A new traffic management plan and a bigger police presence are two key changes as the York races return.
The Dante Festival starts on Wednesday, the first of 18 racedays planned for 2026.
For the first time this year, York Racecourse is taking the lead on the planning and delivery of the raceday traffic management plan.
City of York Council still have the legal responsibility for the approval of the plan.
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police will have officers in the South Bank area at the end of each race day – having “acknowledged that their deployment in the early part of the 2025 season fell short”, residents have been told.
The raceday traffic plan has a number of key objectives, including allowing for “business as usual” for residents and traders near the racecourse on race days, “so far as is practicable”.
It also aims to mitigate the risk of anti-social behaviour in residential areas, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and deliver efficient arrivals and departures from the races.
Key changes
- On race days, a short section of Campleshon/Knavesmire Road, at the junction with Racecourse Road known as Kidney Island, will be CLOSED to general traffic. It remains open to shuttle and service buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
- To better protect South Bank and The Chocolate Works the closure will operate from earlier than in previous years, starting at 10am, ending at approximately 7pm (variable by size of raceday crowd).
Buses and car parks
The number 11 and 21 bus services will be able to complete the South Bank Loop as they will be able to cross the closed section of road.
There will be two-way traffic on Knavesmire Road between Knavesmire Crescent and Tadcaster Road. A third lane will be temporarily created to allow for a “tidal flow” split of lanes 2-1 either in/out at the start/end of the raceday.
Car Park D must be approached from Campleshon Road. Drivers wishing to access Car Park D from Knavesmire Road will be directed to Car Park A.
Car Park A must be approached from Knavesmire Road from Tadcaster Road. Drivers wishing to access Car Park A from Bishopthorpe Road will be directed to Car Park C.
Road closures
Traffic will be banned from a number of roads near the racecourse on racedays. These include Albemarle Road, Cherry Lane, Curzon Terrace, Kensington Street, Knavesmire Crescent, Lorne Street, Montague Street, TrafalgarcStreet, Scarcroft Hill, St Edwards Close and Telford Terrace.
Buses and cycles will still be allowed through.
You can see all the traffic restrictions below.
Resident access
To “better protect residents from the consequences of visiting vehicles and their passengers”, these roads will be closed from 10am until around 7pm on each raceday.
But every household in the Resident Access Zone will get a pass to display in the windscreen of their vehicle. This will enable the driver to pass through the raceday road closures.
Streets in the Residents Access Zone
| Albermarle Road Nr 39 and higher | Jamieson Terrace |
| Banks Drive | Joseph Terry Grove |
| Berry Mews | Knavesmire Crescent |
| Brunswick Street | Lichfield Court |
| Campleshon Road | Lorne Street |
| Clocktower Way | Queen Victoria Street |
| Count de Burgh Terrace | Robert Street |
| Curzon Terrace | Ruby Street |
| Hubert Street | Sutherland Street |
The Residents Pass will not entitle drivers to use the closed section of Campleshon and Knavesmire Roads in the vicinity of Kidney Island. This will be open to buses and emergency vehicles only.
Racecourse stewards “will take a common-sense approach” to allowing access to the Residents Access Zone for delivery drivers, visitors, health and care workers, traders and shop customers.
In a letter to residents in the access zone, York Racecourse wrote: “At the recent Ward Meeting, North Yorkshire Police confirmed that they will have officers present in the South Bank area towards the end of each raceday, as part of their Operation Lancelot.
“The Police also acknowledged that their deployment in the early part of the 2025 season fell short and believe the 2026 plan is consistent with the broadly successful plan of previous years.
“They request that residents to continue to report anti-social behaviour through 999/101, which then supports any future intelligence-based deployment of officers.”
