York Georgian Festival programme live: news from York Mansion House

City of York Council sent this bulletin at 01-05-2026 09:08 AM BST

People dressed in Georgian costumes at the Eye of York

York Georgian Festival programme now live

The fourth annual York Georgian Festival will again fill the city with the sights and sounds of 18th Century life this summer, between Thursday 6 and Monday 10 August.

Hosted by York Mansion House in partnership with attractions across the city, the five-day festival programme ranges from free displays of dancing and military drills in St Helen’s Square to the splendour of the annual York Georgian Ball at the Grand Assembly Rooms, and includes talks, tours, performances and workshops at a variety of venues.

Our photo shows the start of last year's promenade through the city which will again start from Clifford's Tower on Saturday 8 August, this year led by HM 33rd Regiment of Foot!

Programme of events and booking details

A woman in Georgian costume on the steps of York Assembly Rooms

The event of the season

You are cordially invited to the event of the season on Saturday 8 August: York Georgian Masquerade Ball!

Masquerade balls were extravagant occasions when guests would wear elaborate fancy dress to hide their true identities. Expect fine food and drink, live music and much dancing and merriment, all at the Grand Assembly Rooms in York.

Tickets on sale now

Talks: Terry and more!

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary will be back for this year's festival on Thursday 6 August with an entertaining look at Murder in the Georgian Theatre.

On Monday 10 August our day of talks will include York St John students exploring letters exchanged between writers Ignatius Sancho and Yorkshire-based Laurence Sterne, author of Tristram Shandy.

More talks in programme

Images of York Castle Museum Secrets of Dress, Anne Lister's plaque at Holy Trinity Goodramgate and the Bar Convent

Fashion, forbidden love, justice and a secret convent

A wealth of events have been lined up at partner attractions across the city for this year's York Georgian Festival and we'd like to thank them all for getting involved.

An afternoon exploring Anne Lister's loves will be hosted at Holy Trinity Goodramgate and Merchant Taylors' Hall with a performance of a new play No Priest But Love.

Visitors to the Bar Convent will be able to find out how this secret convent disguised its true purpose while Catholicism was banned in festival tours, and the impact of Georgian justice on convict women will be explored in an evening at Barley Hall.

York Castle Museum's Secrets of Dress exhibition will be the setting for a curator's talk on Georgian Dress and Fairfax House is also hosting a talk on 18th century fashion, as well as inviting visitors to experience Ann Fairfax's home over the weekend.

Full programme of events

Learn fan language

Find out how the young ladies of the Ton evaded the eyes of watchful Mamas to speak to suitors during our free festival fan language workshops.

The fan was a must-have accessory at every Georgian occasion – but did you know they can be used to send secret messages across the ballroom dance floor? Come and find out more!

Festival times and dates

Watch Georgian cooking

Visitors can watch cookery demonstrations of Georgian recipes in our historic kitchen all year round.

During the Georgian Festival we'll be showing how to make refreshing Lemon Cream, but you can drop in on any day we're open and see the creations of 18th century cooks brought to life by our team.

Find out more

A cookery demonstration in our historic kitchen

Silver gallery sparkles

We have the largest collection of civic silver outside London at the Mansion House, ranging from the glittering Gold Cup used by Lord Mayors over centuries, to a solid silver chamber pot, said to have been used by Royalty!

Watch our team unwrapping and redisplaying the treasures after our recent refurbishment.

Watch silver go on display

Volunteer with us!

Our volunteers are a key part of the team at York Mansion House.

Geoff Turner has worked with us for 15 years and volunteers weekly as a room guide, and enjoys meeting people and sharing his love of history. He's also led tours and even acted in murder mystery events, dressing up as a Lord Mayor! Thank you to Geoff and all our volunteers.

Find out about volunteering