Calendar of events

Join us as the winners of the 14th annual York Design Awards are revealed.

Join us for an exciting open-mic night hosted by renowned local musician, Will Dreyfus, to mark the end of the York Festival of Ideas on 24 June.

Join award-winning crime writer Ann Cleeves and forensic soil science expert Professor Lorna Dawson to discover the connections between writing murder and evaluating soil data.

Travel back in time with historian and writer Tessa Dunlop and war veteran Barbara to find out what it meant to be young, female and at war.

Come and celebrate the release of Isobel Akerman’s new guidebook, Secret York: An Unusual Guide, and learn about the hidden sites around the city and how we can conserve them for the future.

Find out how York is creating a new approach to supporting entrepreneurs, driving inclusive economic growth and tackling the impact of COVID-19.

International guitar star Galina Vale returns to the Festival to present an exhilarating programme of classical and Flamenco music.

Come and explore the hidden heritage of Coney Street, courtesy of the StreetLife project.

Acclaimed physicist Jim Al-Khalili reveals how eight lessons from the heart of science can help you get the most out of life.

Acclaimed sociologist Andrew Scull offers a definitive new account of psychiatry’s and society’s battle with mental illness.

Enjoy an entertaining performance by acclaimed Yorkshire folk duo O’Hooley and Tidow, who gave us the closing theme to the popular TV series ‘Gentleman Jack’.

Experts from the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies discuss the recently discovered diary of Jane Ewbank, who recorded her busy life in York.

Food writers Felicity Cloake and Samuel Goldsmith reveal what it’s like to write and test recipes for a living, share insights on how to develop a good recipe, and discuss what the future of food writing might look like.

Climate campaigner Alice Bell tells the stories of the scientists who helped build our modern understanding of climate change, and delivers a hopeful message for the future.

Join Clare Jackson from the University of York and the Study Team to find out how decisions get made during childbirth and why the detail of talk during birth matters.

Renowned economic historian Claudia Goldin traces women’s journey to close the gender wage gap and sheds new light on the continued struggle to achieve equity between couples at home.

Join writer, researcher and producer Maria Leonard for an immersive workshop on possible futures that will challenge, question and develop your notion of what makes a future.

Discover the fundamental relationship between storytelling and the environment with Harvard Professor Martin Puchner.

Join York St John students and staff for an interactive panel event including short performances, citizen science activities and mini talks exploring air quality, health inequalities, and the kind of future they envision for York’s public spaces.

Journalist Jessica Nordell shows us the steps we can take to create a world beyond bias.

Join author, activist and strategist Jon Alexander in conversation with York resident and leading community power advocate Sophia Parker, as they discuss the power we all have to create a better world.

Discover the hidden stories of the Rowntree family, their famous chocolate company and their work of social reform.

Join writer, critic and scholar Anna Della Subin to learn about man-gods and the persistent impulse towards deification.

Join us as we discuss whether war can really be cleansed of sexual violence and, if so, what kinds of interventions are necessary, and which actors are best placed to implement them.

Drop by and see Stonegate’s archival history reimagined through a digital lens.

Join leading film and TV writer Graham McCann to learn more about the life and career of one of Britain’s best loved entertainers, York-born comedy legend Frankie Howerd.

Explore the history of humans and their germs with Kyle Harper, who weaves together a grand narrative of global history with insights from cutting-edge genetics.

Zombies have taken over York! Come along and watch as University of York scientists dissect a captured zombie, and help us save the city through hands-on activities.

Explore the magical roots of the language you’re reading right now with writer and blogger Hana Videen, who takes you on a journey through Old English words and customs.

Join writer and philosopher Nina Power for a bold, playful and open-minded exploration of the role of men in the 21st century.

Join archaeologist Martin Carver to learn about the amazing discovery and reconstruction of a seventh-century ship that will soon travel down the rivers of England to explore life at the time.

Digital marketing expert Elina Ketikidi explains how social media can be used to educate consumers about the importance of sustainable fashion and sustainable living more generally.

Join bioethicist Jessica Pierce and ecologist and evolutionary biologist Marc Bekoff as they imagine a post-human future for dogs and challenge the notion that dogs would be helpless without their human counterparts.

Archaeological detectives Pierre Tallet and Mark Lehner discuss the extraordinary discovery of the world’s oldest surviving written documents, which provide new insights into the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza.

Join us as we talk to ‘manonabeach®’, Ian Brighouse, about his fascinating project that celebrates the elemental power of the beach, where the air, land and sea meet.

Zombies have taken over York! Come along and watch as University of York scientists dissect a captured zombie, and help us save the city through hands-on activities.

Medievalist Eleanor Parker offers a fresh take on the Norman Conquest by exploring the lives of those children who found themselves uprooted by the dramatic events of 1066.

Join renowned neuroscientists Uta and Chris Frith as they explore the wonders and mysteries of the human brain with their son, Alex, and illustrator Daniel Locke.

Find out about ‘York Central Co-owned’ and ‘World Localization Day’ and be involved in a discussion on how we can create an alternative future for York Central.

Award-winning psychologist Harriet Ennis explores paradoxical lucidity and other baffling phenomena.

Award-winning public-health expert Timothy Caulfield tackles our daily stress-inducing dilemmas and reveals a science-informed way out, helping to put your mind at ease.

Join a panel of remarkable women discussing the Untold: Write Afghanistan project that provides a platform for extraordinary voices telling their original, vital and unexpected stories.

Join journalist Hayley Campbell, in conversation with comedian and writer Clint Edwards, to find out what life is like for people who make a living by working with the dead.

Herschel scholar Sarah Waltz guides us through works by William Herschel and composers he may have played and admired during his time in the North of England.

In this four-part podcast, Supriya Nagarajan celebrates the hidden women of Ramayana, weaving together storytelling and music, and inviting you to read between the lines of a world-famous epic.

Join acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo for a magical performance combining live music, poetry and storytelling in celebration of the natural world.

Robin Dunbar from the University of Oxford provides a fascinating and far-reaching analysis of religion and the quintessentially human impulse to believe.

Keynote speaker Tom McLeish and a panel of experts discuss the extraordinary creative imaginations of William and Caroline Herschel, both in astronomy and music.

All individuals and communities should have access to quality essential health services without suffering financial hardship. But what should a global approach to health issues look like? Join our expert panel and have your say.

Magician and historian Ian Keable tells the engrossing stories of 18th-century hoaxes and those who were duped by them.

In this panel discussion, we examine the multiple social, economic, cultural and political causes for the rise in popularity of the radical right across Europe.

Join us for a special viewing of a wonderful film on William Herschel and the universe, directed by George Sibley.

Hear the spellbinding story of Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor queen, as told by bestselling author and historian Alison Weir.

Design your own rocket, conduct a virtual Moon landing, and learn about lunar phases and craters.

Join journalist and writer James Vincent for a revelatory and vibrant (hi)story of measurement that will make you look at the world around you anew.

Explore the skills and techniques of bookbinding with book and paper conservators Catherine Firth and Emma Lloyd-Jones in this hands-on workshop.

Join our speakers from across the world as we explore the European Union’s role in global defence and security.

Design your own rocket, conduct a virtual Moon landing, and learn about lunar phases and craters.

Design your own rocket, conduct a virtual Moon landing, and learn about lunar phases and craters.

Join historian and archaeologist John Blair to discover how regionally diverse the built environment of the Anglo-Saxons truly was.

Celebrate the 252nd birthday of Holgate Windmill at this exhibition exploring the history and recent restoration of the oldest five-sailed mill in the country.

Join the Binding Blocks team from the University of York’s Department of Physics to discover how nuclear physics has shaped the world around you and to see the elements like never before.

Our panel of experts discuss the causes, consequences and implications of the invasion and war in Ukraine.

Explore innovative works by University of York Interactive Media students including virtual reality experiences and games and apps.

Enjoy screenings of University of York student work, plus talks and workshops by leading professionals in the UK film and television industry.

Be inspired by this motivational exhibition celebrating the women pioneers of international Rugby League.

Join us for an unusual and entertaining performance celebrating Pipe and Tabor, the essential instrument for medieval professional musicians to accompany dancers.

Comprising a popular mix of standards and new compositions, this is the perfect way to spend a summer’s evening.

Join us for a magical evening of classical music in York Minster, a fitting setting for three magnificent pieces composed by Mozart and performed by York Musical Society.

Explore the lyrics of the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album and learn about the group’s enduring legacy with Colin Campbell of the University of York.

Join acclaimed historian, writer and broadcaster William Dalrymple as he reflects upon over three decades of scholarship on India, and its relationship with the East India Company and the Mughals.

Internationally renowned historian and Booker Prize finalist Michael Ignatieff shows how people facing tragedies and crises have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience.

Join historian, screenwriter and broadcaster Alex von Tunzelmann to learn about one of the most visible and controversial forms of historical storytelling, and why history is not erased but made when statues are pulled down.

Let archaeologist David Wengrow transform your understanding of the human past and help you imagine new forms of freedom and new ways of organising society.

Journalist and adventurer Kit Chapman explores the science that has been translated from racing to the road and explains how the motorsport of today could save the world of tomorrow.

Join author and documentary producer Richard van Emden for a truly insightful investigation into the topic of children and war.

Comedian, writer and former care home assistant Pope Lonergan explains what life inside a care home is really like, for both residents and carers.

Talk to our pet-loving team about what care means in your family and make your personal care shopping list with them.

Join Cordula van Wyhe and Susan Vincent from the Digital Museum of Dress Accessories in this hands-on workshop to take a look at the beautiful and sometimes mystifying objects that were once fashionable.

Celebrate the 252nd birthday of Holgate Windmill at this exhibition exploring the history and recent restoration of the oldest five-sailed mill in the country.

Discover the ways emerging ideas are transforming our future railways and learn more about driverless public transport.

Join us for an afternoon of energetic, crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun with University of York postgraduate students and staff.

Explore innovative works by University of York Interactive Media students including virtual reality experiences and games and apps.

Learn about the problems of the food system and get some inspiration for how we can transform it into one that benefits both population and planet.

Come along for a unique opportunity to visit York Design Award-winning buildings from the first 13 years of the scheme.

Enjoy screenings of University of York student work, plus talks and workshops by leading professionals in the UK film and television industry.

Hear the story of the 14-acre estate of Fulford Grange, once the grand Italianate home of merchants, bankers and mayors.

Be inspired by this motivational exhibition celebrating the women pioneers of international Rugby League.

Paul Gambino, collector of the macabre, unravels the often gruesome history of skulls, how they are acquired by collectors and what makes them so highly prized.

Award-winning author Helen Benedict and Syrian writer and refugee Eyad Awwadawnan provide us with a rare insight into the lives of refugees as they share powerful stories of resilience, suffering and hope.

Created to celebrate 200 years since Clara Wieck Schumann’s birth in 1819, 'I, Clara' tells her extraordinary life story in her own words, interspersed with live performances of music.

Come along for an evening with Alison Rayner’s widely celebrated, multi award-winning quintet and be moved by their ‘songs without words’, performed in their signature vibrant and communicative style.

In this four-part podcast, Supriya Nagarajan celebrates the hidden women of Ramayana, weaving together storytelling and music, and inviting you to read between the lines of a world-famous epic.

Explore innovative works by University of York Interactive Media students including virtual reality experiences and games and apps.

Enjoy screenings of University of York student work, plus talks and workshops by leading professionals in the UK film and television industry.

Come along for a unique opportunity to visit York Design Award-winning buildings from the first 13 years of the scheme.

Join us as we explore the power and visibility of youth activism, how those with global or national responsibilities can engage with young people, and what the future of citizen engagement might look like.

Join our panel for a lively online discussion and learn more about the people, communities and supply chains all working to explore the full potential of chocolate.

Join journalist Brian Groom in conversation with Gweno Williams of the University of York to learn about the fascinating past, present and future of Northern England and its people.

Philosophers from the University of York discuss less understood but highly important aspects of the experience of grief.

Yorkshire-based soprano Louise Alp returns to St Helen’s with an exciting new programme featuring a collection of folk songs as well as works by Samuel Barber, Felix Mendelssohn and Vaughan Williams.

Chemist and author Kathryn Harkup turns her discerning scientific eye to the Bard and the varied and creative ways his characters die.

Join us for a fascinating discussion on the craft of writing fiction and to receive exclusive insights into Leïla’s most recent novelistic project.

Professor Matthew Campbell of the University of York hosts a variety of Joyce and modernism experts for an unforgettable Bloomsday salon to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Joyce’s masterpiece.

Join ancient history expert Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones as he unveils the authentic, definitive new history of the Persian Empire, the world’s first superpower.

Economist Diane Coyle and journalist Rory Cellan-Jones discuss their approaches to the impact of the digital economy.

Come along for a talk by Cobi van Tonder about the Acoustic Atlas project to discover virtual acoustics and real-time auralisation, and learn about digital heritage acoustics via the sites in the Acoustic Atlas archive.

Join historian Steve Hindle as he explores the case of the village stonemason.

Louise Hampson will discuss the many meanings of ‘sanctuary’ today, share some fascinating stories from the past and offer you a chance to be the judge in several medieval cases.

Join cultural historian, museum researcher and storyteller Angela Stienne as she explores curious, unsettling and controversial cases of mummies - an investigation that questions the essence of what makes us human.

Dog behaviourist, trainer and TV presenter Louise Glazebrook provides you with the skills and confidence to interpret your dog’s needs and behaviour and build a better, happier relationship for life.

Join tattoo artist researcher and historian Allison Hawn to learn about tattoo artistry’s colourful past and discover its bold future.

A truly luxuriant gathering of an improbably large ensemble of specialist players and singers: a show made to blow away all the annoyance of the last two years. An amazing all-Tudor evening not to be missed!

Zion Tse of the University of York discusses digital health in and beyond the COVID pandemic, and provides a glimpse into the future of healthcare.

Cultural historian Hannah Rose Woods provides us with a timely and enlightening interrogation of national character, emotion, identity and myth-making in a country that keeps longing for ‘the good old days’.

Join Mariana López and Gavin Kearney of the University of York to discover the core principles of the Enhanced Audio Description methods and to experience cutting-edge examples of it.

Meet inspiring University of York PhD students and learn how their cutting-edge research is expanding knowledge and understanding of our world and beyond.

Celebrate the inspirational stories of 100 remarkable women of colour with Pakistani-American artist and illustrator Maliha Abidi.

Discover the history and mythic origins of Thebes with acclaimed historian Paul Cartledge, and learn how the city is central to understanding not only the ancient Greeks but our own civilization.

Experts in education - including Charlie Jeffery, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of York - come together to discuss the abundant possibilities for ‘higher’ learning.

Join world-leading criminologist Matthew Williams as he explores the tipping point between prejudice and hate crime, analysing human behaviour across the globe and throughout history.

Join ecology professor Lars Chittka and discover how intelligent and sophisticated bees are as individuals.

Come along for a new piece of testimonial theatre created from the real-life experiences of 33 women living, working and studying in York, followed by a Q&A.

In this four-part podcast, Supriya Nagarajan celebrates the hidden women of Ramayana, weaving together storytelling and music, and inviting you to read between the lines of a world-famous epic.

Join the (fictional) board of an exciting new (fictional) tech company whose future will be shaped by your decisions in this live event utilising interactive features of technology.

Join writer, researcher and producer Maria Leonard for an immersive workshop on possible futures that will challenge, question and develop your notion of what makes a future.

Join Emma Smith from the University of Oxford to discover when, why and how the book acquired its particular hold over us.

Drawing on decades of observing other primates, world renowned primatologist Frans de Waal analyses our shared evolutionary history with the apes, broadening the conversation about human gender dynamics.

Anna Perrett from the Kyra Women’s Project and confidence coach Jules Wyman discuss how ‘Route to Recovery’ can give women the support they want and need to recover from abusive relationships.

In this hands-on session, get acquainted with some key laboratory techniques currently used in hospital labs, and hear about new ways to diagnose and monitor diseases.

How can peatlands help save our planet? Come along as Peter Mott explains the importance and potential of peatlands, particularly in terms of sustainability.

Come along to this interactive drop-in event to talk about your experiences and challenges with the Internet and to find out how you can support those who are less confident in using technology.

Join neuroscientist Aristea Ladas for fascinating insights into the mystery of sleep and dreaming.

Join Leo McCann of the University of York for an in-depth investigation of the paramedic profession in England.

Enjoy a series of short, engaging talks about the remarkable lives of the lesser-known figures involved in Yorkshire’s 18th-century print trade.

Mathematician Scott Carson of the University of York introduces you to ancient and medieval arithmetical puzzles.

Philosopher Elizabeth Cripps reveals why climate justice goes beyond political polarisation and why climate activism is a moral duty, not a political choice.

Jon Hook and Simona Manni of the University of York discuss how they are creating a video-based, personalised decision aid for young women who have been diagnosed with cancer and need to make choices about preserving their future fertility.

Join Professor Helen Smith of the University of York for a fun and fast-paced tour of chapters past, present and future.

Deepen your understanding of our canine friends with zoology correspondent Jules Howard.

Learn about ABBA’s 2022 hologram concert tour and discover how digitisation may change our ideas of life, death and after-life.

Wendy Mitchell explains what a diseased brain can tell us about being human, living our own lives better and helping those with dementia get the best from theirs.

Susanne Wedlich leads us on a scientific journey through the 3-billion-year history of slime, from its part in the evolution of life on Earth to how it might feature in the post-human future.

Delve into York’s medieval past with archaeologist Barry Crump, who explains why knowing how York’s city walls were really used and what they meant is vital for our understanding of the medieval city.

Join guitarist, composer and ukulele virtuoso Richard Durrant and enjoy his trademark blend of original guitar music, British flavoured folk, Bachs played on the uke and plenty of tales from the road.

Guardian columnist and author Tim Dowling discusses his brilliant new podcast series, ‘Insult My Intelligence’, in which he gets world-leading experts to help him understand complex, interesting and unique topics.

Join Francesca Killoran and Charlotte Goodge of the Universities of York and Kent for a talk and zine-making workshop on body positivity and body acceptance from the early 18th century to the present day.

Embark upon an ancient ghost hunt as you explore the origins, power and meaning of ghosts and ghost stories with British Museum curator Irving Finkel.

Mudlarker Malcolm Russell uncovers the hidden (hi)stories of ordinary people in Britain from prehistory to today, based on 200 rare objects discovered on the foreshore of the River Thames.

Take part in a sensory exploration of York’s chocolate heritage with a tutored chocolate tasting that examines the growth and development of the industry in the city - hosted by Sophie Jewett, founder of York Cocoa House.

Join the creative team of INNovating: Audio drama and their project partner Explore York to hear about the making of their immersive audio experience, inspired by the history of York’s coaching inns.

Discover the exciting world of film editing with multi-award-winning film editor and University of York alumnus Joe Walker, who recently received an Oscar for his work on ‘Dune’ (2021).

Explore the history and evolution of the British monarchy from 1066 to the present day with historian and author Tracy Borman.

Come together with like-minded creatives and harness the power of creative thinking in this hands-on workshop.

Shakespeare professor and bestselling novelist Mary Bly - who writes as Eloisa James - discusses the power and appeal of Regency romance fiction in the 21st century.

Join us for lots of fun hands-on activities and find out about some of the exciting research being carried out in York.

Join our panel of experts for an insightful discussion on how we can overcome the challenges facing the UK economy to deliver a fairer, more prosperous nation.

Discover the complex flavours that compose the chocolate we eat, make and share, and explore a range of sensory experiences that allow us to taste chocolate.

Come together with like-minded creatives and harness the power of creative thinking in this hands-on workshop.

Work with historians and coders to use medieval documents and modern technology to peer into the past, then show off your discoveries and win prizes fit for a Lady or Lord of the Manor.

Come along to see University of York Choir with Eamonn Dougan and a star-studded lineup of soloists perform one of Dvořák’s best-known sacred works in the historic setting of York Minster.

Explore the long-term impact of recent developments for Britain’s role as a peacebuilder and find out what Britain should do next.

In this four-part podcast, Supriya Nagarajan celebrates the hidden women of Ramayana, weaving together storytelling and music, and inviting you to read between the lines of a world-famous epic.

Historian Katherine Harvey reveals the surprisingly familiar sex lives of ordinary medieval people.

Biochemist Andrew Doig provides an eye-opening portrait of death throughout history, looking at particular causes, who they affected and how they were overcome.

World-leading palaeontologist Michael J. Benton offers a new visual guide to dinosaurs, showing how technological advances and new fossil finds have forever changed the way we see these extinct beasts.

Get ready for an immersive journey into the world of ASMR - learn more about what ASMR is and discover its potential benefits for our wellbeing.

Join author and historian John Callow as he explores the remarkable tale of the Bideford Witches and its lasting impact.

Get your hands dirty (literally!) as you measure a range of Natural Capital features, and discover the importance of things such as soil microbes for nature and your own wellbeing.

Come along for a unique experience mixing magic, mentalism and fMRI research, and discover how University of York scientists are writing the next chapter of fMRI-based research.

Work with historians and coders to use medieval documents and modern technology to peer into the past, then show off your discoveries and win prizes fit for a Lady or Lord of the Manor.

Experience the emotional and healing qualities of music in this extraordinary performance by Maya Youssef, the ‘queen of the quanun’.

Join Penny Bickle of the University of York for a demonstration on how to make prehistoric cheese and discover why archaeologists are so interested in the history of food.

Explore the wonders of our world and beyond with hands-on creative and scientific activities.

Explore the wonders of our world and beyond with hands-on creative and scientific activities.