It’s all happening in York this year.
So what else is there to pop in your diary for 2016? Well, seeing as you asked…
January
Jan 9-16
York’s iconic Robson & Cooper shop on Lendal is transformed into a free pop-up public archaeology laboratory, packed with the most up-to-date technologies
Jan 9
Britain’s largest one-day book fair comes to York Racecourse with more than 100 booksellers from across the country selling more than 40K antiquarian, rare and secondhand books on every subject under the sun
from Jan 18
York Army Museum in Tower Street launches its new exhibition, Yorkshire Pals, telling the stories of men who volunteered for service in the First World War
Jan 20
After having to cancel their York gig last year after a band member suffered a family bereavement, The Kooks finally get to play the Barbican
Jan 24
The Irish stand-up brings his unassuming show Outside, Looking In to the Grand Opera House and it’s supposed to be really funny
Jan 28-30
Some of the finest vocal ensembles from York and nearby converge on the Joseph Rowntree Theatre as it hosts this first choir festival
Jan 30-31
Folk with a York Card enjoy free entry into more than 50 attractions and events. New for this year are Jacob’s Well and York Army Museum
February
Feb 3-6
Following the success of their production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical in 2015, the York Orchard Musical Theatre Company present this mesmerising show at the Jo Ro Theatre
Feb 11-13
This story of how the quaint town of Eastwick is turned upside down when a mysterious stranger comes to town is brought to the Jo Ro Theatre by York St John: Musical Production Society
Feb 15-23
One thousand years since Canute was handed the English throne, Jorvik Viking Festival tells the story of this misunderstood king. Highlights include a combat arena in the Guildhall and the ever-popular Best Beard Contest
Feb 17-27
I Dreamed A Dream… Pick Me Up are staging a youth production of this epic musical at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre – see the stars of the future
Feb 19
The former Pulp man has enjoyed a successful solo career, and brings his brooding and wistful songs to the Barbican
Feb 22-27
The murder mystery comes to the Grand Opera House as part of its 60th anniversary tour, starring Louise Jameson who, for chaps of a certain age, will always be Leela from Doctor Who
Feb 26-Mar 6
The National Railway Museum marks the return of Flying Scotsman to the tracks with a series of events celebrating the fame and celebrity of the loco legend: more here
Feb 27-Oct 30
Beningbrough Hall celebrates its 300th birthday with an exhibition on the changing fortunes of the grand country house and garden and a mass planting of bulbs. National Portrait Gallery director Nicholas Cullinan has also chosen four portraits of history-makers for the gallery
Feb 28-29
North Yorkshire’s favourite homegrown chef brings his Plates, Mates & Automobiles show to York Barbican as part of his first ever UK tour
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March
Mar 2-Jun 26
Discover the stories of the women who shaped and supported the Terry’s chocolate empire in a new exhibition at Goddards on Tadcaster Road
Mar 4-20
With more than 100 events, including films, music, workshops, crafts, poetry and yoga, this community festival promises to be an uplifting celebration of women’s lives
Mar 5
Peter Kay’s best mate brings his Daddy McGuinness show to York Grand Opera House as part of a 50-date UK tour
Mar 10-23
Michael Portillo, Arthur Smith, Val McDermid and Wendy Cope are among the myriad literary names heading to York for two weeks of bookish entertainment
Mar 14-19
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller is hilariously recreated for the stage in this smash hit Olivier award-winning comedy adaptation at the Grand Opera House
Mar 18
Comedian Richard Herring has settled down with a wife and baby. Is he finally happy now? Probably not as he is a staunch York City fan… His new show is at the Barbican
Mar 25
Curators at York Castle Museum have been boxing up bustles and cleaning corsets for a major new exhibition featuring fashions that have shaped the way we live, including 18th century bum rolls, 1970s’ punk and even 1980s’ bubble perms
Mar 25-Sep 4
The largest touring exhibition of British First World War Art for almost 100 years will go on show at York Art Gallery in 2016
Mar 29-31
The Olivier award-winning production of this modern classic comes to the Grand Opera House, telling the story of Second World War evacuee William Beech
Date TBC
Delayed from its 2015 launch date, York’s local TV service is due to launch sometime this spring
April
Date TBC
They’re saying the two new Primark stores, at Monks Cross and Coppergate, are due to open “in spring”, and you can already feel the excitement building…
April 12-14
Two decades of global success since the show first burst into the public’s heart at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994 and the Irish dancing phenomenon shows no signs of flagging
Apr 15, 16, 17, 23 + 24
Some of the best artists and makers living and working in a ten-mile radius of York fling open their doors and invited us all in for a good nosey round
April 22-30
York Theatre Royal is back! After 18 months or renovations the new-look theatre reopens with Brideshead Revisited, a new imagining of the classic Evelyn Waugh novel
April 22-24
The absolutely fabulous fashion spectacular returns. New for 2016 is the Fashion Village on Parliament Street, a marquee full of local designers plus demonstrations and a catwalk area
Apr 22
Following her acclaimed performances in Oliver! and Calamity Jane, Jodie Prenger hits the Grand Opera House in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical charting the romantic misadventures of an English girl in New York
Apr 24
You’ve only got to swim 400m, cycle 18k and run 5k to take part in the City of York Triathlon – how hard could it be? Very; so stop messing about and get training
Apr 26-30
X-Factor winner Joe McElderry dons the coat at the Grand Opera House. Go, go, go Joe!
May
May 9-10
Take a journey to Limboland with comedian Bill Bailey as he brings his trademark intelligence, wit, whimsy and willow-the-wisp hair to York Barbican
May 13-Jun 4
A world premiere production of EM Forster’s classic short story, exploring our relationship with technology. Features a new soundtrack by John Foxx, founder of the band Ultravox
May 15
Following his performance in drag in Priscilla at the Grand Opera House last year, Jason returns with a greatest hits show at the Barbican
May 17-21
This Northern Broadsides production at the Theatre Royal promises to squeeze every last drop of comedy gold from the bard’s calamitous tale, so prepare to have your funny bone tickled
May 26-Jun 30
More than 40,000 people are expected to pack out York Minster’s nave for this five-week run of the Mystery Plays. It’s the first time in 16 years – and only the second time in the play cycle’s history – that it’s being staged in the cathedral
May 31
Hands up (in a Prince Charming fashion) who’d like to see Adam Ant perform the whole of his Kings Of The Wild Frontier album live and at the Barbican? Celebrating the album’s 35th anniversary
Date TBC
Scottish brewery BrewDog has taken over premises on Micklegate and plans to open a 2,500 sq ft bar this month
June
Jun 2-5
New for 2016, this celebration of York’s founders will quite possibly feature togas and leather sandals
Jun 3-4
Yes it’s true – the man who can do anything with crayons and fuzzy felt, as his legions of young CBeebies fans will testify, will be live at the Grand Opera House
Jun 7-19
The theme for this year’s festival is Tick Tock and organisers are promising more than 120 inspiring events
Jun 7
After reinventing himself as an actor and coming fourth in Celebrity Big Brother, Bobby Davro returns to his first love, stand-up
Jun 10-11
How would you like to get up close and personal with a T-Rex? Well, here’s your chance. Cute baby dinos and teeth-gnashing giants will be running wild on the stage of York Theatre Royal
Jun 11-12
Acting as an amuse bouche for the main festival in September, this mini-bite still offers and impressive menu of cookery demonstrations, stalls, events and food-related fun
Jun 18
Join York Pride Parade as it leaves the Minster at 12.15pm for a sensational sashay down to the racecourse followed by an afternoon of entertainment, fairground rides, community stalls, food, drink and a bouncy castle
Jun 18
Award-winning jazz and big band singer and popular Radio 2 presenter Clare Teal pays tribute to dear old Doris
92 years young this year)
Jun 25
York Sports Club will once again be rocking to the sounds of a host of great local bands, singers and performers, including Chris Helme and covers band The Supermodels among many others
Jun 28-Jul 9
York Light brings an all-time favourite movie and stage musical to the stage of the refurbished York Theatre Royal
July
Jul 8-16
Fairies, Witches and Ariel Beings make up the fantastical theme of this year’s festival, marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare
Jul 15-31
The Parliament Street festival of fun is expanding from ten to 17 days in 2016, bringing more comedy stars, more music and more family shenanigans. Founder Martin Witts promises “a non-stop cavalcade of laughs”
Jul 30-31
Stunt planes shooting fireworks from their wings will fly over Knavesmire as the finale to this spectacular new family festival, which will also include giant monster trucks and a petting zoo. More here
August
Aug 19-22
Join the York Racecourse fun at the city’s oldest, richest, fastest and most famous race meeting, which combines sporting excellence with fab fashion over four fun-packed days
September
Sep 2-4
The wildly funny and cheerfully filthy Sarah Millican brings her Outsider tour to York Barbican for three nights, up from two by popular demand
Sep 16-17
More than 220 of the country’s leading booksellers will be setting up stall at the racecourse this year offering books ranging in price from a few pounds to tens of thousands
Sep 21-24
Grand Opera House puts the kettle on for a nice cup of tea as David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny comes to town. She’ll obviously be bringing her own cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake
Sep 23-Oct 2
There’s a smorgasbord of talent on the menu the Star Inn The City’s Andrew Pern, professional beer drinker Jeff Evans and Masterchef finalist Sara Danesinn Medio
Sep 23-Mar 19 2017
This exhibition at York Art Gallery will raise questions about the body and ageing, race and gender, touch and texture, surface and skin through painting, sculpture, photography and film
Sep 25
Not one to over-sell himself in any way, the 8 Out Of Ten Cats presenter brings his new show – Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits Tour – to the Grand Opera House
Sep 27
The nation’s favourite randomist (which is a thing, apparently) dumps his brain at the Barbican in his new show, Brain Dump, a random assortment of nonsense and flights of imaginative fancy
October
Oct 9
The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon returns. Athletes say the run through York’s historic streets offers great PB potential (that’s ‘personal best’ not ‘pub/bar’ apparently)
Oct 19-22
Those disco glitterballs on Shambles will take some beating, but the artistic directors of the 2016 festival are promising to completely transform the city again in a celebration of all things light, from flickering flames to light-emitting diodes
Oct 18
Prepare to take a dazzling journey through space and time as the softly-spoken scientist who used to be in D:Ream brings his brain to the Barbican
November
Nov 3-6
This multi-genre, BAFTA qualifying festival returns to 15 venues across the city for a four-day film extravaganza, with awards for the best mini-movie in each category
Nov 21-26
Lovingly ripped off from the classic Monty Python film, this delightfully daft musical tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. By Pick Me Up Theatre at the Grand Opera House
Nov 17-Dec 23
After the spectacular success of last year’s festival, with ice sculptures and Thor’s Tipi being two highlights, organisers are planning an even bigger and better event in 2016
December
dates TBC
this is when the city begins to sound a lot like Christmas. Last year’s festival included performances by the European Baroque Orchestra, Yorkshire Bach Choir and The York Waits
Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments, or drop us drop us an email