Upcoming events in York with confirmed dates, each linked to its official source, plus short guides for planning a stay inside the city walls near Micklegate and the station.
Last updated:
Upcoming events
In date order. We only list events once the organiser has confirmed the dates, so always check the official page before you travel.
9Oct 2026
York Racecourse October Meeting
York's last race meeting of 2026, on Friday and Saturday.
Short, practical notes for your stay, with links to where each fact comes from.
Published
York Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours and the new Tuesday rest day
York Christmas Market runs from Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026. It is organised by Make It York and is open Wednesday to Monday, 10.30am to 7pm, with an earlier 5pm close on the final day.
New this year, the market closes every Tuesday for a weekly rest day. City of York Council is trialling it after a decision by its Executive in May. The rest of York stays open as usual, and the Shambles Market and Shambles Food Court open every day from 9am to 5pm.
From Saturday 28 November, York Minster's Christmas Tree Festival fills the Nave, North Transept, Chapter House and Lady Chapel with 100 trees decorated by local businesses, schools and charities. It runs until Tuesday 5 January and is free with a Minster sightseeing ticket.
Good to know
On market days there are restrictions on vehicles in the city centre footstreets. If you are driving, leave the car in the apartment's secure parking space and walk in.
Planning a midweek visit? Keep Tuesday for the Minster, museums and the Shambles, and do the stalls on another day.
The Minster's tree festival trees may feature flashing lights, so bear that in mind if anyone in your party is sensitive to them.
Looking for York Christmas market accommodation for two, with parking? Send us your dates and we will come back to you with availability and a direct price. Enquire direct
On foot from Micklegate: walking York's city walls
Staying inside the walls near Micklegate means the city walls are the obvious first walk. They are the longest town walls in England, with 3.4km (about 2 miles) of surviving medieval masonry, and walking them is free. The Friends of York Walls say a full circuit takes about 2 hours, or a little over an hour at a brisk pace.
Micklegate Bar is York's principal gateway. It guards the main road south and is where monarchs are traditionally welcomed to the city. Heading clockwise from the bar towards the river, the walls run past the railway station, and the view ahead leads the eye to Lendal Tower and then the Minster.
The walkway gates usually open at 8am every day and are locked at dusk. Locking starts at 5pm in October until the clocks change, then at 3.30pm, and at 3.30pm throughout November and December. The walls close on 25 December, and also in very high winds, icy conditions or during conservation work.
Good to know
The walkway is reached by steps and has no step-free access. The council suggests the Multangular Tower in Museum Gardens for the most accessible close-up view.
Dogs (other than assistance dogs) and pushchairs are not allowed on the walls, and some narrow sections have unguarded edges.
In cold weather the council checks the walls for ice at 7am, and they can stay closed all day if it does not melt, so check for closures before you set out.
Want to park once and explore York on foot? Tell us when you would like to stay and we will reply with availability and a direct price. Enquire direct
York Racecourse: the last meeting of 2026, and the 2027 fixtures are out
The October Meeting on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October 2026 is York Racecourse's last race meeting of the year.
The racecourse has already confirmed its 2027 fixtures. Highlights include the Dante Festival from Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 May. The 68th John Smith's Cup is on Saturday 10 July, and Madness headline the Music Showcase on the evening of Friday 23 July.
The Sky Bet Ebor Festival runs from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 August, with the Juddmonte International, Ladies Day, the Nunthorpe and the Sky Bet Ebor. The October Meeting returns on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October 2027.
Good to know
The full 2027 list, including the June meetings and the YorkMix Family Raceday on Sunday 5 September, is in our events list above.
Already know which 2027 race meeting you are coming for? Send us your dates and we will come back to you with availability and a direct price. Enquire direct
Graduation dates in York: York St John in November, University of York in January
York St John University holds its November 2026 ceremonies at York Minster in the week commencing Monday 16 November. The university says dates can be subject to change and that eligible graduates would receive an official invitation in early August, so check yours for the exact day.
The University of York holds graduations twice a year, in January and July. The next ceremonies are from Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 January 2027. The university publishes exact dates at least three months before each round of ceremonies, so the July 2027 dates are still to come.
Good to know
The apartment sleeps 2, so it suits a couple coming to see a graduate collect their degree.
Coming to York for a graduation? Send us your dates and we will come back to you with availability and a direct price. Enquire direct
York Ice Trail 2027: Legends Unleashed on 6 and 7 February
The York Ice Trail returns over the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027, with the theme Legends Unleashed. Ice sculptures inspired by history and folklore will be placed across the city, made by ice sculpture specialist Icebox.
The trail is free and family friendly, and runs from 10.30am to 4pm on both days. Trail maps will be available online from 1 February 2027 and from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre at 28 Back Swinegate.
Good to know
Make a weekend of it: arrive on the Friday, so you can start the trail when it opens on Saturday morning.
Fancy a winter weekend in York for the Ice Trail? Send us your dates and we will come back to you with availability and a direct price. Enquire direct
A 1 bedroom apartment for 2 inside York's city walls, near Micklegate and the station, with secure dedicated parking. Tell us your dates and we will come back to you with availability and a direct price, or email info@withinthewallsyork.com.