York Food and Drink Festival

The York Food and Drink Festival is a spectacular annual event held in the centre of York in the UK, celebrating the region’s local food, drink, businesses and culinary culture. In this article, we will explore the details of this event.

About the festival

The history of the York Food and Drink Festival began in 1997. It was originally organised by a local tourism partnership, and since 2007 has been organised by a not-for-profit organisation in partnership with York City Council.

In the early days, the idea was simple: to bring renowned chefs to York and organise a food market around their demonstrations. In 2004, Michael Hjort became the festival’s creative director. Over time, the concept has evolved.

Nowadays, the festival is primarily dedicated to Yorkshire gastronomy: local produce, producers, restaurants and chefs. A separate focus is on education. Visitors do not simply sample ready-made dishes, but also learn how bread, pasta, cheese, ice cream and other products are made. The Food Factory runs free hands-on workshops for this purpose. As part of its school programme, the festival also welcomes over 1,000 children. The sessions last approximately two hours and include practical activities.

Another distinctive feature of the York Food and Drink Festival is its non-profit status. The organisers state that the money raised at the festival, including fees from participants and revenue from ticket sales, goes towards the event’s running costs and is used for its further development. The festival also collaborates with local organisations and charitable projects.

Festival Programme

In 2026, the York Food and Drink Festival will take place from 18 to 27 September. The programme runs for ten days. The festival’s centrepiece remains the large food market. In 2026, it will feature producers and vendors of street food, sweets, cheeses, baked goods, drinks and other products. Participants include both small family-run businesses and producers with a long history. The organisers have set aside a separate ‘Best of Yorkshire’ stand dedicated to regional produce.

But the programme is not limited to the market alone. The 2026 schedule includes:

• cooking demonstrations;
• tastings;
• dinners;
• children’s activities;
• musical performances;
• tours and culinary itineraries.

Some events run throughout the day, whilst others begin in the evening. The programme extends far beyond the two main festival venues. Events take place in restaurants, bars, theatres and other venues throughout the city centre.

Information for visitors

The York Food and Drink Festival is easy to visit without any prior planning: entry to the main market and cooking demonstrations is free. Tickets are only required for specific events, and the price is set by the organisers of each event.

The festival takes place in the centre of York, so the main venues are easily accessible on foot from the railway station and other city attractions. The organisers recommend using the information on the Visit York website to plan your journey. Coaches should note that entry within the city walls is prohibited. York’s municipal car parks are available for private vehicles.

Well-behaved dogs are permitted at the festival.

Accessibility facilities are provided for visitors with reduced mobility. Public toilets are located on Silver Street, next to St Sampson’s Square. There is a toilet for people with disabilities and a baby changing room. In addition, extra toilets will be set up at the festival’s two bar areas.

There’s also plenty of entertainment for children at the food festival: from watching chef demonstrations and cookery workshops (Food Factory) to a cookie tour.

Tickets

Entry to the festival market and cookery demonstrations is free. There is a charge for certain events – dinners, tastings, some guided tours, workshops and other special events. Their prices are listed in the programme on the festival’s official website.

There is no single admission ticket for the York Food and Drink Festival: you can visit the market or demonstrations without buying a ticket, and choose the paid events you’d like to attend separately. For example, the Taste Trails allow you to explore York at your own pace and pop into around 20 venues, where participants are offered the chance to sample various dishes and drinks. The cost of such a trail in 2026 is £12, and £8 for visitors under 16 and those aged 66 and over.

In 2026, there will not only be the usual Taste Trails, but also a Vegan Taste Trail.

Please note that some stops on the standard trails may serve alcohol, so visitors under 18 won't be able to receive samples at those specific venues.

Festival opening hours

The main opening hours for 2026 are as follows:

• Festival market – daily from 10 am to 5 pm;
• Cooking demonstrations and tastings – from 12 pm to 5 pm;
• Festival bars – from 11 am to 9 pm;
• On the final day, 27 September, the bars close at 5 pm.

Some events have their own timetables. For example, evening dinners and tastings may begin after the main market has closed, so it is worth checking the times in the official programme before attending a specific event.

Venues

The main festival venues are located in the historic centre of York:

• Parliament Street – the main hub of the festival market, hosting over 100 stalls, the festival bars, and the live music stage for the evening entertainment programme.
• St Sampson’s Square – the second main market venue, which also hosts the large demonstration marquee for live chef shows.
• St Sampson’s Centre (Church Street) – a key indoor hub where cookery demonstrations, tastings, and the hands-on Food Factory workshops take place.

The festival is organised on a city-wide basis: dinners, tastings, masterclasses and other special events take place in various restaurants, bars, theatres and other venues across York. Therefore, for some events, you will need to walk from the main festival area to another venue in the city centre.

Contact details

Email: [email protected]

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