Festivals and Events Guide

Festivals and Events Guide in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon 2026

If you have a query on any of the dates below, contact me at https://harrogateuk.co.uk/get-in-touch/

All dates are accurate at the time of writing (Jan 2026) — please verify with official sources, as they may change.

Discover an exciting year-round calendar of festivals, markets, and live performances in Harrogate & Districts, with outdoor shows taking place across Harrogate and the beautiful surrounding district. From world-class culture, music and literature to family-friendly attractions, food festivals, artisan markets and traditional Yorkshire celebrations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy throughout 2026.

………………………………………………………………………..

Harrogate 2026 Events Calendar

January – March

Date	Event	Type
18 Jan	Harrogate International Sunday Series: violin & piano	Music / Culture
8 Feb	Harrogate International Sunday Series: trumpet & quartet	Music / Culture
6–8, 13–15 & 20–22 Mar	Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech & Drama	Community / Performing Arts

April

Date	Event	Type
3–6 Apr	Harrogate International Youth Festival (HIYF) – Easter weekend	Music & Performance
23–26 Apr	Harrogate Spring Flower Show	Gardening & Outdoors

June

Date	Event	Type
27–28 Jun	Harrogate Food & Drink Festival – The Stray	Food & Drink

July

Date	Event	Type
14–17 Jul	Great Yorkshire Show	Agriculture & Rural Life
23–26 Jul	Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival	Literature & Culture

August

Date	Event	Type
22–23 Aug	Harrogate Food & Drink Festival at Ripley Castle	Food & Drink

September

Date	Event	Type
5 Sep	LOVE TO BE… Festival – The Stray	Music & Community
18–20 Sept	Harrogate Autumn Flower Show	Gardening & Outdoors

Festivals and Events Guide

(Other Annual Highlights)

These events are traditional parts of the Harrogate year but may not have 2026 dates published yet:

Bilton Gala – early May community celebration
HACS Harrogate Music Festival – June/July programme of classical & contemporary music
Ripon Theatre Festival – dates TBC (family-friendly performances)
Harrogate Charity Beer Festival – awaiting 2026 details

Quick Highlights by Season

Spring

Easter music and parade — 3–6 April
Spring Flower Show — 23–26 April

Summer

Food & Drink Festival — 27–28 June
Great Yorkshire Show — 14–17 July
Crime Writing Festival — 23–26 July
Ripley Castle Food & Drink — 22–23 August

Autumn

LOVE TO BE… Festival — 5 September
Autumn Flower Show — 18–20 September

Harrogate 2026 Events Calendar

January – March

Date	Event	Type
18 Jan	Harrogate International Sunday Series: violin & piano	Music / Culture
8 Feb	Harrogate International Sunday Series: trumpet & quartet	Music / Culture
6–8, 13–15 & 20–22 Mar	Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech & Drama	Community / Performing Arts

April

Date	Event	Type
3–6 Apr	Harrogate International Youth Festival (HIYF) – Easter weekend	Music & Performance
23–26 Apr	Harrogate Spring Flower Show	Gardening & Outdoors

June

Date	Event	Type
27–28 Jun	Harrogate Food & Drink Festival – The Stray	Food & Drink

July

Date	Event	Type
14–17 Jul	Great Yorkshire Show	Agriculture & Rural Life
23–26 Jul	Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival	Literature & Culture

August

Date	Event	Type
22–23 Aug	Harrogate Food & Drink Festival at Ripley Castle	Food & Drink

September

Date	Event	Type
5 Sep	LOVE TO BE… Festival – The Stray	Music & Community
18–20 Sept	Harrogate Autumn Flower Show	Gardening & Outdoors

(Other Annual Highlights)

These events are traditional parts of the Harrogate year but may not have 2026 dates published yet:

Bilton Gala – early May community celebration
HACS Harrogate Music Festival – June/July programme of classical & contemporary music
Ripon Theatre Festival – dates TBC (family-friendly performances)
Harrogate Charity Beer Festival – awaiting 2026 details

Quick Highlights by Season

Spring

Easter music and parade — 3–6 April
Spring Flower Show — 23–26 April

Summer

Food & Drink Festival — 27–28 June
Great Yorkshire Show — 14–17 July
Crime Writing Festival — 23–26 July
Ripley Castle Food & Drink — 22–23 August

Autumn

LOVE TO BE… Festival — 5 September
Autumn Flower Show — 18–20 September

……………………………………………………………………………..

Harrogate 2026 — Markets & Weekly / Monthly Events

Regular & Recurring Markets

Monthly Artisan & Makers Markets (in town)

Valley Gardens Harrogate Artisan Market – First Sunday of each month
10:00 am – 3:00 pm in Valley Gardens — local crafts, handmade goods, artisan food and gifts.
Dates in 2026:
1 Feb · 1 Mar · 5 Apr · 3 May · 7 Jun · 5 Jul · 2 Aug · 6 Sep · 4 Oct · 1 Nov · 5 Dec
Harrogate Makers Market – Third Sunday of each month on Cambridge Street — creative stalls, artisan products & street food.
(Organiser news suggests additional local “Maker’s Markets” through summer months — June to September — on third Sundays too. )

Monthly Farmers & Food Markets

Harrogate Farmers’ Market — Second Thursday of each month (9 am – 4 pm), central market stalls with seasonal produce, bread, local meat, eggs & artisan food.
Example 2026 schedule:
12 Feb · 12 Mar · 9 Apr · 14 May · 11 Jun · 9 Jul · 13 Aug · 10 Sep · 8 Oct · 12 Nov · 10 Dec
Pop-ups & Special Craft Fairs
• Harrogate Christmas & Gift trade exhibit — Sun 11 – Wed 14 Jan 2026 (trade focus).

Knaresborough & Ripon Events Calendar 2026

January 2026

Date	Event	Location
Daily	Ripon Hornblower (9pm ceremony)	Ripon
Thu 1–Sat 31 Jan	Winter concerts, talks & exhibitions	Ripon
Throughout Jan	Community & indoor events	Knaresborough

February 2026 (School Half-Term)

Date	Event	Location
Sat 14 – Sun 22 Feb	Half-term family activities & workshops	Both towns
Thu 12 Feb	Ripon Weekly Market	Ripon

March 2026

Date	Event	Location
Throughout Mar	Spring cultural & heritage events	Ripon
Wed weekly	Town Market (every Wednesday)	Knaresborough

April 2026 (Easter Holidays)

Date	Event	Location
Fri 3 – Mon 6 Apr	Easter family events & trails	Both towns
Sat 4 – Sun 19 Apr	Castle & riverside Easter activities	Knaresborough
Fri 3 – Sun 19 Apr	Cathedral services & heritage events	Ripon

May 2026

Date	Event	Location
Sat 2 – Mon 4 May	Early May Bank Holiday events	Both towns
Sat 23 – Sun 31 May	Half-term family events	Both towns
May – Sept	Castle events & outdoor theatre season	Knaresborough
May – Sept	Outdoor performances & heritage events	Ripon

June 2026

Date	Event	Location
Sat 13 Jun	Knaresborough Bed Race	Knaresborough
Sat 13 – Sun 14 Jun	Town celebrations & riverside events	Knaresborough
Thu weekly	Weekly Market	Ripon

July 2026

Date	Event	Location
Sat 11 – Sun 12 Jul (expected)	Ripon Food & Drink Festival	Ripon
Fri 24 Jul – Sun 30 Aug	Summer holiday activities	Both towns

August 2026

Date	Event	Location
Thu 30 Jul – Sun 9 Aug (expected)	Ripon International Festival	Ripon
Throughout Aug	Riverside events & family fun	Knaresborough

September 2026

Date	Event	Location
Sat 12 – Sun 13 Sept	Heritage & cultural events weekend	Ripon
Throughout Sept	Autumn markets & community events	Both towns

October 2026 (Autumn Half-Term)

Date	Event	Location
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov	Halloween trails & family events	Both towns
Thu 29 Oct	Weekly Market (half-term themed)	Ripon

November 2026

Date	Event	Location
Sun 22 Nov (expected)	Ripon Christmas Festival	Ripon
Sat 28 Nov (expected)	Knaresborough Christmas Market	Knaresborough

December 2026

Date	Event	Location
Tue 1 – Thu 24 Dec	Cathedral carols, concerts & services	Ripon
Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec	Festive markets & lights events	Knaresborough
Throughout Dec	Christmas family activities	Both towns

Regular Markets – 2026

Knaresborough

Weekly Market: Every Wednesday, Market Place
Christmas Market: Saturday 28 November 2026 (expected)

Ripon

Weekly Market: Every Thursday, Market Place
Farmers’ Market: Second Sunday of every month
(e.g. 11 Jan, 8 Feb, 8 Mar, 12 Apr, 10 May, 14 Jun, 12 Jul, 9 Aug, 13 Sept, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 13 Dec)