York Festival of Ideas 2026 | Visit York

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Family Friendly, Children's Activity, Festivals, Workshops, Talks & Lectures, Art & Culture, Tours & Guides, Theatre

York Festival of Ideas 2026

30th May 26 - 12th Jun 26

Location: York - various venues

Email: yorkfestivalofideas@york.ac.uk Email us

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About

Enjoy an inspiring programme of in-person and online events at York Festival of Ideas.

Taking place from 30 May to 12 June 2026, the mostly FREE events include talks by world-class speakers, exhibitions, music, guided tours and family-friendly activities. And with topics ranging from animals to art, history to health, and biodiversity to the brain, the Festival promises something for all ages and interests.

York Festival of Ideas is one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK and was enjoyed by a local and global audience of over 54,000 in 2025.

Look out for the 2026 programme going live on 1 May and choose inspiring events to attend in York or online. In the meantime, why not get a taste of what’s on offer by watching some previous Festival events for free on YouTube.

Join the York Festival of Ideas mailing list to be among the first to hear details of the 2026 programme.

Photo credit: Alex Holland, University of York

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