.png)
Making the Most of the Festival
Welcome to York Festival of Ideas 2022.
Running from Saturday 11 June to Friday 24 June at venues across the city of York, the Festival offers over 150 inspiring in-person and online events - the majority of them free - under the banner of The Next Chapter.
Featuring world-class speakers, exhibitions, music, guided walks, family-friendly activities and much more, our programme offers something for all ages and interests.
Below is some information which we hope will help you make the most of your Festival experience.
.png)
.png)
Calendar of Events
All our events are listed in date order in our Calendar of Events so you can plan which to attend each day of the Festival. Don’t miss the self-guided audio trails taking place throughout the Festival.
Themes
To help you find events that are right for you, all our events are grouped into 16 broad themes, such as A Date with History, Performances and Of Women.
Families
Families are warmly welcomed to York Festival of Ideas. Many of our activities, such as Exploring the Moon, The Next Chapter for Nature, Zombies in York and more, have been designed specifically with the young in mind. Find out about these and other family events.
Venues
Events are taking place at more than 40 venues across York. Find details of all Festival venues.
A large number of our events take place at the Tempest Anderson Hall at the Yorkshire Museum in the heart of the city, and at the University of York’s Campus East and West.
Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum, is located in the Museum Gardens. Next to Lendal Bridge, it’s just a 10 to 15-minute walk from York Railway Station.
The University’s Campus East and West are located to the southeast of York, a short bus ride from the city centre.
Booking your ticket
To avoid disappointment, please check if your chosen event requires a pre-booked ticket. To reserve your ticket, simply follow the instructions given for each event. Most events will be bookable online.
In-person events
Although there are currently no restrictions in place regarding COVID-19, our in-person events may be subject to change. Please check the event entry on the Festival website and social media for the latest information. Ticket-holders will receive an email to alert them to any changes after booking.
Online events
This year’s festival programme includes over 60 online events, some of which are hybrid, meaning you can either join in person or online. Here you can find an overview of all events that can be attended online.
Some talks are livestreamed on YouTube, but most events take place via Zoom. In order to watch talks live using Zoom technology, you need to download the free app/software.
Admission to in-person events
For ticketed events, please print and bring your ticket(s) to the event entrance, or show your ticket on your smartphone via the Eventbrite app.
Admission to events is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that as not everyone who asks for tickets uses them, and to make sure we have a good-sized audience, we send out more tickets than there are places. We do our best to get the numbers right, but unfortunately we occasionally have to disappoint people. Entry may be refused if the event has started or if the venue is full, so please do arrive on time.
By the same token, sometimes spaces become available at the last minute. If you are interested in an event that is fully booked, we suggest you come along 15 minutes before the start of the event and make yourself known to a steward. Once all ticketed guests have been admitted, you may be offered a place. Please note that this is at the discretion of the event organisers as not all venues operate this system.
Food and drink
Many city venues have cafes serving refreshments. Please check the venue’s website for details.
On the University of York campus, enjoy hot and cold snacks at the Ron Cooke Hub on Campus East. With an impressive lakeside setting, the Hub Café offers an excellent selection of snacks and drinks, including Grumpy Mule coffee, delicious homemade cakes and pastries, gourmet sandwiches, salads, panini and much more. Ask about the YORCUP scheme and find out how you can save money and reduce the number of disposable cups on the University campus.
Travel and transport
To plan your journey by public transport, consult the York Journey Planner at yorkshiretravel.net or visit itravelyork.info/buses. You can also use the city’s park and ride service.
The nearest car parks to the Yorkshire Museum are on Marygate and Bootham Row. For city centre car parking information, visit itravelyork.info/driving/parking.
Car parking on the University of York campus is free after 6pm and on weekends, and frequent bus services run between the city centre and campus. For events held on Campus East, please park in Field Lane car park. Maps and directions are available at york.ac.uk/maps.
Accessibility
Information on wheelchair accessibility for in-person events can be found on the venues page. If you need any assistance to access our events, please contact the Festival team at yorkfestivalofideas
Watch again
Missed an event that sounded fantastic? Want to see an event you enjoyed once more? Good news! We are recording many of our Festival talks - you can watch these and a lot more from previous Festival years on our YouTube channel.
Book sales
You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.