2026 events to fill your calendar
Discover the fantastic events North Yorkshire has to offer
- Stories & Inspiration
- 2026 Events To Fill Your Calendar
The 2026 North Yorkshire events calendar is brimming with much-loved annual events that return every year, plus new and exciting festivals taking place. There is something for everyone, with quirky events that celebrate age-old North Yorkshire traditions, flowerpot festivals to stargazing and everything in between, so we’ve rounded up just a few of the fantastic events taking place this year to help you start planning your calendar.
Country and agricultural shows
Great Yorkshire Show
A mainstay in the North Yorkshire calendar and held each July in Harrogate, the Great Yorkshire Show is a renowned four-day agricultural show and a true celebration of farming, with national breed competitions and the finest animals on show. There is also a wealth of entertainment for visitors, with main ring spectacles, live music, delicious local produce, and a vast array of shopping stalls to explore and enjoy.
Agricultural shows are the centre of many communities, make sure you add the annual shows of Nidderdale, Kilnsley, Ryedale, Malton, and Wensleydale to your calendar.
Garden Shows
Harrogate Spring Flower Show
The first major event in the national gardening calendar, Harrogate Spring Flower Show is one of the most popular horticultural shows of the season. Discover spectacular floral displays, fascinating demonstrations and live talks packed with gardening tips, and you can even take more than inspiration home with you after shopping for your garden. Don't miss the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show taking place in September in the stunning setting of Newby Hall & Gardens.
Settle Flowerpot Festival
During the summer months you can wander the streets of Settle and be amused at the quirky display of decorated flowerpots, which may give you inspiration for your own garden ornaments.
Cultural Festivals
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
Harrogate International Festivals (HIF) invites crime fiction lovers to an unforgettable weekend in July. For one thrilling weekend, the world’s leading crime writers, passionate readers, and industry professionals meet in Harrogate for a celebration of all things crime fiction at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Expect an electrifying mix of comedy, cabaret, lively debates, and thought-provoking discussion with a line-up of bestselling authors and rising stars in the genre. HIF offers a fantastic range of cultural events throughout the year, including music and outdoor theatre.
Whitby Lit Fest
Returning after a hugely successful first event, Whitby’s new Literature Festival celebrates works, novels and stories that have been inspired by the town. With workshops, author talks and more, there’s plenty for literature lovers to enjoy at Whitby Lit Fest.
Ripon Theatre Festival
During the five day Ripon Theatre Festival you can expect dance, drama, storytelling, street theatre, puppetry and much more. With events and activities for the whole family to enjoy including local groups putting on pop-up performances, make sure you don’t miss out on everything that the festival and Ripon has to offer.
The Scarborough Fair
Discover a full programme of festivals featuring art, culture and entertainment with The Scarborough Fair. The festival season begins with Scarborough Streets (Friday 29 – Sunday 31 May), a three-day festival of free outdoor events, activities and performances across Scarborough town centre. Scarborough Fringe (Friday 12 – Sunday 21 June) offers brilliant performances of music, theatre, comedy, spoken word, talks and workshops. In the winter season, Scarborough sparkles with free and affordable light displays, including a planned drone display and live advent calendar, as part of Scarborough Lights (Friday 13 November – Sunday 20 December).
Natural World Events
Dark Skies Fringe Festival, National Parks
Where better to gaze at the night sky in awe and wonder than the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Designated International Dark Sky Reserves, the parks offer breath-taking stargazing throughout the year, as well as the Dark Skies Fringe festival which has special events like astro-photography, night-time walking and family-friendly crafts.
Sports and active events
Ard Rock Enduro
The UK’s biggest mountain bike festival includes three days of epic race events, live music, great food and drink and an event expo with the world’s biggest bike brands. Day visitors can spectate, test ride bikes on the demo loop and enjoy the day’s entertainments.
Food and Drink Festivals
Whitby Fish and Ships Festival
Held in May each year, the festival celebrates Whitby’s fishing heritage past and present, with a lively array of cooking demonstrations, family activities, live music from local bands, free craft sessions and much more. Try delicious new seafood, get culinary inspiration from top local chefs, and watch the Fisherman Olympics ending in a tug-o-war!
Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival
A feast for the senses, the cheese festivals is one of Yorkshire’s best food experiences. Celebrating local cheese producers and their quality products, you can enjoy the special events, menus and tastings on offer.
Filey Food Festival
Head to Filey Food Festival, taking place across four weekends in 2026, to indulge in delicious food and drink from 65 stalls showcasing the best that North Yorkshire has to offer.
Quirky events
The Great Knaresborough Bed Race
An unforgettable and much-loved fundraising event, the Great Knaresborough Bed Race offers fun for all the family as you watch 90 beds parade through the town by runners in fancy dress. The challenging 2.4-mile course sees competitors pushing the beds through Nidd Gorge, across beautiful parkland and through the town centre, as well as a short and brisk swim across the River Nidd.
Whitby Goth Weekend
The famous Goth Weekend is a bi-annual alternative festival with music, stalls and much more. Now one of the world’s premier Goth events, expect striking fashion and a celebration of Goth culture in Whitby, renowned for its gothic literary associations.
Masham Sheep Fair
Known as the home of beer, Masham is well worth visiting, particularly during the much-loved Masham Sheep Fair which takes place each year, raising money for charity with family-friendly entertainment.
Start marking those dates into your new 2026 calendar now and find more great events taking place across North Yorkshire in our events page.
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