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Make It York has delivered a highly successful programme of winter events, generating strong visitor engagement, supporting local businesses and reinforcing York’s position as a vibrant, year-round destination.  

From festive celebrations to family-friendly attractions, the city’s winter calendar has attracted residents and visitors, creating memorable experiences and showcasing everything that makes York special. 

Across winter 2025–26, Make It York’s events programme played a key role in supporting the local economy. By driving significant footfall during the traditionally quieter season, boosting independent businesses and regional traders, and encouraging both day visits and overnight stays, the events helped sustain economic activity while strengthening community participation. Collectively, these initiatives have reinforced York’s reputation as a leading cultural destination and highlighted the city’s appeal throughout the year. 

York Ice Trail – thousands enjoy an enchanted weekend 

York’s streets were transformed on 7–8 February as the York Ice Trail 2026 brought the “Enchanted City” theme to life with 36 mythical ice sculptures, interactive installations and family-friendly activities across the city centre. 

Curated by Make It York in partnership with local businesses and created by Icebox, the UK and Europe’s leading ice sculpture specialist, each sculpture was sponsored by a York-based organisation, demonstrating strong local backing for the much-loved event.  

New for 2026, the Ice Village introduced a vibrant marketplace of handcrafted gifts, artisan products and seasonal treats, enhancing dwell time and visitor experience.  

The event recorded over 63,770 footfall counts across Micklegate and Parliament Street during the weekend. Despite overall city centre footfall being 26% lower than 2025, visitor satisfaction remained exceptionally high, highlighting the enduring popularity of the event. 

An impressive 94% of visitors said they were satisfied with their overall experience, with 97% stating they would attend again. The event achieved an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 272 surveyed attendees  

The majority of visitors (82%) travelled to York on a day trip, while 18% stayed overnight, demonstrating the event’s continued ability to drive both day visits and extended stays  

Feedback from traders, sponsors and volunteers reflected the strong atmosphere across the city, with many reporting positive engagement, strong takings for the time of year, and valuable future business opportunities.  

Visitors described the sculptures as “brilliant”, “beautiful” and “a fabulous family day out”, with many returning for multiple years and calling for the event to continue. 

The York Ice Trail plays a vital role in driving footfall, supporting local businesses during the winter season and reinforcing York’s reputation as a vibrant year-round destination. 

York Residents’ Festival – delivering record engagement 

Held on 31 January and 1 February, York Residents’ Festival recorded its most successful year to date, with 86 exclusive offers available – a 23% increase on 2025. 

Organised by Make It York, the festival provides residents with free entry, special experiences and exclusive offers across attractions, venues and businesses city-wide and beyond.  

This year saw 86 offers available to residents, up from 70 in 2025, representing a 23% increase and demonstrating growing confidence from businesses and attractions taking part. The expanded programme also provided residents with a wider choice of ways to explore and enjoy the city.  

There was a strong take-up of pre-booked tickets for a second consecutive year, resulting in a significant growth in online engagement and an 8.6% increase in click-throughs from Visit York to partner websites. 

Positive partner feedback highlighted high awareness and increased local footfall, reporting strong January trading, increased family participation and high levels of engagement driven by festival publicity. 

York Christmas Market – celebrates Yorkshire traders 

York’s award-winning Christmas Market in 2025 proudly welcomed residents and visitors from 13 November to 21 December for another successful festive season, transforming the city centre into a vibrant winter destination. 

The market continues to play a significant role in supporting regional traders, strengthening York’s winter economy and attracting both residents and visitors.  

The market showcased seasonal food and drink, handcrafted gifts and artisan products from across the region, as Make It York continues to champion Yorkshire’s producers and makers. The 2025 market featured a blend of new traders alongside much-loved returning favourites. An impressive 85% of all traders were based within the Yorkshire region, with every food trader (100%) proudly representing Yorkshire produce and culinary talent. 

Make It York’s commitment in ensuring the Christmas Market’s inclusivity and accessibility included the daily Quiet Time sessions to support a more sensory-friendly experience, and the continued partnership with St Sampson’s Centre and City of York Council, for a Quiet Oasis which provided a calm, accessible and welcoming space for all visitors to relax. 

Environmental sustainability remains a key priority for all Make It York events. Visitors were encouraged to use public transport as the most convenient way to access the city centre, including York Park & Ride services, journey planning through i-Travel York, and secure cycle storage provided in collaboration with York Cycle Campaign. 

Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said: 

“Thank you to everyone who joined us across this year’s winter events programme. From the continued success of York Ice Trail to the growing impact of York Residents’ Festival and another outstanding York Christmas Market, it’s been fantastic to see such strong support from both residents and visitors. The growth in participation and engagement shows just how much people value the opportunity to explore and celebrate the city they call home.  

We are incredibly grateful to our partners, sponsors and traders whose support makes these events possible, and we are proud to champion Yorkshire businesses while continuing to strengthen accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability across everything we deliver. We’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back!” 

Further information about upcoming events can be found at visityork.org 

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PRESS RELEASE: 12 March 2026 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

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About Make It York  

Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings – nationally and internationally – as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. Its mission is to grow the economic prosperity and wider wellbeing of York and its citizens. In practice, this means delivering a range of projects and programmes based around our corporate strategic priorities. These are: City positioning and profile-raising; Ensuring an exciting city centre; Delivering the city’s ground-breaking Cultural Strategy. MakeItYork.com 

About Visit York 

Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand. Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York. Activity covers all aspects of tourism marketing and PR, including market intelligence, as well as providing business support through the membership programme. Visit York operate the Visit York Pass, York’s city-sightseeing card, and run the Visitor Information Centre. VisitYork.org 

York invites you to celebrate the city’s proud acknowledgment as the “home of chocolate”, showcasing its rich confectionery heritage. 

Visit York will be highlighting the city’s array of events and experiences perfect for everyone – making it the must-visit city for indulgence, creativity and family-friendly fun this spring. 

York has been entertaining and sharing sweet treats with visitors for centuries, creating brands and timeless classic confectionery that made global names from the likes of Terry’s and the Chocolate Orange and Rowntree’s and KitKat. 

Its rivers brought in the vital ingredients, while the railways transported the final products at speed around the country and the artisans became industrial pioneers. 

Today, this sweet legacy continues with treats ranging from cakes and fudge still produced in the city, with chocolate remaining a vital part of York’s past, present and future. 

Local artisan chocolatiers and independent businesses play a central role with in-store experiences that celebrate York’s thriving food and drink scene. Family-friendly itineraries bring together chocolate-themed events, must-see attractions and seasonal activities, making it easy to plan a complete February half-term and Easter trip.  

Indulge further at the immersive York’s Chocolate Story, narrating the captivating history of chocolate with interactive exhibits, delicious tasters along the way and making your own chocolate bar. 

No York adventure is truly fulfilled without savouring delights from the city’s premier chocolatiers, including York Cocoa Works, where you can not only taste but also craft your own chocolate bar using rare and flavourful cocoa beans sourced from farms and communities around the world. 

Follow your sweet tooth and take a mouth-watering wander through the city and discover the history behind York’s chocolate foundation with the York Chocolate Trail. 

For delicious street food and bites head to the Shambles Food Court nestled in the Shambles Market within a setting steeped in historical charm. You’ll find a haven full of gastronomic delights including crepes, brownies and hot chocolate, as well as artisan crafts and stylish gifts available every day of the week. 

Did you know? When the wind is blowing in the right direction, you can smell the lingering aroma of chocolate being made across the city – giving it the name “The Chocolate City”! 

Where to stay 

With so much to do, you’re sure to want to stay longer in the city, and The Milner York is York’s grandest welcome since 1878, a Victorian showstopper always offering a warm Yorkshire welcome. Don’t miss to try their chocolate desserts and delicious Chocolate Afternoon Tea inspired by the city’s rich history. 

Travelling in and around York 

Public transport remains the easiest and most convenient way to reach the city centre with York’s chocolate attractions just a short distance away. York Railway Station serves as a major transport hub, with regular services with TransPennine Express, from cities across the north of England and Scotland including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Scarborough, Middlesbrough, Durham, Newcastle and Edinburgh. 

Frequent bus services also bring visitors straight into the heart of the city, travelling in and out of the city couldn’t be simpler. You can plan ahead by checking i-Travel York for up-to-date travel information.  

If you do drive, using the York Park & Ride service is the best way to travel by car. With six convenient sites located around the city, you can relax on board zero-emission buses and let someone else do the driving into the heart of York. 

Find more to do 

For in-person ideas, head to the Visit York Visitor Information Centre, at 21 Parliament Street, where the friendly and knowledgeable team can guide your itinerary. As well as expert advice, it’s the place to pick up attraction and travel tickets, guides and maps. You’ll also find locally made sweet treats and souvenirs. 

It’s also the place to pick up your Visit York Pass, the city’s official sightseeing pass, giving you entry to 35+ attractions in York and beyond, as well as extra offers!  

With a programme of events and indulgent experiences, you’re sure to find something for those perfect memorable day trips and short breaks in the city. 

Plan a sweet trip and explore what’s on by visiting the dedicated “This is York: The Chocolate City” hub on the Visit York website, which brings together event listings, itineraries and inspiration all in one place. 

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PRESS RELEASE: 16 February 2026 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

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