2026 Festival
Wednesday 6 May 2026 7.30pm Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, Campus West, University of York
Join us in celebrating the rich and diverse community of postgraduate performers at the University of York, showcasing a selection of their outstanding work from across the year.
Saturday 9 May 2026 7.30pm York Minster
A pre-festival event not to be missed: University Choir and Symphony Orchestra join forces with The 24 in the stunning setting of York Minster to provide a spectacular finale to their 2025/26 season.
Saturday 23 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Join us at the Firefly Festival for a celebration of performance and theatre presented by students from the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies.
Sunday 24 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Monday 25 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Tuesday 26 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Wednesday 27 May 2026 10am National Railway Museum, Leeman Road
All aboard for a day of high-speed discovery at the National Railway Museum! From the magic of the Victorian era to the tech of tomorrow, we’re bringing the rails to life.
Wednesday 27 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Thursday 28 May 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Friday 29 May 2026 7.30pm National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate
Join three of the most sought-after talents on the UK folk circuit - John McCusker, Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer - for a performance deeply rooted in tradition, yet bursting with innovation.
Saturday 30 May 2026 10am Bootham School
From humble paper baubles to high-fashion runways and soft robotics, paper engineer Darryl Bedford reveals that a simple sheet of paper is a gateway to infinite possibilities.
Saturday 30 May 2026 10am The Guildhall
Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.
Saturday 30 May 2026 10am St Oswald's Church Hall, Fulford
Join our expert speakers as they explore the complex causes and dramatic consequences of the invasions and regime change of 1066. How was Norman power imposed on England, particularly in the north?
Saturday 30 May 2026 10.30am York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
What should children eat and why? Discover how childhood and food have shaped each other through history – and still do – with writers Deborah Albon and Amy Palmer.
Saturday 30 May 2026 11am Quad South, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk
Help researchers reimagine school toilets at our interactive, family-friendly event. Step into life-size cardboard toilet cubicles and graffiti your thoughts, and build Lego models of your perfect loo.
Saturday 30 May 2026 11am Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join Sian Williams, broadcast journalist and counselling psychologist, for tips, expert research and stories from those who’ve learnt how to ride the worry wave to thrive.
Saturday 30 May 2026 11.30am Bootham School
Unlock the structural magic of the humble pleat. Join Kirigami artist and educator Darryl Bedford for an immersive, hands-on workshop dedicated to the art of pleated paper.
Saturday 30 May 2026 12pm York Minster
Come along and join the fabulous Pride Parade March from York Minster through the city centre streets to the Knavesmire.
Saturday 30 May 2026 12pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
As our society ages, questions of how we care for our loved ones are more urgent than ever. Join authors Caleb Klaces and JT Welsch for a vital, compassionate conversation about navigating the ‘final chapters’ and the ethics of care in later life
Saturday 30 May 2026 12pm King's Manor, Exhibition Square
In Finnish mythology, lintukoto describes a paradise-like place at the far edge of the world. Meet Henna Asikainen, the artist behind an installation that reinterprets this myth for the Anthropocene - a time of ecological collapse and displacement.
Saturday 30 May 2026 12.30pm The Guildhall
Saturday 30 May 2026 12.30pm All Saints Church, North Street
Join organist Robert Sharpe for a recital celebrating the baroque splendour and intimacy of the Buxtehude and JS Bach, followed by an in-conversation event with composer Philip Moore and Choral Evensong
Saturday 30 May 2026 12.45pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Historian and broadcaster Anna Whitelock offers a panoramic history of the arrival of the Stuarts, revealing how the reign of King James I saw England reach new corners of the globe.
Saturday 30 May 2026 1pm The Knavesmire
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?
Saturday 30 May 2026 1.15pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Join Jonathan Brockbank of the University of York as he explores two fictional responses to the bombardment of Scarborough in 1914 - Osbert Sitwell's Before the Bombardment and Winifred Holtby's The Crowded Streets.
Saturday 30 May 2026 2pm Friargate Quaker Meeting House
What exactly happens in the therapy room between client and therapist? Retired psychotherapist Michael Guilding lifts the lid on the process of counselling and psychotherapy.
Saturday 30 May 2026 2pm York Medical Society, Stonegate
Obstetrician James Drife explores the history of maternity care from the era of untrained midwives through to the introduction of national maternity care and beyond.
Saturday 30 May 2026 2.30pm The Guildhall
Saturday 30 May 2026 2.30pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Go behind the scenes of the Channel 5 drama All Creatures Great and Small with its Script Executive Donna Metcalfe and the series’ historical consultant Mark Roodhouse.
Saturday 30 May 2026 2.30pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Discover the impact of art as a form of protest at an event highlighting gender-based violence. Join Melissa Chacón and Harriet Gray of the University of York and Mora Fernández of La Casa Mandarina, Mexico City.
Saturday 30 May 2026 3.45pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Join psychologist Karisha George and find out how to turn setbacks into superpowers, transforming past experiences into the confidence you need to boldly take up space.
Saturday 30 May 2026 4.15pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join historian Jane Draycott as she reclaims the life story of Fulvia, one of the most powerful women of the late Roman Republic.
Saturday 30 May 2026 6pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join British Museum curator Rachel King and discover the Tudor Heart, a unique 24-carat-gold pendant linked to Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon.
Saturday 30 May 2026 7pm Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road
Join us for a special screening of the documentary film Rave on for the Avon, a powerful exploration of people’s deep connections to rivers, followed by a panel discussion.
Saturday 30 May 2026 7.30pm City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Join Navigators Art and a range of local talent in an eclectic programme of music and words celebrating the beauty, peace and wild inspiration of the garden.
Saturday 30 May 2026 7.30pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join award-winning journalist and presenter Clive Myrie as he discusses his deeply personal journey filming the BBC series African Adventure.
Sunday 31 May 2026 10.30am Museum Gardens
Follow in the pioneering footsteps of volcanologist Tempest Anderson (1846-1913) as Tempest's Volcano Trail brings urban volcanology to the historic streets of York on this guided walk.
Sunday 31 May 2026 11am Derwent College, Campus West, University of York
Take part in a guided walk and help us celebrate the launch of the reactivated University of York Campus Tree Trail.
Help us celebrate the launch of the reactivated University of York Campus Tree Trail, where the trees come alive with folklore, history, ecology, music and poetry. Enjoy a self-guided walk, hands-on activities and stories.
Sunday 31 May 2026 11.15am York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
How do decision makers decide what the NHS should pay for new medicines? What factors are likely to influence the price? Find out with researchers from York Health Economics Consortium.
Sunday 31 May 2026 12pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
With a new series of Riot Women in production, BAFTA-winning creator Sally Wainwright discusses the origins of the hit BBC drama. Join her in conversation with award-winning journalist Emma Barnett.
Sunday 31 May 2026 12.15pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Join theoretical physicist Patricia Ribes Metidieri of the University of York as she reveals the fascinating links between the origins of our cosmos and the frontiers of quantum technology.
Sunday 31 May 2026 1.15pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Do popular films nail psychology, or is it just movie magic? Join expert researchers for a deep dive into some well-known films as they unpack the real science of emotion, memory and behaviour.
Sunday 31 May 2026 1.30pm Borthwick Institute for Archives, Campus West, University of York
Discover the art of bookbinding at an inspiring hands-on workshop dedicated to mindful making. Make space for creativity and join conservators Catherine Firth and Emma Lloyd-Jones.
Sunday 31 May 2026 1.45pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join historian Katherine Harvey for a fresh look at medieval wellness as she sheds light on the practical and surprisingly relatable ways medieval individuals cared for body and mind.
Sunday 31 May 2026 2pm York Medical Society, Stonegate
Discover more about the life and legacy of pioneering volcanologist Tempest Anderson and learn about the latest research into volcanoes with Rebecca Williams of the University of Hull.
Sunday 31 May 2026 2pm City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Join us for a guided walk through York as we commemorate spaces where queer folk used to meet, chat, dance and organise.
Sunday 31 May 2026 2.30pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Discover how gardens support memories, identity and social connections through a talk and exhibition sharing the ‘garden stories’ of people living with dementia at home.
Sunday 31 May 2026 3.30pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Enjoy a visual celebration of our perception of the cosmos across centuries and cultures with broadcaster and collector Dallas Campbell.
Sunday 31 May 2026 5.15pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Peel back the layers of York’s hidden history with archaeologist John Creighton and discover what ground penetrating radar has revealed about the evolution of York.
Sunday 31 May 2026 6.45pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
In 1939, Sutton Hoo revealed a ghostly 27m ship imprint in the sand. Martin Carver, Director of Research at Sutton Hoo, explores the reconstruction of this 7th-century vessel and planned trials to put it back on the water.
Monday 1 June 2026 9am King's Manor, Exhibition Square
In Finnish mythology, lintukoto describes a paradise-like place at the far edge of the world. This installation asks what lintukoto might mean in the Anthropocene - a time of ecological collapse, displacement and political instability.
Monday 1 June 2026 6.30pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
What is sound heritage and why does it matter? Join Mariana J López of the University of York as she introduces methods for studying the sounds of the past and explains its role in creating immersive museum and online experiences.
Monday 1 June 2026 7pm Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe Road
Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned tap dancer, why not come along and have a go at a tap-dancing lesson with York Rhythm Tap?
Monday 1 June 2026 7pm Bootham School
Join James Ratcliffe of Bootham School for a journey through the renaissance to modern mathematics, including the works of Riemann, Turing and Fry Richardson. Where will maths go next?
Tuesday 2 June 2026 9am King's Manor, Exhibition Square
Tuesday 2 June 2026 2.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Catch five members of the Glee Club at Elder High School, Cincinnati, Ohio, US at St Helen’s Church and enjoy a mixed repertoire of popular, musical theatre, folk, spiritual and sacred music.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 3pm Creative Centre, York St John University
Join the York St John Living Lab for an interactive panel on ecological justice and climate resilience designed to spark hopeful, holistic solutions.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 5.30pm Vanbrugh College, Campus West, University of York
Join historian Sadiah Qureshi of the University of Manchester as she explains that extinction is both a natural process and an unnatural human act.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 6pm The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green
A retinue of reciters perform a selection of Anglo-Saxon and Norse poetry and prose, both in translation and in the original. Come and join us in the beorsele or beer-hall of the Black Swan.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 6pm The Angel On The Green, Bishopthorpe Road
York’s affordability crisis is pushing people and communities out of the city. Learn how YorSpace aims to challenge this by developing co-operative, community-owned models.
Tuesday 2 June 2026 7pm Bootham School
As artificial intelligence tools become embedded in scientific research, AI specialist Claire Malone asks: is AI extending the power of human curiosity - or reshaping it?
Tuesday 2 June 2026 7pm Merchant Taylors' Hall, Aldwark
From the shifting face of the Moon to constellations that return with the seasons, astronomer Emily Brunsden and science communicator Chris Stewart invite you to look up and explore with your eyes, curiosity and a sense of awe.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 9am King's Manor, Exhibition Square
Wednesday 3 June 2026 10am The University Boathouse, Fulford Ings
Join us for an educational walk and some Himalayan balsam bashing. Help protect the important habitats on Fulford Ings by removing the invasive plant, minimising its spread across our watercourses and floodplains.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 12pm De Grey Court, York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk
Why does the way we speak matter? Explore why language - and the analysis of language - is crucial to creating inclusive spaces for diverse populations.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 6pm Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Step into the world of professional printmaking with Michelle Hughes and discover how she transforms the beauty of the British countryside and wildlife into striking linocut art.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 6pm Church Lane Building, Campus West, University of York
How can we ensure greater equity and inclusivity in education? How should we respond to social and technological change? Our panel discussion explores how research is answering education’s biggest questions.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 6.15pm Belfrey Hall, Stonegate
Wednesday 3 June 2026 7pm Belfrey Hall, Stonegate
Wednesday 3 June 2026 7.30pm York Minster
Learn how the Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management has established the York Minster Precinct as a world-class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 7.45pm Belfrey Hall, Stonegate
Wednesday 3 June 2026 8.30pm Belfrey Hall, Stonegate
Thursday 4 June 2026 9am King's Manor, Exhibition Square
Thursday 4 June 2026 10am The Guildhall
What makes a successful city centre? Join our diverse panel of design leaders and urban visionaries to help shape a city centre that’s inclusive, accessible and future proof for all.
Thursday 4 June 2026 10.30am Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
With Astronomer Royal for Scotland Catherine Heymans and cosmologist Carlos Frenk, our panel asks where our knowledge, gleaned from our own small blue planet, fits in the vastness of an ever-expanding universe.
Thursday 4 June 2026 12.30pm Central Methodist Church, St Saviourgate
Join organist Matthew Collins for a recital celebrating the rich and fascinating connections between organ music and the city of York - its composers, churches and musical life.
Thursday 4 June 2026 12.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Join York-based vocal ensemble Capriccio Five to experience beloved early music pieces shared with openness and enthusiasm in an intimate space.
Thursday 4 June 2026 1.45pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join our expert panel as they debate if it’s possible to imagine new spaces and places into existence in ways that are sympathetic to the needs of future generations while respecting our heritage and environment.
Thursday 4 June 2026 2pm Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Step back in time on a guided walking tour of York’s rich printing history led by Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print.
Thursday 4 June 2026 5.30pm Hiscox Building, Peasholme Green
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!
Thursday 4 June 2026 6pm Church Lane Building, Campus West, University of York
Dive into the stubbornly unplaceable world of King Lear with Namratha Rao and James Williams of the University of York as they explore one of Shakespeare’s greatest works.
Thursday 4 June 2026 6pm University Library, Campus West, University of York
Generative AI is throwing recruitment into chaos. Our expert panel asks: are we witnessing a recruitment revolution or descending into a stalemate of AI assessing AI?
Thursday 4 June 2026 6.30pm Friargate Quaker Meeting House
Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for a captivating event uncovering Askham Bog’s 15,000 year geological origins, its unique layers of ancient history and its status as one of the region’s most ecologically diverse wildlife havens.
Thursday 4 June 2026 7.15pm Church Lane Building, Campus West, University of York
Which Shakespeare play speaks to our moment in the early 21st century? Hamlet? Not according to Emma Smith of the University of Oxford who proposes an alternative.
Friday 5 June 2026 9am King's Manor, Exhibition Square
Friday 5 June 2026 10.30am York Minster Library, Dean's Park
Welcome to Mr Kendrew's printing shop on Colliergate - a true family enterprise in early 19th-century York. Step back in time and explore some of the pamphlets, primers, ballads and children's chapbooks produced there.
Friday 5 June 2026 10.30am Bar Lane, Micklegate
Take to the skies on the York Air Walk and enjoy an aerial stroll through the city's ancient, natural and scientific history with expert guide Simon Rogerson of York’s Hidden History.
Friday 5 June 2026 12.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Sax Forte returns to the Festival with a fresh programme of music and an entertaining talk on the history of the saxophone.
Friday 5 June 2026 6pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
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.
Friday 5 June 2026 6pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Struggling with joint pain or insomnia? You aren’t alone. Drawing on personal experience, Dame Kelly Holmes shares tips on managing middle age and the menopause.
Friday 5 June 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Join us at the Creative Technologies Showcase and enjoy the phenomenal work and ideas created by University of York students. Projects range from games and mobile applications to virtual reality experiences and web designs.
Friday 5 June 2026 7pm Friargate Theatre, Lower Friargate
In 1914, 11 girls leaving the Mount School in York began a round robin diary. Historian Krista Cowman and playwright Bridget Foreman present staged extracts from this 20th-century Quaker ‘WhatsApp Group’.
Friday 5 June 2026 7pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Enjoy a unique event where storytellers from the Global Majority - who live, study or work in York - take centre stage to share their experiences with climate change, ecological shifts and resilience.
Friday 5 June 2026 7.30pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
From Cleopatra to Grace Kelly, join historian and best-selling author Kate Williams for an epic new history of royal women that shatters the myths we have built around them.
Friday 5 June 2026 7.30pm National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate
Come and hear Grammy-nominated artist Olivia Chaney, one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters of her generation, who has carved out a rare space between folk, classical and contemporary music.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10am King's Staith Landing
Come aboard and explore York’s rivers on a curated boat journey. See how flood resilience and natural flood management help people, wildlife and place.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10am Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
York Conservation Trust's Heritage Manager Dav Smith explores the development of the Trust and outlines its ambitious ten-year plan to revitalise York’s heritage buildings in its care.
Step inside the history of Heslington Hall in the 18th century, to learn about the Hesketh and Yarburgh families, their 18th-century gardens and life in 18th-century York.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10am Eye of York (lawn outside York Castle Museum)
Join York Army Museum as they commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day with a free living history event featuring Second World War East Yorkshire Regiment kit, vehicles and demonstrations.
Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship and discover the skills that have shaped our built heritage for centuries through demonstrations, hands-on activities and conservation talks with Pinnacle Conservation.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10am Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
With thousands of Britons taking the plunge, our expert panel dives into the psychology and mental health benefits of cold-water swimming.
Historian Siân Broadhurst discusses the mid-20th century challenge of the pioneering York garden village, New Earswick, to protect and sustain community in a rapidly changing world.
From the secrets of the dead to reconstructing lost landscapes and buildings, discover how digital heritage technologies from the Heritage360 team at York are revealing new insights about the past.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.15am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join sustainability expert David Trousdale for a practical look at the journey of installing EV charge points, from initial planning to full operation, highlighting the key stakeholders at each stage.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.30am School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.30am Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Journey through space to discover how layout, scale and placement can change the meaning of words at our out-of-this-world hands-on children’s workshop.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.30am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Step into a vanished age as historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones brings the world’s first and most illustrious metropolis, Babylon, vividly to life.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.30am All Saints Church, North Street
Get crafty and enjoy a special Festival edition of All Saints Church’s regular Creative Club. Have a go at the Children's Trail to discover a thousand years of history in a York parish church and take part in fun creative activities.
Saturday 6 June 2026 10.50am Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Discover how and why Britain's best-loved writer styled herself as the consummate craftswoman through a wide-ranging, illustrated talk on Jane Austen's novels and needlework.
Join Kenneth Clarke and Jane Raisch of the University of York as they examine examples of facsimiles of manuscripts of the work of Virgil and Dante and consider how the facsimile itself has changed over time.
Saturday 6 June 2026 11am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Could board games help save the planet? From flooding to climate action, join us to find out how innovative games are addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
Saturday 6 June 2026 11am Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe Road
Enjoy a thrilling fusion of jazz, tap dance and song as Triple Time explores the connection between musical theatre and jazz.
Saturday 6 June 2026 11am Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Hear readings from Voices of Resistance, a powerful collection of diaries from four Gazan women, and join in the discussion with one of the writers, the editor and local Palestinian figures.
Saturday 6 June 2026 11.30am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Ever since the dawn of the sound era, Hollywood has made a series of elaborate feature films about the lives of the great visual artists. Join us for a richly illustrated journey into Tinsel Town’s history of art with writer Christopher Frayling.
Saturday 6 June 2026 11.40am Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Explore how 18th-century domestic travel rose to rival the famous European Grand Tour with Jim Watt and Alison O’Byrne of the University of York.
Discover how heritage can help resolve some of the world's most urgent and complex problems with archaeologist John Schofield of the University of York.
Join Emma Major of the University of York as she discusses some key examples of 18th-century gardening trends, including the fashion for grottoes and Chinese gardens.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Step aboard and explore how rail is enabling a cleaner, greener way to travel across the UK at our special Festival Focus event presented in partnership with train operator LNER.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12pm The Place, Sanderson House, Bramham Road
Meet author-illustrator Salomey Doku for an interactive exploration of the world of graphic novels and gain the tools you need to create a book.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Could stigmatising ultra-processed foods be doing more harm than good? Public health nutritionist Beverley O'Hara argues framing foods as inherently ‘dangerous’ risks distorting the science and may have unintended consequences.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12.15pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Did you know that the world’s most expensive coffee is produced through the digestive tract of an animal? Now imagine that animal is human. Join us for a mind-bending exploration of consumption, ethics and embodiment.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12.30pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Join postgraduate researchers Zulekha Samiullah and Hugh Barrett to discover how much ‘quantum’ is around you and how these wonders weave into everyday life, from supercomputers to the tech that will reshape our cities.
Saturday 6 June 2026 12.30pm Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Colin Beale of the University of York explores how protected areas safeguard our future, why every natural ‘church’ and ‘cathedral’ matters, and how we can collectively decide what to pass on to the next generation.
Discover the 'real' story of what happened when Henry VIII and Katherine Howard visited York in 1541 with building historian and archaeologist Kate Giles.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1pm Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Gain insight into the range of crafts practiced and designed by women and girls in the 18th century at our hands-on workshop presented by the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1pm Parliament Street
Listen to inspirational women and nonbinary scientists as they take science to the streets of York - while standing on a soapbox.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
In a time of intense dissatisfactions and spiralling divisions, psychoanalyst Josh Cohen offers a new and original understanding of anger, so we may better handle the rage within us.
Join us for an afternoon of energetic, creative, crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun at this year’s Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1.20pm Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Join digital artist and researcher Guy Schofield of the University of York to discover how videogame technologies are revolutionising the world of heritage.
Explore how virtual tech reconstructs historic sites like Egypt’s Hawara Pyramid and Nottingham Castle. Join our talk and demo to tour hidden chambers and underground caves that are otherwise invisible to the eye.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Two great cities. One fierce rivalry. Join historian Adrian Goldsworthy to discover more about Athens and Sparta, the two big players in Ancient Greece.
Saturday 6 June 2026 1.45pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Discover how data-driven decisions are revolutionising every facet of football - from player performance evaluation to scouting and strategy development.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2pm All Saints Church, North Street
Inspired by All Saints North Street windows, discover fascinating stories of what happened in bed in the Middle Ages with historian Hollie Morgan.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2pm Bootham School
What might extraterrestrial life be like and how are we trying to find it? What could it mean if we did? Mike Shaw of Bootham School presents an exploration of the search for life beyond the Earth.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
From trade and taxes to industry and animals, discover the rich history and stories of York’s city walls with Barry Crump of the University of York.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2.10pm Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Discover how combining heritage crafting and outdoor natural spaces can offer a powerful way to boost our mental health and resilience.
Join historian Will Tullett as he explores the smells that 20th-century British people valued, sought to preserve and which helped them to make sense of their worlds.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join writer Joanna Bourke for a critical, comparative history of five of the most reviled women in the modern Anglophone world: Hindley, West, Wuornos, Homolka and Tucker.
Saturday 6 June 2026 2.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Join King’s Ely Prep Jazz Band at St Helen’s Church for an eclectic mix of jazz, rock and funk tunes guaranteed to set your toes tapping.
Saturday 6 June 2026 3pm Heslington Hall, Campus West, University of York
Join Michael White, Head of History of Art at the University of York, for a talk accompanying an inspiring exhibition in the Heslington Hall gallery dedicated to the artist John Langton (1932-2025).
Saturday 6 June 2026 3pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Discover the remarkable legacies of David Whitaker and Terrance Dicks, two giants of Doctor Who and British popular culture, with biographer Simon Guerrier and enjoy exclusive insights into their work from their own archives at the University of
Although she is known the world over for her words, Anne Lister, the lesbian diarist of Halifax, was also a committed musician. Join us to learn about the importance of music-making in her life.
Saturday 6 June 2026 3pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Enjoy performances by one of the UK’s most sought-after Carnatic vocalists, Supriya Nagarajan, alongside an eclectic ensemble of instrumental artists as you discover South Indian classical (Carnatic) music.
Saturday 6 June 2026 3.15pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Join Robert Nichols, editor and host of Middlesbrough FCs fanzine and internet chat forum, as he reflects on his work championing the people’s game and looks forward to this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Saturday 6 June 2026 3.45pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join writer Brigid Ehrmantraut for a captivating introduction to Celtic magic as she reveals its integration into daily life from antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Saturday 6 June 2026 4.30pm Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York
Join our panel of experts as they decode the chemical cocktail in our waterways and share actionable steps we can all take to restore the health of our rivers.
Saturday 6 June 2026 6pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Enjoy a fast-paced storytelling PechaKucha event showcasing the work of Business of the Creative Industries students from the University of York.
Saturday 6 June 2026 6.15pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Join Nicola Sturgeon, the longest-serving First Minister of Scotland, as she reflects on her remarkable career in an era marked by Brexit, Covid and five different UK prime ministers.
Saturday 6 June 2026 7.30pm York Minster
York Musical Society is joined by its partner choir from Münster, York’s twin city in Germany, for an uplifting performance of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.
Saturday 6 June 2026 7.30pm St Lawrence Parish Church
Join Yorkshire Bach Choir for a captivating concert woven with themes of nature, gardens and transcendent landscapes, featuring a unique arrangement of Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending.
Sunday 7 June 2026 10am Borthwick Institute for Archives, Campus West, University of York
Come along to the Borthwick Institute and enjoy a place to play and relax as you try out games from the archives that aren’t commercially available and haven’t been played before.
Sunday 7 June 2026 10.30am School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Discover the wilder side of the University of York’s stunning Campus East with a multi-sensory workshop designed to reconnect you with the outdoors.
Sunday 7 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Experience the garden through new eyes. Join Navigators Art for an exhibition celebrating the beauty, peace and wild inspiration of the garden.
Sunday 7 June 2026 10.45am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Democracy is in the dock. Looking back at its origins, was the system always flawed? Our keynote speaker, Big Tech insider-turned-critic Dex Hunter-Torricke takes to the stand, followed by other expert witnesses.
Sunday 7 June 2026 11am Bennett's Café and Bistro, High Petergate
Enjoy an insightful walking tour of York, highlighting untold histories and diverse narratives. Go beyond the conventional stories of the city’s past as we explore the impact of women, people of colour and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Sunday 7 June 2026 11am Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Rooted in South Indian musical traditions and informed by philosophical and ecological thought, Other Voices seeks to give voice to the voiceless - the flora and fauna of our planet - through an immersive soundscape.
Sunday 7 June 2026 11am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join us for some family fun as we spark children’s imaginations with a range of hands-on, interactive activities.
Sunday 7 June 2026 11am Institute for Safe Autonomy
As AI increasingly becomes a fixture of social care and our daily lives, our expert panel discusses how we ensure it’s safe for older adults.
Sunday 7 June 2026 11.15am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
What do you think of when you think about the past? Enjoy a hands-on collaging workshop and reflect on the narratives we share about our history. How might we use these to build better futures?
Sunday 7 June 2026 12.15pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
What is it that so fascinates us about the places where writers live and create? Join writer Katie da Cunha Lewin as she dismantles the familiar furniture of the writer’s room and opens it up to view.
Sunday 7 June 2026 1pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Step into a world where stories come to life. Listen to an exciting tale via a Kamishibai - a centuries-old traditional Japanese form of storytelling with picture cards - before taking part in a treasure hunt and making origami figures to take home.
Sunday 7 June 2026 1pm Borthwick Institute for Archives, Campus West, University of York
Sunday 7 June 2026 1.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Why, how and where do we inter our dead? From the earliest known burial sites to today’s green burials, author Roger Luckhurst presents a wonderfully illustrated cultural history of graves and graveyards.
Sunday 7 June 2026 2pm Castlegate House, Castlegate
Join Achilles Dunster of York St John University for a walking tour and explore the effects that protestant non-conformists had on the cityscape of York.
Sunday 7 June 2026 2pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Digital disruption, the rise of authoritarianism and polarisation, a failure to deliver for marginalised groups and future generations. We discuss if democracy is fundamentally incapable of navigating 21st century threats.
Sunday 7 June 2026 3pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join Benito Aubry of the University of York for a cosmic odyssey as he explores what we understand – and don’t understand – about space and time today.
Join writers Eleanor Bruce and Lucilla Gray on a metal detecting journey through Britain as they share their fascination with unearthing historic artefacts.
Sunday 7 June 2026 3.15pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
What does the future hold for the trees in our towns and cities? Dive into Urban Labor-a Tree, a fast-paced strategy board game where you are the architect of a greener city.
Sunday 7 June 2026 4pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Is democracy dead or just in need of an upgrade? Join this citizens’ jury to put our political system on trial. Hear expert testimony on radical, hyper-local alternatives and cast your verdict on whether democracy can be reclaimed or replaced.
Sunday 7 June 2026 4.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Māori author Tina Makereti discusses the significance of place to Indigenous literatures at an event featuring readings from her work.
Sunday 7 June 2026 5pm
Historian Pat Cullum explores the complicated map of barriers and jurisdictions that made up the city of York, focussing on the development of the parish of Holy Trinity, Goodramgate from the Norman Conquest to the Reformation.
Sunday 7 June 2026 6pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Senior Curator Louise Devoy as she charts the development of Britain’s first state-funded scientific institution, from its founding by royal warrant to the present day.
Hear the powerful true story of how journalist Matt Blake discovered his new house was once the lair of the E17 Nightstalker. Join him as he discusses his scientific quest to make sense of the paranormal and find peace at home.
Sunday 7 June 2026 6.30pm Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York
Join acclaimed author Alexander McCall Smith, creator of the iconic No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, for an in-conversation event as he discusses his work and the importance of kindness.
Sunday 7 June 2026 7.15pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Oasis, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, James: the Mancunian music scene is legendary. Join ultimate industry insiders Mike Pickering and John Robb for a journey through Manchester’s musical soul.
Sunday 7 June 2026 7.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Discover how science fiction is becoming reality as astronomers uncover thousands of incredible worlds in our galaxy with astrophysicist Emily Brunsden and science communicator Chris Stewart.
Monday 8 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Monday 8 June 2026 12pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Experience the sounds and smells of a piano being dismantled and transformed into a playable ‘strung back’ - the piano's frame and strings only - and enjoy performances with instrumental ensemble The Assembled.
Monday 8 June 2026 6pm Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Fossgate
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.
Monday 8 June 2026 6pm Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Lydia Kennaway, Poet-in-Residence at Thin Ice Press, introduces The Marker Committee, a collection of poems addressing the ephemerality of the written word.
Monday 8 June 2026 6pm Merchant Taylors' Hall, Aldwark
Join Mumta Ito, author of the UK Nature's Rights Bill, and learn more about this bold legal framework that puts nature’s health first, ensuring our laws and economy work within the planet's limits, not against them.
Monday 8 June 2026 6pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join Katie Harrison from York Consortium for Craft and Conservation and piano restorer Tom Binns for a talk exploring what can happen to old pianos when their upkeep becomes too expensive. How can we reimagine them and transform them for reuse?
Monday 8 June 2026 6pm National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate
Guy James, a founding member of The Gesualdo Six, explains how the acclaimed vocal ensemble investigates interacting traditions across renaissance Europe in their programming.
Monday 8 June 2026 6.15pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
You used to see a doctor. Now you go online. Journalist Deborah Cohen reveals the truth behind Ozempic influencers, AI-powered diagnoses, ‘preventative’ screening and Instagram’s favourite wearable tech.
Monday 8 June 2026 6.30pm The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green
Join us for an informal session in the ancient and medieval arithmetical gymnasium.
Monday 8 June 2026 6.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Is pop megastar Taylor Swift an eco-icon or an environmental villain? Elly McCausland of Ghent University, Belgium, dives into the friction between the star’s massive carbon footprint and her ability to tackle ‘plant blindness’ through song.
Monday 8 June 2026 6.30pm Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Fossgate
Taste and smell your way through the 17th century in a session that uses chocolate - and an ancient additive, vanilla - to connect York to Mesoamerican orchids, Aztec life and ladies’ salons in Restoration England.
Monday 8 June 2026 7pm North South, Cafe and Bar
Discover the pleasures and surprises of Viking verse, with poetry about journeys and landscapes, halls and battlefields, and the many places of the Viking world, with Alicia Maddalena and Matt Townend of the University of York.
Monday 8 June 2026 7.30pm York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street
Enjoy improv comedy with a historical twist. Yorkshire-based improvisers Fool(ish) create an evening of spontaneous comedy inspired by curious documents and artefacts from the city archive.
Monday 8 June 2026 7.45pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Aged five, writer Sanjoy Roy encountered his first spirit in his ancestral house in Calcutta. Since then, he has come across a variety of apparitions, spectres and phantoms. Join him for a fascinating travelogue through the supernatural world.
Monday 8 June 2026 8pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a Hollywood-style threat or a tool we can trust? Join experts from the University of York’s CDT in Safe AI (SAINTS) to explore how chatbots have changed the conversation.
Monday 8 June 2026 8pm Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Fossgate
Join archaeologist Colm O'Brien as he explores themes of landscape, power, creativity and intellect in Early Medieval Northumbria – the age of Lindisfarne and Bede.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Tuesday 9 June 2026 12pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Experience how new perspectives on a changing planet emerge from the fusion of old and new technologies - aerial kites and artificial intelligence – through a multimedia exhibition.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 12.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Discover the organ as an instrument of place - shaped by architecture, ritual and memory. Organist James Short presents a programme ranging from Praetorius and Bach to works by Judith Bingham and Rachel Laurin.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 2pm St Nicks Environment Centre
Experience an afternoon of poetry and music at St Nicks Nature Reserve as Jonathan Brockbank and Freya Sierhuis of the University of York explore the life and work of the Romantic poet John Clare.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 6pm Central Hall, Campus West, University of York
Join one of Britain’s favourite storytellers, Michael Morpurgo, for a spellbinding evening of words and music exploring our deep connection to the natural world.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 6pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join campus wildlife expert Robin Perutz for a guided walk through the special habitats of the University of York and learn about the many species of flowers, birds and insects that call Campus East home.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 6pm Creative Centre, York St John University
Welcome to the Natural Health Service! In this interactive workshop, we will step into the great outdoors to discover the powerful impact on human health and wellbeing of spending time in our protected landscapes.
For centuries Stonehenge has been the subject of fascination and speculation. Archaeologist Julian Richards explores Stonehenge's 'old rocks' and the theories that have emerged from newly available information.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 6.15pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Discover the 1911 scandal around horse racing tips that saw the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust branded a ‘moral cesspool’. Sue Mendus of the University of York digs into the archives to investigate.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 7pm
Discover York’s rich Black history on a fascinating journey spanning nearly 2,000 years - from Roman Eboracum to the 1950s – on a guided walk with Olivia Carpenter of the University of York.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 7pm Bootham School
Join Stuart Rose, a veteran of British retail, as he shares insights into his career and thoughts about the future of the UK economy.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 7pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
Join Richard Gale, an internationally renowned expert in medical diseases of the retina, as he focuses on the critical question: how much vision can be saved in the future?
Tuesday 9 June 2026 7.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Join Simon Wilde, cricket correspondent for the Sunday Times, as he takes a compelling new look at the untold story behind one of English sport’s oldest records.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 7.45pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
York Art Gallery’s exhibition, Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print, explores over 300 years of printmaking in Japan. Dig deeper into the exhibition’s themes at a special event celebrating Japanese art and history.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Wednesday 10 June 2026 11am Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
How can York and North Yorkshire become the premier region for investment and new opportunities in the UK? Join in the discussion with our expert speakers.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 12.30pm All Saints Church, North Street
Enjoy a guided walk through the history of the streets around the church of All Saints North Street and explore this medieval landmark with its world-famous stained glass.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 1pm Sustainability Clinic, Campus West, University of York
Want to help tackle climate change but don’t have the time to become a climate scientist? Our Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 1.45pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Where will the next generation of high-quality jobs in York and North Yorkshire come from? Join us for a dynamic session spotlighting the ‘growth opportunity trio’ – BioTech, RailTech and CreaTech.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 3.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Our expert panel discusses how regional collaboration can ensure economic success isn’t just a headline, but a reality for every York and North Yorkshire neighbourhood.
Wednesday 10 June 2026 7pm
Wednesday 10 June 2026 7.30pm York Mansion House, St Helen's Square
Enjoy spoken passages from the writings of Anne Lister and her contemporaries interwoven with live performances of music from her own collection at an intimate concert in the glorious setting of York Mansion House.
Thursday 11 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Thursday 11 June 2026 2pm Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Thursday 11 June 2026 6pm Foss Islands Chimney, Layerthorpe
Join York Community Energy (YCE) on a short guided walk around some of the key sites in York’s energy story, followed by a discussion about the priorities for the energy future of the city’s most important spaces.
Thursday 11 June 2026 6pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Enjoy watching a concert-style musical and learn more about the innovative bioscience research being carried out at the University of York, followed by a ‘meet the researchers’ session.
Thursday 11 June 2026 6pm Thin Ice Press: the York Centre for Print, Peasholme Green
Discover the portraits of early modern astronomers, anatomists and natural historians, and explore how images shape scientific identity with Irina Tautschnig of the University of York.
Thursday 11 June 2026 6.30pm Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, University of York
Discover York’s evolving history of medicine and mental health, and explore how ideas of illness, treatment and control have shaped the city and the lives of its people.
Thursday 11 June 2026 7pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens
From Victorian jet to modern lab-grown diamonds, Sarah Steele, Curator of Jet at Whitby Museum, discusses why some ‘forever’ gems are measured in catastrophe, not carats.
Friday 12 June 2026 10.30am Bar Lane, Micklegate
Friday 12 June 2026 10.30am City Screen Picturehouse, Coney Street
Friday 12 June 2026 11am St Saviourgate York
125 years on from Seebohm Rowntree’s landmark study of poverty in York, our panel discusses new research to explore wealth, looking at who owns land, housing and assets, and how that shapes everyday life.
Friday 12 June 2026 12.30pm St Helen's Church, St Helen's Square
Internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso Galina Vale makes her seventh Festival appearance with a new programme of classical, flamenco and folk guitar music from Spain, Latin America, Eastern Europe and beyond.
Friday 12 June 2026 1pm St Saviourgate York
Could York and North Yorkshire become a national beacon for community wealth building, reshaping who owns, controls and benefits from the local economy? Join members of the Mayoral Community Wealth Building Commission.
Friday 12 June 2026 7pm Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road
Step back in time and explore 90 years of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre as you discover the remarkable story of one of York’s most cherished cultural institutions.
Friday 12 June 2026 8pm The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green
Collecting the real haunted experiences of York residents, Living Lore: The Ghost Stories of Contemporary York is a new co-production between Skald Theatre Group and the York Society of Hauntologists.
Sunday 14 June 2026 7pm School of Arts and Creative Technologies East, Campus East, University of York
Enjoy screenings of students’ work, talks and workshops from leading professionals in the UK film and television industry at this year’s LUMA Film Festival, as well as a Gala awards ceremony.
Monday 6 July 2026 6pm York Racecourse
Join us for the 18th annual York Design Awards winners presentation in categories covering residential, community and commercial buildings, and open spaces.