The excitement of the much-loved York Ice Trail, organised by Make It York, returns next year on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026 with the theme, “An Enchanted City”.
This will see the streets of York come alive with over 30 ice sculptures and an array of exciting activities inspired by magic, mystery, and the weird and wonderful, creating an extraordinary trail. Visitors can also enjoy the live carving, a range of interactive selfie elements, the Ice Village market and bookable masterclass sessions.
York Ice Trail is a free event open to all from 10.30am to 4pm over the weekend. The whole family can follow the trail to uncover the truth behind the creations. Pick up a trail map from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre and, upon completion, collect a special sticker.
In addition to the Ice Trail, there are multiple new and exciting additions coming for the 2026 event, including amazing photo opportunities, the chance to have a go at your own ice carving and the enchanted Ice Village!
Take your York Ice Trail 2026 experience to the next level with our exclusive 40-minute Ice Carving Masterclasses. Under the expert guidance of our professional ice sculptors, Icebox, you can get hands-on and carve your very own polar bear masterpiece: no experience needed, just creativity and a sense of adventure. In the midst of the York Ice Trail, where spectacular ice sculptures transform the city into a frozen gallery, this interactive session offers a truly unforgettable experience for all ages. Limited spaces available, book your carving spot now and create your own sculpture this year!
The Ice Village will accompany York’s Ice Trail to showcase local artisan makers and market traders on Parliament Street, offering an array of unique gifts, handcrafted treasures, and delicious treats (and potions!). Whether you’re seeking magical keepsakes, warming street food, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, there’s something for everyone.
The 2026 event also brings two new photo/video opportunities to York Ice Trail! The first being the Snow Block, a larger than life, playful and interactive photo opportunity for visitors of all ages. The Snow block is a 3D snow angel silhouette formed into a giant artificial snow block. The second is the Igloo 360 Camera, a playful and immersive addition to this year’s York Ice Trail. Visitors can step inside an inflatable igloo to record their very own video postcard, capturing the magic of the trail from every angle.
Both bring the perfect opportunity to capture memories of your Enchanted day in York!
Alongside all the new and exciting additions, we also see the return of past favourites of York Ice Trail.
The return of the popular live ice carving gives visitors the opportunity to watch Icebox sculptors, the UK and Europe’s leading ice sculpture specialists, transform a solid block of ice into an enchanted masterpiece, a combination of chisels, chainsaws and skill!
The Ice Wall invites visitors to freeze themselves in ice! This much-loved interactive prop creates the illusion of being frozen into a shimmering block of ice, with the Ice Ice Baby neon installation offering visitors a bold and playful photo opportunity. Enhanced with ice backing panels this revamped selfie spot returns as a bright and memorable highlight to the event, two more great photo opportunities to remember the adventures of the day!
When it’s time to relax, indulge in a delicious selection of food vendors from wood fired pizza and loaded fries to luxurious sweet waffles and stacked hot chocolates on Parliament Street, in addition to the popular Shambles food court.
Each intricately carved ice sculpture is proudly sponsored by a local business, whose generous support helps bring the magic of the York Ice Trail to life, helping transform the city into a truly enchanted experience. Without their involvement, this beloved event simply wouldn’t be possible.
The official York Ice Trail hub page is on our website at visityork.org/york-ice-trail
Tag @visityork and #YorkIceTrail across all social media platforms for a chance to feature your icy photos.
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PRESS RELEASE: 11 November 2025
Notes to Editors
Ice Carving Masterclasses are a paid experience and can be booked using this link.
The Igloo 360 Camera is a paid experience, to be purchased on the day.
Download images – from York Ice Trail 2025
