The York BID

Autumn Budget Business Brunch
2025-11-28 10:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London) | York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, YO31 7EX, United Kingdom
We’re partnering with HSBC Bank UK and York St John University to bring you a post-budget brunch as part of the York Business Festival.
Hear expert analysis from HSBC’s Senior Economist, Chris Hare, on the Autumn Budget and it’s impact on your business, just a couple days after the announcement by central government. There’ll also be the chance to connect with others over brunch.
The event takes place on Friday 28th November, 10am to 12pm. Register your spot here: Autumn Budget Business Brunch | Eventbrite.

Reignite XII: The Future of Culture
2026-01-22 18:00 - 21:00 | Yorkshire Museum
Join us for the launch of York’s Cultural Strategy at Reignite XII: The Future of Culture.
The event takes place on Thursday 22nd January from 6pm to 9pm at the Yorkshire Museum, with a late event at York Art Gallery.
Attendees will hear from Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool, and Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum. Reignite XII will also see the launch of the York Culture Strategy, outlining the city’s vision for arts, heritage, and cultural development.

Shop York
2026-01-31 - 2026-03-22
Shop York is returning on Saturday 31st January to celebrate York’s high streets.
Delivered by York BID in partnership with Indie York, Shop York invites shoppers to spend £50 in 50 days, across more than 100 participating high street businesses.
Each time a shopper spends £10 in a participating business, they receive one sticker in their passport. Once five stickers have been collected, shoppers can enter the incredible prize draw, with the top prize of a £500 York Gift Card!
Pick up a Shop York passport from the Visit York Information Centre on Parliament Street or from participating businesses across the city from 31st January 2026.

Colour & Light
2026-02-04 18:00 - 2026-02-22 21:00
Colour & Light is back and bigger than ever! 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 show, transforming the Eye of York.
The free event will take place from 4th to 22nd February 2026, with the show running every 10 minutes from 6pm to 9pm.
Colour & Light 26 is brought to you by York BID, in partnership with York Museum Trust, English Heritage, and Double Take Projections. It is made possible thanks to funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

York Ice Trail
2026-02-07 10:30 - 2026-03-08 16:00
York Ice Trail, delivered by Make It York, is back on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February 2026, from 10:30 am to 4pm.
York BID is pleased to sponsor five sculptures, to spread footfall across the entire city. You can find the BID’s Enchanted City sculptures at:

Goodramgate
Tower Street
Micklegate
Walmgate
Bootham

York Restaurant Week
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-22
York Restaurant Week returns from 9th to 22nd March 2026, giving diners a full two weeks to enjoy exclusive offers across the city.
More than 100 venues are taking part this March, offering everything from casual lunches and sweet treats to global cuisines and fine dining experiences. Offers are priced between £5 and £30, making it easier than ever to dine out on any budget. With two weeks to explore, diners can take advantage of great deals while experiencing the very best of York’s hospitality scene.
York Restaurant Week offers can be found and downloaded at www.yorkrestaurantweek.co.uk from Monday 23rd February.

Rejuvenation Days
2026-03-17 09:00 - 2026-03-19 13:00 | King’s Staith, King's Staith, York, YO1 9SN, United Kingdom
Join York BID to help keep York looking its best by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards, and more on Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th March. Each volunteering session runs from 9am to 1pm at King’s Staith.
To take part, register your place here.

Reignite XIII: Production & Creative Technologies
2026-03-18 18:00 - 21:00
The 13th edition of York’s flagship cultural event series, Reignite, takes place on Wednesday 18th March at City Screen Picturehouse. This edition pulls back the curtain on some of York and North Yorkshire’s most exciting creative businesses, demonstrating why York is a UNESCO Creative City.
Event details:

Date: Wednesday 18 March
Time: 6pm onwards (doors open 5.30pm)
Venue: City Screen Picturehouse, York
Book Your Free Tickets Here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reignite-xiii-production-creative-technologies-tickets-1982494342947?aff=oddtdtcreator

Giant Inflatable Octopus
2026-03-28 14:00 - 18:30 | King’s Staith, King's Staith, York, YO1 9SN, United Kingdom
Enjoy a spectacular free city-centre experience this spring as a giant inflatable octopus arrives for York BID’s latest Family Friendly Saturday event.
The giant octopus puppet is set to captivate crowds on Saturday 28th March 2026, with performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm. Towering above onlookers, the friendly character features eight fully articulated tentacles and is brought to life by a skilled puppeteer, creating a striking spectacle and memorable photo opportunity for all ages.
The event will take place at King’s Staith and surrounding area. If King’s Staith is inaccessible due to high river levels, performances will move to the Eye of York – the open space in front of York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower.
This is a free event with no tickets needed.

Tommy Treebark's Wild Adventure
2026-04-10 - 2026-09-13
Tommy Treebark’s Wild Adventure has returned from 10th April to 13th September 2026, with new animals to discover around the city.
Track down 55 wild Yorkshire animals hidden on brightly coloured benches throughout the city centre.
Pick up a trail leaflet from the Visit York Information Centre on Parliament Street to get started. Find all 55 animals and return your completed leaflet to claim a free prize – with a choice of a Tommy Treebark badge, soft toy, or mini beast viewer (while stocks last).

York Art Trail
2026-04-20 - 2026-09-30
As the weather’s getting warmer, it’s the perfect time to discover the York Art Trail! These striking murals are here to help animate York’s shopping streets, adding a pop of colour and breathing new life into city centre spaces.
Find out more here: York Art Trail – The York BID

Economic Snapshot Webinar
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for our next Economic Snapshot Webinar on Thursday 23 April at 10:00am, where we will deliver a live demonstration of the new York Economic Data Hub and share practical guidance on how to make the most of its features.
In this session, we will also unpack the key metrics shaping city centre performance in Q1 2026, benchmark York’s results against national trends, and explore what these insights mean for your business.
Sign up here: Economic Snapshot Webinar

Reignite XIV
2026-05-05 18:00 - 21:00 | York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, YO31 7EX, United Kingdom
Reignite XIV will see the launch of the Creative Business Skills Academy, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between creative talent and commercial success, strengthening our region’s role in the UK’s £145 billion creative economy. Guests will hear from Mayor David Skaith and will gain insight into the future of York’s creative economy.
The event takes place on Tuesday 5th May, 6pm-9pm, at York St John University. Register your place here: Reignite XIV: Creative Entrepreneurship Tickets, Tuesday, May 5 • 6 PM – 9 PM | Eventbrite

Waterside Responder Scheme
2026-05-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Revolution York, Coney Street, York, YO1 9NA, United Kingdom
Join the RNLI for this interactive session on throw bag training on Tuesday 12th May from 10am to 11am. The RNLI Waterside Responder scheme provides specialist training to hospitality staff, security staff, and waterside community members to help prevent drowning around rivers and waterways across the UK and Ireland.
This training session is delivered by RNLI and coordinated by York BID through York PubWatch.
Register your free place here: Waterside Responder Session

Reignite XV
2026-06-04 18:00 - 21:00 | York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, YO31 7EX, United Kingdom
Join us for Reignite XV: Liftoff: Breaking In & Building Forward.
The event takes place on 4th June from 6pm to 9pm at Temple Hall, York St John University.
This year, we’re doing something different. In partnership with York St John Art & Design, Liftoff brings together over 150 new works from the next generation of creatives – a powerful snapshot of emerging talent at the very moment it steps into the world, alongside high-profile artists, such as Turner Prize nominee Heather Philipson, Larry Achiampong, Steve Messam, Joanne Coates, and Baff Akoto.
Together, we are building an ecosystem that actively supports growth. One that connects education to industry, talent to opportunity, and ambition to infrastructure. Most importantly, one that makes it clear: this city is a place where creative careers can begin, grow, and thrive.
Book your place HERE.

Jumbo the Elephant
2026-06-06 14:00 - 18:00 | St Martin le Grand, 13 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL, United Kingdom
Meet Jumbo the Elephant in York! Standing at an incredible 2 metres tall and 1.3 metres wide, this life sized elephant puppet is a true show stopper.
Fully roaming and wonderfully lifelike, don’t miss this magical photo opportunity and memorable close-up encounter.
Meet Jumbo the Elephant at the clock on Coney Street on Saturday 6th June, with performances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.

York Best Bar None Awards
2026-06-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Impossible, York, 3 St. Helen's Square, YO1 8QN
We’re thrilled to be hosting the inaugural York Best Bar None (BBN) Awards on Thursday 11th June. These awards recognise York’s pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues for excellence in safety, customer care, and community.
If you’re a licensed venue that would like to be in for a chance of winning an award, it’s not too late to get involved! Book your BBN assessment now – venues must be accredited by 15th May to be eligible for an award. Contact safetynetwork@theyorkbid.com for more information on BBN and your Awards sign up link.

Momentum York
2026-06-23 12:00 - 19:00 | York St John University, Lord Mayor's Walk, York, YO31 7EX, United Kingdom
We are thrilled to introduce Momentum York, the city’s brand-new conference dedicated to the Professional Services Sector.
Join us for a dynamic half‑day conference featuring an expo of small to medium‑sized professional service businesses, insightful presentations, and valuable opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the sector.
This inaugural conference has been co-designed with professional service businesses to celebrate the diversity and strength of the sector in York, bringing businesses together with city and regional leaders to connect, learn, and grow.
The conference takes place on Tuesday 23rd June, from 12pm to 7pm, at York St John Creative Centre.
Register your place through Eventbrite: Momentum York – York’s Professional Services Conference Tickets, Tuesday, June 23 • 12 PM – 7 PM | Eventbrite
Find out more here: Momentum York | York BID

York BID Annual General Meeting
2026-07-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Radisson Hotel York, North Street, York, YO1 6JF
Join us for York BID’s AGM on Thursday 16th July 2026, from 6pm to 9pm, at the Radisson York Hotel.
This year’s AGM marks the beginning of the BID’s third term, giving us the opportunity to celebrate what we’ve achieved together over the past year, share what’s coming next, and hear about the projects, events, and initiatives that will help shape York city centre in the years ahead.
We’ll hear from Ojay McDonald, Chief Executive of the Association of Town & City Management, on the future of our high streets and the opportunities facing town and city centres across the UK.
We’ll also hear from Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of York BID, who will present a review of the past year’s achievements and share exciting plans for the year ahead.
In accordance with the AGM timetable and notice requirements, the agenda and meeting papers are now available to download, including details of the formal business to be conducted and the resolutions to be considered by members.
👉 Download the AGM agenda and papers
The formal proceedings will be followed by an informal networking reception, with drinks and refreshments served in the hotel’s bar and restaurant area.
Register your place on Eventbrite: York BID AGM

The Tempest Play Park
2026-07-21 09:00 - 2026-09-03 18:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
Don’t miss The Tempest, a brand new, imaginative pop-up children’s play area on Parliament Street. Open from 9am to 6pm every day until Thursday 3rd September, the pop-up installation includes climbing and balancing equipment, sensory play features, bridges, interactive elements and accessible play equipment.
This new free temporary attraction, brought to the city by York BID, has been inspired by York-born scientist and volcanologist Tempest Anderson, blending exciting play features with local heritage to create a unique experience for children and families in the city centre.
The project has been delivered by York BID in partnership with Playscheme, Make It York, Thors and York Civic Trust, with funding from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, through the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant & Sustainable High Streets Fund. York Civic Trust has worked with the project team to develop the educational elements, helping bring Tempest Anderson’s story to life for a new generation.

The Actual Reality Arcade
2026-08-15 12:00 - 18:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
Enjoy a spectacular free city-centre experience this summer as the Actual Reality Arcade returns to Parliament Street for the latest Family Friendly Saturday event.
Taking place on Saturday 15th August from 12pm to 6pm on Parliament Street, the event promises a packed programme of activities and fun for all ages. At the heart of the day is the Actual Reality Arcade, a hands-on experience where iconic retro games are brought to life. Families can step into seven larger than life games including a huge-scale laser run, a giant Tetris wall, and whack-a-mole with human volunteers.
Parliament Street will also be buzzing with opportunities to meet and chat with the teams who keep York safe every day. Families can explore emergency and service vehicles, learn about vital work carried out across the city, and discover how local organisations support the community.

Rejuvenation Days
2026-09-02 09:00 - 2026-09-08 13:00
Join York BID to help keep York looking its best by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards, and more on Wednesday 2nd, Friday 4th, and Tuesday 8th. Each volunteering session runs from 9am to 1pm in St Helen’s Square.
To take part, register your place here.
