York, England · 18–27 September 2026
For ten days this September, York’s historic centre will become a city-wide celebration of food and drink, with street food, local producers, tastings, hands-on workshops and live entertainment.
Running from 18 to 27 September 2026, York Food & Drink Festival combines its central food markets with experiences spread across the city — from self-guided tasting trails to chocolate workshops and even a candlelit medieval feast.
Start at the food markets
At the heart of the festival are daily food markets, bringing together producers, retailers and street-food traders in central York. A Best of Yorkshire stand puts regional produce in the spotlight, while demonstrations and tastings run throughout the festival.
But York’s festival is not confined to one market. Much of the programme encourages visitors to head out and experience the city itself.
Eat your way around York
One of the festival’s best ideas is its Taste Trails.
Two self-guided routes will take visitors through around 20 stops each, including delis, restaurants, shops and food suppliers around York, plus a tasting hub.
Samples vary according to the participating businesses but can include cheeses, meats, breads and desserts as well as wine and beer. The final 2026 participants are still to be announced.
Tickets cost £12 for adults and £8 for under-16s and visitors aged 66+, with only 100 available per day. A separate Vegan Taste Trail is also planned.
Get hands-on at the Food Factory
Visitors can do more than eat.
The festival’s free Food Factory offers hands-on activities covering bread and pasta making, butter, ice cream and cheese, alongside traditional preserving techniques including fermentation, smoking and salting.
The workshops are open to all ages and require no advance booking.
Dine like it’s the Middle Ages
One of the more unusual experiences takes place on 18 September at Barley Hall.
The Medieval Feast is a three-course medieval-inspired dinner served in the candlelit Great Chamber, accompanied by wine, music, games and entertainment.
Tickets cost £80 per person, and places are limited.
Chocolate, cooking and a working windmill
York’s chocolate heritage also makes its way into the programme.
York Cocoa Works is hosting experiences including a Chocolate Truffle Making Masterclass and the more unusual NOT Chocolate Tasting, which explores parts of the cocoa fruit beyond those normally used to make chocolate.
Elsewhere, visitors can learn to make Syrian falafel, hummus and baklava at a hands-on workshop, or visit Holgate Windmill to see how wind power is transformed into freshly milled flour.
These smaller events are part of what makes York interesting: the festival becomes an excuse to discover different food stories and different corners of the city.
Stay for the evening
From 18 to 26 September, the food programme is joined by Live for St Leonard’s, with free evening music on stages at Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square.
Performances run from 5pm to 9pm, with donations supporting St Leonard’s Hospice.
Planning your visit
The main festival atmosphere can be enjoyed without buying an event ticket, while experiences such as Taste Trails, dinners, masterclasses and specialist tastings are separately ticketed.
Dates: 18–27 September 2026
Where: York, England
Food markets: Daily, 10am–5pm
Taste Trails: £12 adults / £8 concessions
Food Factory: Free
Medieval Feast: £80
