span two landmark buildings together, York Ca…

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University of York Concert Series 2026

February 4, 2026 - February 18, 2026 Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York — Campus West, York, YO10 5DD

The series showcases a range of musical styles and periods, from the Baroque elegance of J.S. Bach to the powerful Romanticism of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and innovative contemporary vocal arrangem…

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North York Moors Dark Skies Festival 2026

February 13, 2026 - March 1, 2026 North York Moors National Park

Dark Skies Festival 13 February - 1 March 2026 We're delighted to be showcasing our eleventh festival. Join us and the Yorkshire Dales National Park to celebrate the wonders of our skies and explore…

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Jorvik Viking Festival 2026

February 16, 2026 - February 22, 2026 19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT, United Kingdom

The Vikings are back for the JORVIK Viking Festival 2026! This world renowned festival features living history encampments, workshops, tours, traditional crafts, feasts, family events, evening enter…

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York Literature Festival 2026

February 28, 2026 - March 30, 2026 Various Venues across York

The Festival began in 2007 under the auspices of York City Council. After the cuts that followed the crash of 2008, it was adopted by a voluntary group and has steadily grown to become one of the for…

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York International Women’s Week 2026

March 1, 2026 - March 8, 2026 Various Location

We invite you to a week of exhibitions, films, talks, workshops, dancing, tea & chats – and much more. Over 60 events, most in step-free venues, many free, some fundraising, a few online. Enjoy creat…

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York Community Choir Festival 2026

March 1, 2026 - March 7, 2026 Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Monkgate, York YO31 7PA, England

Our annual festival features choirs of all ages, with a wide variety of singing styles coming together in a unique concert each night. Across the week, a total of forty-three different choirs will pe…

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York Ceramics Fair 2026

March 7, 2026 - March 8, 2026 York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX

We are very happy to announce that York Ceramics Fair 2026 will be again hosted at the iconic York Racecourse. This bright and open venue ensures ease of access and on-site parking for guests. The…

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York Restaurant Week 2026

March 9, 2026 - March 22, 2026 Multiple participating venues across York

York Restaurant Week is a city-wide dining event featuring food and drink offers from 100+ participating venues in York city centre. York BID organises the event to encourage people to explore the lo…

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National Theatre Connections 2026

March 18, 2026 - March 26, 2026 York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Place, York YO1 7HD

An annual celebration of new theatre for, by, and with young people. York Theatre Royal hosts this festival where school and youth theatre groups transfer their plays from their own school halls to a…

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Living North LIVE Yorkshire 2026

March 20, 2026 - March 22, 2026 York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York YO23 1EX

Living North LIVE 2026 is Yorkshire’s leading homes, gardens, shopping, food and lifestyle event. With stylish shopping, live demonstrations, talks and tastings, it brings ideas for your home and gar…

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York Chocolate Festival 2026

April 1, 2026 - April 5, 2026 Parliament Street

York’s sweetest festival is set to return in 2026, celebrating York’s chocolate heritage, industry and culinary expertise.

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York Open Studios 2026

April 18, 2026 - April 26, 2026 Multiple artist studios and workshops across York and within about 10 miles of York city centre

York Open Studios is an annual community arts event where the public can visit artists’ studios and workshops within about ten miles of York city centre. It’s designed around artists opening their st…

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York Blues Festival 2026

April 18, 2026 - April 18, 2026 The Crescent Community Venue, 8 The Crescent, York YO24 1AW

The York Blues Festival 2026 is a one-day music festival held at The Crescent Community Venue in York, England, featuring a lineup of renowned UK blues artists.

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York Fashion Week 2026 (YFW)

April 28, 2026 - May 2, 2026 The YFW Pop-Up, 14 Feasegate, York, YO1 8SQ

York Fashion Week returns in 2026 with bigger runways and events than ever before. It brings fashion talent from across the UK to York for a major celebration of style outside London. Expect a mix of…

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Dante Festival 2026

May 13, 2026 - May 15, 2026 York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX

Set your social summer off in style with high-quality action on the Knavesmire. The festival showcases future stars of the turf, with the Tattersalls Musidora and Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante victo…

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WizardFest 2026, York’s Festival of Wizardry

May 23, 2026 - May 25, 2026 The Shambles (St Crux Churchyard), York YO1 8BL

WizardFest is a three-day, citywide festival of wizardry created by The Wizard Walk of York. It celebrates magical fun in the city with a mix of activities delivered by multiple local partners, venue…

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York Festival of Ideas 2026

May 30, 2026 - June 12, 2026 York - Various Venues

Enjoy an inspiring programme of in-person and online events at York Festival of Ideas. Taking place from 30 May to 12 June 2026, the mostly FREE events include talks by world-class speakers, exhib…

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York Pride 2026

May 30, 2026 - May 30, 2026 York Racecourse Knavesmire Road York YO23 1EX

York Pride is a celebration of diversity for all the community. The event is centred around the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community of York and across North Yorkshire. This is…

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City of York (Roland Walls) Folk Weekend 2026

June 5, 2026 - June 7, 2026 The Black Swan Inn, 23 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR

This annual festival, dedicated to the memory of local folk musician Roland Walls, features a weekend of live music across multiple stages. Most events take place at the historic Black Swan Inn, incl…

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York Mystery Plays Festival 2026 (Fringe Arts & Exhibitions)

June 28, 2026 - July 5, 2026 Various Location

Welcome to the York Mystery Plays Festival 2026 The York Mystery Plays are a theatrical spectacle performed by the communities of the City of York, the Plays will return to the city in June 2026 a…

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York Early Music Festival 2026

July 3, 2026 - July 11, 2026 National Centre For Early Music, St Margarets Church, 88-96 Walmgate, York YO1 9TL

The York Early Music Festival was established in 1977 to celebrate music from the medieval to the baroque within an array of historic venues across the city of York. The festival is administered by t…

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Merchant Adventurers' Charity Beer Festival 2026

July 3, 2026 - July 4, 2026 Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Yo1 9XD

The Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival will be back on Friday 3 July and Saturday 4 July 2026. The stunning 669 year old Merchant Adventurers’ Hall will take centre stage, complemented b…

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Live at York Museum Gardens – Outdoor Concert Series 2026

July 9, 2026 - July 12, 2026 York Museum Gardens, Museum Street / Marygate, York, YO1 7DY

Live at York Museum Gardens is a series of live events taking place within the grounds of the York Museum Gardens. Please note, all events are standing events and seating will not be provided or per…

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York Georgian Festival 2026

August 6, 2026 - August 10, 2026 York Mansion House, St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 9QL

The York Georgian Festival is the fourth annual festival hosted by York Mansion House. It features an array of events across different attractions celebrating life in 18th century York. Activities in…

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Magpies Festival 2026

August 14, 2026 - August 15, 2026 Sutton Park, United Kingdom, YO61 1DP

The Magpies Festival will take place on 14th and 15th August 2026 at Sutton Park Stately Home, near York. The boutique, independent festival offers an eclectic line-up of folk, americana, acousti…

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Sky Bet Ebor Festival 2026

August 19, 2026 - August 22, 2026 York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX

The Sky Bet Ebor Festival is one of the oldest, richest, and most famous race meetings in the North, featuring world-class sporting excellence combined with fashion and fun over four fabulous days. T…

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Heritage Open Days (York)

September 11, 2026 - September 20, 2026 Multiple venues across York, North Yorkshire

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, taking place each September. Thousands of volunteers across England organise free events celebrating local history, architectu…

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York National Book Fair 2026

September 11, 2026 - September 12, 2026 York Racecourse, Tadcaster Road, York YO23 1EX, England

The York National Book Fair 2026 is the largest and arguably friendliest rare, antiquarian, and out-of-print book fair in the U.K. and Europe. Held over two days, the event brings together over 150 l…

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York Beer & Cider Festival 2026

September 16, 2026 - September 19, 2026 St Lawrence Church Community Hall, Lawrence Street, York, YO10 3WP

CAMRA-run event featuring 200+ real ales, keg beers, and ciders from UK and European suppliers. Largest beer festival in York; 9,144 pints consumed in 2025.

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York Food & Drink Festival 2026

September 18, 2026 - September 27, 2026 Parliament Street York YO1 8SG

York Food Festival run events throughout the year celebrating local and regional food and drink, with a Chocolate Festival at Easter and the main 10-day festival held at the end of September. It is a…

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The Dead Northern Horror Film Festival 2026

September 25, 2026 - September 27, 2026 City Screen Picturehouse, 13-17 Coney Street, York YO1 9QL, UK

Discover groundbreaking works from emerging and established filmmakers in the indie horror scene.

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Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2026

November 4, 2026 - November 8, 2026 Various locations, York YO23 1WL

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) 2026 is the 16th edition of the BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying festival, taking place in York, UK. The event is a celebration of independent cinema, games, virtua…

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Christmas Fair Yorkshire 2026

November 19, 2026 - November 22, 2026 York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York YO23 1EX

Christmas Fair Yorkshire 2026 is Living North’s seasonal shopping fair at York Racecourse in York. It runs from 2026-11-19 to 2026-11-22 and features more than 250 carefully selected stands, includin…

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