Colour & Light is back and it’s bigger than ever!
York BID is bringing Colour & Light back for 2026, this time on its biggest ever canvas. For the first time, two of York’s landmark buildings will be illuminated together, as York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower become a combined canvas for a fully choreographed projection show, transforming the Eye of York.
In partnership with York Museums Trust and English Heritage, and made possible thanks to funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the event returns on its biggest scale yet – and remains completely free for everyone to enjoy.
The continuous, looped, ten-minute show will bring York’s historic characters to life in a family-friendly projection that’s welcoming to all, completely free to see and with no tickets required.
Taking place during some of the coldest and darkest weeks of the year – including February half term – Colour & Light is designed to encourage people into the heart of York, offering an uplifting, after-dark experience for local people, families and visitors to the city. The event continues to play an important role in supporting York’s evening economy during typically quieter months.
Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said; “Colour & Light has become a real bright spot in York’s winter calendar, and we’re proud to be bringing it back bigger than ever for 2026. Making the event completely free is incredibly important to us – it means anyone can come into the city centre, enjoy the atmosphere, and experience our city after dark. By working with York Museums Trust and English Heritage, we’ve been able to create a show on our biggest scale yet and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Since its launch in 2023, Colour & Light has grown into one of York’s most popular winter attractions, created to bring vibrancy and footfall into the city during the colder, darker months, whilst celebrating York’s status as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts. Last year’s edition at York Minster drew more than 100,000 people.
Siona Mackelworth, Head of Audience and Programme at York Museums Trust, said; “York Castle Museum is pleased to be supporting York BID on Colour and Light for 2026. York Museums Trust last participated in 2024, when the projections of our incredible collections lit up the front of York Art Gallery. The 2026 show brings something different as it explores some of York’s potentially lesser-known history and, for the first time, will be projected across multiple buildings. Working in conjunction with York BID and English Heritage at Clifford’s Tower has been an exciting venture in bringing two iconic York locations together.”
Dates: Nightly, 4th-22nd February 2026
Times: Nightly 6-9pm (shows every 10 minutes)
Completely free – no ticket required
Best Viewing Point: Eye of York, York YO1 9WZ