York Food & Drink Festival
10-day regional food and drink festival.

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Posted on 27th August 2026

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The York Food & Drink Festival returns for 10 days this autumn, filling the historic streets of York city centre with regional producers, street food vendors, chef demonstrations, and hands-on workshops.

As one of the largest independent food festivals in the UK, the non-profit event spans multiple city centre locations, centering on Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square. The main market areas are free to walk through, allowing visitors to sample local food, buy regional produce, and watch live culinary sessions.

Running from Friday 18th September to Sunday 27th September 2026, the festival operates daily throughout the city center. While access to the street markets and live demonstration stages is completely free, select specialized events, masterclasses, and tasting sessions are ticketed individually.

What's Happening 🍷🧀

Key areas and activities taking place during the 10-day festival include:

• Large Outdoor Food Market: Over 100 stalls lining Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square, featuring regional cheese makers, bakeries, craft distillers, preserves, and artisan traders.
• Street Food Arena: Hot food stalls serving a range of local and international street food, alongside outdoor seating areas and regional bar setups.
• Live Cookery Demonstrations: Daily free-to-watch masterclasses from local restaurant chefs, TV personalities, and regional culinary experts.
• Hands-On Workshops & The Food Factory: Interactive cooking and food creation sessions for families and children to learn about local ingredients and food production.
• The Best of Yorkshire Pavilion: Dedicated showcase areas focusing on regional food heritage and independent small-batch food producers.
• Evening Entertainment: Live music and local acoustic acts performing at the outdoor marquee space on Parliament Street into the evening.

Photo Gallery - coming soon

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Plan Your Visit 📅

Practical details for visiting the festival in York city centre:

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Admission & Booking

FREE ENTRY TO MARKETS

Market zones, street food areas, and public demonstration stages are free to access. Specialized tasting events or cookery school tickets can be booked via the official York Food Festival website.

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Event Dates & Operating Hours

18th September to 27th September 2026
• Market Stalls: 10:00am – 5:00pm daily
• Street Food & Bars: Open until 9:00pm / 10:00pm

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Age Suitability

Family-friendly across all daytime market zones, with dedicated children's cookery workshops available during daytime hours.

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Accessibility

The festival takes place on paved, pedestrianized city centre streets (Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square) with step-free access throughout the main market stalls.

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Visitor Tip

Weekends get extremely busy around Parliament Street; visiting on weekday mornings or early afternoons offers a quieter experience for browsing stalls and catching demonstration seating.

Getting There 🗺️

📍 Festival Hub Address:

Parliament Street & St Sampson's Square, York City Centre, YO1 8SG

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🚆 By Train

York Railway Station is a 10-to-12-minute flat walk through the historic city centre to Parliament Street.

🚗 Driving & Park & Ride

Due to city center pedestrian zones, visitors driving to York are advised to use the city's Park & Ride services (Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, or Rawcliffe Bar). Nearby central pay-and-display car parks include Castle Car Park (YO1 9WJ) and Q-Park Shambles (YO1 7AL).