Events

Art Outdoors – Thu 23 Jul 2026

Date: Thursday 23 July 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Art Outdoors
Thursday 23 July 2026
Drop in between 11am – 4pm
Free*
Suitable for all ages

Join us in the Artist Garden, directly behind York Art Gallery, for an outdoor play activity, inspired by York Art Gallery’s exhibition, Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print.

*Please note, this activity is weather dependent.  In the case of bad weather, the activity may take place indoors, but general admission charges apply.

View event >

Creative Families: Sea Monsters – Fri 24 Jul 2026

Date: Friday 24 July 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Creative Families: Sea Monsters
Friday 24 July 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm 
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

Create your own printed sea monster inspired by the strange and wonderful creatures found in Japanese woodblock prints. You’ll experiment with simple relief printing techniques to design and print your monster in this family workshop.

View event >

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning – Fri 24 Jul 2026

Date: Friday 24 July 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum: Mary Anning
Friday 24 July 2026
Drop in between 11am – 4pm (Performances at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm)
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

HistoryRiot return to the Yorkshire Museum with another interactive storytelling experience, centred around Mary Anning, a renowned fossil hunter. Hear stories of her Jurassic discoveries and handle fossils and rocks that tell us about Yorkshire’s prehistoric past.

‘Meet me at the Yorkshire Museum’ is brought to you by HistoryRiot, a performance company connecting people to place and past, through riotous performance and storytelling.

View event >

Sounds of the Sixties – Sat 25 Jul 2026

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026, 12:00 am
Venue: York Castle Museum

Sounds of the Sixties
Saturday 25 July 2026
Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

Take a trip back to the swinging sixties as live music fills the Sixties Street with the soundtrack of a generation. From folk favourites to chart-topping classics, experience the music that defined a decade.

View event >

Castle Kitchen – Sat 25 Jul 2026

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen

Saturday 25 July 2026

Drop in between 10.30am – 4pm

Suitable for all ages | Included in general admission

Come watch our cookery demonstrations throughout the day of Mrs Beeton’s picnic recipes including Balmoral tarts, Sponge Cake, Tea Cream and Apple Cheesecake. There’s a sweet treat to satisfy everyone’s palate and there’ll be samples to treat your taste buds!

Pick up a recipe card or scan the QR code available to get the recipes straight to your phone to try recreate yourself at home.

View event >

Creative Families – Sat 25 Jul 2026

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Creative Families
Saturday 25 July 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 3.30pm
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages

Join artist Lendita, for a fun, family workshop inspired by the Victorian York Gala. Surrounded by a themed paper-cut installation, created by Yorkshire artist Pippa Dyrlaga, you’ll make a colourful hot air balloon creation.

View event >

Life Drawing – Model as Muse – Sat 25 Jul 2026

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Life Drawing – Model as Muse
Saturday 25 July 2026, 2pm – 4pm
Adult only (18+) | £15 per person* | Book tickets here

*General admission to York Art Gallery is included.

Join us at York Art Gallery for Life Drawing Workshops; whether you are a regular participant, would like to hone your skills, or try life drawing for the first time. These 2-hour immersive Saturday sessions, led by York based artist and tutor Rob Oldfield, are a wonderful way to experience life drawing in a supportive and friendly environment.

Rob himself has modelled for life classes for many years, as well as teaching life drawing to his students. As workshop leader, Rob encourages, advises and listens, so come along and take advantage of his skills and experience.

Each month alongside our live model muse, there will be an appropriate reproduction of a work specially selected from the Art Gallery collection which we will reference to potentially inspire our activity.

Life Drawing Workshops take place on the second Saturday of each month, tickets will become available approximately a month in advance.

Important information:

Our Life Drawing sessions are suitable for adults only. By booking, you are confirming that you are over 18. Proof of age may be required.

Basic drawing materials will be supplied, but please feel free to bring your own too.

If you’re more than 15 minutes late for your workshop, unfortunately we may not be able to guarantee entry. This is to ensure that participants have the best experience.

View event >

Open Studio: Make and Play – Sun 26 Jul 2026

Date: Sunday 26 July 2026, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Open Studio: Make and Play
Every Saturday and Sunday from 18 July – 6 September except 25 July and 8 August 2026
10am – 4pm
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

Discover family friendly stamp and ink activities inspired by the Making Waves: The Art of Woodblock Print exhibition in The Studio. Experiment, collaborate and create!

View event >

York Proms – Sun 26 Jul 2026

Date: Sunday 26 July 2026, 5:30 pm-10:30 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Sunday 26 July 2026 | 5.30pm-10.30pm | York Museum Gardens

Book tickets here

The York Proms returns to the York Museum Gardens on Sunday 26 July 2026, with a great night of live entertainment featuring live orchestra, soloists, a stunning fireworks finale and local talent on the warm up stage.

Tickets are available to buy on the York Proms website.

View event >