In-person events

Enjoy an evening of discovery with Gamelan Sekar Petak, Eoferwic Strings and the vocal group Animas as they explore how Javanese and Western instruments interact.

Come along and enjoy some space-themed family fun as we spark imaginations with a range of interactive activities.

Join an Uncomfortable York walking tour and hear untold histories and diverse stories highlighting the impact of women, people of colour and LGBTQIA+ individuals from York's past.

Explore the impact of air pollution on our health through talks and a special meditative musical performance by Sonic Threads.

What does York history mean for its residents? Whether you have lived in the city for a few months or many generations, why not drop by our workshop and share what York means to you?

York Cares is supporting St Nicks’ work at Fulford Ings to remove balsam with some balsam bashing. Join us on a gentle 2km walk and find out more.

Hunt for Medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

Enjoy a walking tour around the riverfront of the Ouse as we showcase York’s highlights and illustrate the role of the river in York’s World Heritage bid.

Explore the hidden history of a remarkable hovercraft that whizzed passengers directly between Hull and Grimsby in the late 1960s. Join Paul Drury-Bradey of the Humber Hovercraft project.

Postgraduate researcher Hannah Armstrong of the University of York examines a 19th-century form of literary tourism which saw readers of medieval sagas sail to Iceland to see where their Viking heroes lived and died.

What’s it like to be an archaeologist? Why not become a dig detective and join archaeologist and broadcaster Julian Richards for an exciting interactive event and find out.

Hunt for Medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

Join retired US Marine Steve Van Riper as he discusses the cultures of the US military services - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines - through some rather interesting analogies.

Join us for the launch of a thought-provoking exhibition by an eclectic group of artists exploring the theme of 'fragments' in varied media.

Hunt for Medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

Maisie Green and Rebecca Naylor of the York Health Economics Consortium explain inequalities associated with meningitis and why treatments should target socioeconomically deprived areas.

Discover how stem cell and bone marrow research at York could help improve the effectiveness of transplants for patients. Join postgraduate student Charlotte Titterington-Colman.

How can the design of parks be more welcoming for women and girls? Find out more and share your ideas at an interactive Make Space York pop-up exhibition.

York Cares is supporting St Nicks’ work at Fulford Ings to remove balsam with some balsam bashing. Join us on a gentle 2km walk and find out more.

Hunt for Medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

Using the medium of art, Robert Malcolm, Project Director at York Health Economics Consortium, explores the trade-offs that need to be made when funding medical interventions.

North, south, east and west: almost all societies for millennia have used the four cardinal directions to orientate themselves. Historian Jerry Brotton promises a journey of directional discovery.

Join us at a creative workshop and find out about Common Ground, a University of York-funded initiative providing music workshops for the refugee and asylum seeker community.

What’s it like to be an archaeologist? Why not become a dig detective and join archaeologist and broadcaster Julian Richards for an exciting interactive event and find out.

Hunt for Medieval masons’ marks in the 500-year-old Fishergate Postern Tower. We know there are at least 81, so why not see how many you can find?

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary British Vogue magazine as author Julie Summers presents a beautifully illustrated talk about its fascinating and glamorous history.

What sort of music did diarist Jane Ewbank hear and perform as a well-to-do young woman living in early 19th-century York? Join musicologist Rachel Cowgill for a new take on Georgian York.

Join Pat Cullum, lead volunteer at Holy Trinity Goodramgate and learn how former York MPs Robert de Holme Sr and Nicholas de Blackburn made waves by taking to the waves.

Join a guided walk and travel back 220 years to the world of Jane Ewbank, the 26-year-old daughter of a York apothecary who enjoyed a rich cultural life in the city.

Writer Max Adams discusses a fascinating century of change in early Medieval Britain when kings Æthelbald and Offa dominated the political landscape of the rising power of Mercia.

Join us for an interactive role-playing game session set in Renaissance York, featuring women printers operating in the city.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making waves and changing the world around us. Join us for an exploration of how Christian faith is affected by AI within the context of Choral Evensong.

Writer John Higgs invites you to step into his TARDIS on a journey to discover how ideas emerge and survive despite the odds, and why a wonderful wandering time traveller means so much to so many.

From the first printed ‘Strange Newes’ sheets of the 16th century to the sensationalism of today’s digital age, author Terry Kirby reveals the seedy history of tabloid journalism.

Have you faced the fiery poo-bison? Been chased round a garden by an escaped bear? No? Then you've obviously not been on The Filthy, Beastly Tour of York! Enjoy a family-friendly guided tour.

Leading archaeologist Duncan Sayer reveals how ancient DNA is helping us explore the movement of people in the early Middle Ages, from AD 450–750.

Benito Juárez Aubry of the University of York explores whether the final description of the Universe will be that everything is just wavy.

Have you faced the fiery poo-bison? Been chased round a garden by an escaped bear? No? Then you've obviously not been on The Filthy, Beastly Tour of York! Enjoy a family-friendly guided tour.

Join David Trousdale, Principal Advisor for Climate Change and Net Zero at Newcastle City Council and hear how he and his team are successfully driving change in the city.

Explore the skills and techniques of bookbinding with archive conservator Catherine Firth and book and paper conservator Emma Lloyd-Jones.

Discover how to communicate with clarity and confidence with BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins, creator of the viral 'Ros Atkins on...' explainer videos.

Our immersive workshop focuses on the materials of Austen and Turner’s creativity. Use watercolour paints, inks and textiles, and learn about their innovative techniques.

Award-winning barrister Charlotte Proudman highlights the troubling biases and shocking prejudice that underlie our legal system, putting forward her own inspiring vision for long-term change.

Discover the benefits of community singing and acting at an event combining speaking/singing performance, documentary footage of singing groups and live analysis of vocal recordings.

Enjoy a live performance of an experimental, multi-media composition based on the mathematics used to crack the enigma code during World War II.

How can we use land cleverly to give both humanity and nature the space to thrive on just the one planet? Join BBC Countryside presenter Tom Heap to find out.

Archaeologist Julian Richards explores the genetic history of the British Isles from hunter gatherers to Huguenots and beyond, as well as the evidence provided by archaeology.

Enjoy a mesmerising programme of poetry and music inspired by our beautiful countryside presented by renowned children’s author Michael Morpurgo.

Explore the power of musical touch through performance and a hands-on workshop with pianist Catherine Laws, theatre practitioner Teresa Brayshaw and psychologist Natalie Bowling.

Get ready to shine bright at York Cares Summer Sparkle - a fun-filled event celebrating summer with music, cake and, of course, lots of sparkle!

Rebecca Earle of the University of Warwick reveals how, alongside painters, patrons and dealers, privateers formed part of Europe’s early modern art world.

Join us in the beorsele or beer-hall of the Duke of York pub for an evening of beer and Anglo-Saxon poetry.

Historian Allen Warren explores the life and legacy of York’s most remarkable 20th-century Dean, Eric Milner-White.

Join James Ratcliffe, Deputy Head at Bootham School, for a whistle-stop tour of the mathematical world from 25000 BCE to 1000 CE

Discover how bacteriophage (viruses) can help tackle the problem of increasing antimicrobial resistance with Martha Clokie of the University of Leicester.

How can people's enjoyment of the waterscapes of York be enhanced? How can flooding and other aquatic issues be better understood and communicated? Talk to the team from the York Waterscapes project.

Find out about the background to an exciting new exhibition at the York Army Museum, Object Journeys, and have input into the choice of archives and objects included.

Visit the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) offices and find out more about archaeology and the work they do across the UK.

Learn how churches have developed over the centuries and enjoy a guided tour around one of England's most important ecclesiastical buildings.

Join archaeologist John Oxley on a guided walk exploring how the narratives of York’s City Walls evidence and support York's case for World Heritage status.

Find out about the background to an exciting new exhibition at the York Army Museum, Object Journeys, and have input into the choice of archives and objects included.

Join the conversation as artists and scientists discuss the importance of collaboration across disciplines for biodiversity change.

Take a journey through the backstreets of Asia at this in conversation event with writer Shamini Flint, best known for her Inspector Singh Investigates series.

Join leading UK geographer Danny Dorling as he unpacks polling data and shows that our global crises are often very different from what’s in the headlines.

Enjoy watching a concert-style musical and learn more about the innovative bioscience research being carried out at the University of York.

Take a trip through time with Lottie Adcock of Dance the Past to find those dances that broke boundaries and shocked polite society.

Discover the fascinating history of how flooding has shaped York over the centuries on a guided city centre tour. What clues to the past do York’s castles, bridges, churches and halls offer?

In a time of global geopolitical instability, rising energy prices and changing Government spending priorities, our expert panel examines the impact of economic growth on households’ financial resilience.

Do you want to help tackle climate change? Our Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the science behind climate change and empower you to take action.

From Europe's earliest wallpaper to printing on ice, join Helen Smith, Director of Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, to learn about the history of printing in York.

Join in the discussion as our expert panel examines the economic forces shaping our lives and the intersecting challenges of inequality, health, social relations and the planet.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Lauded as ‘the greatest public servant of our time’, Jeremy Heywood was confidant and trouble shooter for both Conservative and Labour Prime Ministers. Suzanne Heywood talks about her late husband and his life of public service.

From decrypting enemy messages to penning propaganda and infiltrating organisations, writer Claire Hubbard-Hall reveals women’s pivotal role in the history of the British intelligence services.

Immerse yourself in the world of the Vikings as expert speakers look at the past, present and future of festivals and public events on a Viking theme.

Drop into the York Army Museum and the Eye of York and learn about D-Day with the East Yorkshire Regiment Living History Group.

Take a tour of Fishergate Postern Tower’s Medieval masons’ marks and then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Come along to an interactive workshop and discover how patient and public involvement is improving clinical and biomedical science research at the University of York.

Visit a letterpress display reimagining women’s knowledge about plants. Join in a botanical printing activity and discover a book of flowers written for a queen.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Join us for a challenge against the clock as competing finalists each have just three minutes to outline the power of their research in the annual York Three Minute Thesis competition.

Find out how Jessie’s Fund is playing an important role in giving children access to music therapy and creative music-making through a talk, film clips and performance.

Join our expert speakers as they look back over 200 remarkable years of rail history and assess its transformative impact on the city of York and the wider region.

Explore the world of children's minds. Solve puzzles, enjoy games and discover facts about the human mind and brain in a fun and interactive way.

York Lindy invites you to a free one-day swing dance festival, featuring a pop-up exhibition, dance classes, history and music talks.

Take a tour of Fishergate Postern Tower’s Medieval masons’ marks and then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Come and see the carving of a Viking ship recently discovered on a stone on Pikeing Well, the 18th-century Well House on New Walk.

Learn about the latest trends in European literatures and languages, give voice to your crafty self and contribute to our multilingual wor(l)d-map with a word, a sketch or a drawing at our interactive event.

Come along and join the fabulous Pride Parade March through the city centre streets to the Knavesmire.

Take a tour of Fishergate Postern Tower’s Medieval masons’ marks and then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Why does the burden of housework still fall on women? Sociologist Emma Casey offers a powerful call to challenge the prevailing myths around housework.

Visit a letterpress display reimagining women’s knowledge about plants. Join in a botanical printing activity and discover a book of flowers written for a queen.

Join historian Tracy Borman as she unlocks the mysteries of Holbein’s enigmatic artwork The Ambassadors, revealing the secrets it tells us about the Tudor court.

Writer Pippa Stacey guides you through the key things you should know about non-visible disabilities in 2025, sharing her own lived experiences of managing a chronic illness and non-visible symptoms in everyday life.

York Pride returns to the Knavesmire with a vibrant afternoon of entertainment and family-friendly activities. Why not come along and celebrate inclusivity and diversity?

Join scientific experts at York St John University for a hands-on journey through advances in medicine and healthcare. Examine your own microbiome, analyse some DNA and look at what’s in blood.

Take a tour of Fishergate Postern Tower’s Medieval masons’ marks and then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Join us for an afternoon of energetic, creative, crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun at this year’s Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon.

Listen to top female and nonbinary scientists as they take science to the streets of York - while standing on a soapbox.

Discover how the major changes taking place in the heart of our city centre, driven by York’s Masterplan and the ambitious York Central regeneration scheme, will drive economic, social and cultural growth.

Find out how the data revolution in sport is influencing decision making in areas such as tactics, strategy and recruitment with statisticians from the University of York.

Explore real-world stories of community-led projects that are making a difference by combining environmental action with social equity. Join Dilay Celebi Gonidis of CITY College, University of York Europe campus.

Michael Guilding, a retired psychotherapist, examines fear and love from the perspective of human biology and reflects on what each of us might do to shift the balance between these powerful forces.

Take a tour of Fishergate Postern Tower’s Medieval masons’ marks and then watch a professional stonemason cut a mark on stone and, if you like, design your own!

Take a journey through the stars, planets and galaxies as Mike Shaw, Head of Astronomy at Bootham School, uses engaging storytelling to introduce you to the scale of the Universe and our significance in it.

Join one of the Guardian’s most beloved columnists, political sketch writer John Crace, for some hilarious insights into politics and modern-day Britain.

Enjoy a Playback Theatre performance which takes its inspiration from the histories of disabled people in York and encourages attendees to share their own stories from 2025.

From the beauty of floodlights to the glorious moment when a referee falls over, join author Daniel Gray as he lyrically celebrates the simple joys of the beautiful game.

As we celebrate 200 years of the modern railway, our expert speakers reveal how the spirit of invention and innovation of rail’s early pioneers lives on, driving a new future.

Join Arthur Bradley of the University of Lancaster as he explores the relationship between theatre and sovereignty in modern political theory, philosophy and performance.

Learn more about Alexander the Great’s life, personality and impact as historian Stephen Harrison of Swansea University offers a fresh perspective on his reign.

Join us for an informal session in the ancient and medieval arithmetical gymnasium.

Writer Ian Leslie traces the twists and turns of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s relationship through the music it produced, offering insights into the nature of creativity, collaboration and human connection.

Enjoy a performance by one of the UK’s most exciting folk acts. BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Sam Kelly leads the powerhouse band The Lost Boys.

Yorkshire Bach Choir presents Rossini’s final, powerful choral work filled with flair, faith and joyful musicality.

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Join us at the Interactive Media Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work created by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

Find out how and why York floods, explore different kinds of flood defence schemes in operation and discuss what the future may bring on a York’s Hidden History guided tour.

Are the deep splits in society being created and maintained by disinformation? What can be done to rein in big tech? Our expert speakers discuss if democracy can survive in these circumstances.

Learn about the latest trends in European literatures and languages, give voice to your crafty self and contribute to our multilingual wor(l)d-map with a word, a sketch or a drawing at our interactive event.

Richard and Chris Gale, leading consultants in ophthalmology and cardiology, explore how early diagnosis and intervention can transform outcomes for age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

Join us for some family fun as we spark children’s imaginations with a range of hands-on, interactive activities.

Hear the story of the production of the five groundbreaking Royal Commission volumes on the archaeology and Architecture of the City of York from Roman times to the 20th century. Join Peter Addyman, former Director of York Archaeology.

Join biochemist Jenny Hayes of the University of York on a DNA adventure as she reveals the background to new medical discoveries and treatments.

Join a workshop led by Lottie Adcock of Dance the Past and take a trip through time to learn some of the most scandalous dances in history.

With Trump’s second presidency, are we returning to an era of Great Powers and ‘might means right’? What are the implications for the so-called ‘global rules-based order’? Join in the discussion with our expert panel.

Bring along your smartphone for an interactive nature tour as your guides demonstrate how to get involved in citizen science.

Join us for StreetLife's Queer Walk of York, an LGBTQI+ heritage trail of sites of significance to the city's queer communities, and a post-walk conversation on Spaces of Queer Activism in York.

Join postgraduate researcher Lacey Allen of the University of York for an interactive workshop exploring the fairy tale structure and its components.

Join Heather Conway, an expert on death law, as she explores some of the complex legal questions about the disposal and post-mortem fate of the dead.

There is serious possibility the US might withdraw its security guarantees for Europe, in place since 1945. Our expert speakers review the options and consider what the future of Europe might look like.

Celebrate the comedic genius of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson (Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe and Son) at an event showcasing the archive acquired by the University of York in 2024.

Enjoy an enchanting story full of magic spells and much mischief at a fun-filled interactive concert with OAE TOTS.

Modesty, flamboyance, filth. Join writer Nina Edwards as she unravels the intimate narratives woven into the fabric of our most personal garments.

Join bestselling author and journalist Sonia Purnell for a discussion of the complexities, intricacies and mysteries of leadership, focusing on Pamela Churchill Harriman, daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill.

Join author Paula Akpan for a revelatory history as she takes you into the fascinating worlds of the queens and warriors who ruled vast swathes of the African continent.

Throughout time, there have been stories of people being visited or attacked by nocturnal monsters. How can modern science help us to understand this cultural history? Join psychologist Dan Denis.

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Discover what linked York and Münster historically, the background to the cities’ twinning, and how links are ongoing today.

Join us for a ground-breaking exploration of African culture and identity as author Luke Pepera journeys through 500,000 years of history to connect with his extraordinary heritage.

Find out how researchers study the sounds of the past with Mariana López of the University of York.

Psychologist Ben Alderson-Day digs into historical accounts and contemporary cases of 'felt presence', hunting for the key to unlock this strange phenomenon.

Join historian and bestselling author William Dalrymple as he explores how India transformed the culture and technology of its ancient world - and our world today as we know it.

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Discover how trees contribute to our sense of place within urban communities and explore how a space-based approach could colour a green-print for York as a White Rose Forest city.

Join Daniel Cook, Master of Choristers and Organist of Durham Cathedral, as he demonstrates the power and versatility of the magnificent 1959 Walker organ.

Take a journey across time and space, and explore the history of medieval Britain through the biographies of illuminated manuscripts and their creators with author Michelle P. Brown.

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, rail historian Roger Backhouse examines how railway posters developed from the mid-19th century.

Join Barbara Brend, a specialist in the field of Persian painting, as she examines two manuscripts illustrated in late 15th-century Herat.

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Conservator Alison Gilchrist discusses the significant collection of stained glass at All Saints and its recent restoration, before leading a tour of the windows.

Take a journey through the magical forest to the Fairy Queen’s party at a delightful family concert by OAE TOTS.

Explore the hidden treasures of the University of York’s art collection on a guided walk with its inaugural curator, Helena Cox.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as Syncretism presents a mesmerising concert with spectacular lighting, immersive projections, captivating dance performances and epic music.

Join archaeologists as they discuss the damaging effects of global warming on waterlogged archaeological sites and explain how two projects aim to tackle this issue in York.

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Sax Forte returns to the Festival with an entertaining programme that includes a brief history of the saxophone and a demonstration of the four different pitched instruments.

Join historian Carolyn Twomey as she explores the various social and ritual roles of the baptismal font in the premodern past and its significance to parish communities.

Enjoy a filmed performance of Clay Fever and accompanying talk with pottery handling by York Museums Trust curator Helen Walsh and playwright Bridget Foreman.

Isabel Berwick, host of the award-winning Financial Times Working It podcast and Simon Gilbody of the University of York discuss loneliness at work and offer some practical advice and solutions.

In 1983, civil servants role-played the descent into nuclear conflict. Join us for dramatised extracts from the WINTEX-CIMEX document and an expert discussion panel.

Join Deneal Smith, Head of Bootham School as he examines the core values of Quaker action through the lens of education in the 21st century. What should schools be doing for their students and local community?

Enjoy a rich soundscape across a lake near the Ron Cooke Hub which uses a robotic piano, machine learning and ambisonic surround sound to explore the fragile nature of human relationships.

Learn more about York's fascinating heritage on a guided walk with Neil Redfern, Executive Director of the Council for British Archaeology.

Internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Galina Vale - La Diva de la Guitarra - returns to St Helen’s Church with a new programme of classical, flamenco and folk guitar music.

Join our interactive workshop and learn to print and sing tonic solfa - a system of musical notation popular in 19th-century Britain and used by missionaries throughout the world.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Join our expert speakers from France and the UK as they discuss whether we should fear or embrace the introduction of AI in the workplace.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Love it or hate it? The Willow Disco was an infamous part of York’s nightlife culture for 42 years. Join us to mark the 10th anniversary of the Willow's closure and the launch of the Willow Community Digital Archive.

Come along to St Olave’s Church to celebrate all things time related. Enjoy a series of short talks during the day, and poetry and music presented by Navigators Art & Performance in the evening.

Come along to St Olave’s Church to celebrate all things time related. Enjoy a series of short talks during the day, and poetry and music presented by Navigators Art & Performance in the evening.

Navigators Art presents an inspiring programme of original music, spoken word and comedy by local performers.

York Musical Society (YMS) invites you to enjoy all the beauty and drama of Verdi’s Requiem in the magnificent surroundings of York Minster.

Join us as the winners of the 17th annual York Design Awards are revealed.