With just days to go before the opening of the 2026 Ryedale Festival, organisers have announced that ticket sales have once again reached record levels, confirming one of the strongest periods of audience growth in the festival’s history.
The festival, which runs from July 10–26, has more venues than ever before across the region, including nine new locations from Bridlington Priory and Howden Minster to Richmond, Selby, York and Kirkbymoorside.
Meanwhile, to mark Pickering’s role as home to the Ryedale Festival for 45 years, the town’s Yarn-bombers in collaboration with Pickering WI have created a music themed topper for the postbox and bollards.
Alongside performances by internationally celebrated artists including Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, the Gesualdo Six, John Wilson and Sinfonia of London, Tenebrae, Eliza Carthy, the Van Baerle Trio and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the festival is also expanding its work with schools, music hubs and education partners.
A major new initiative is opening up the festival to young people across the area through work experience opportunities and free concert tickets.
Record numbers of young people will be involved this summer, gaining first-hand experience of live music, event production, arts administration, artist liaison and front-of-house work, as well as the chance to hear outstanding performers in some of Yorkshire’s most remarkable venues.
Students from Ryedale School, Malton School, Scarborough College, York St John University, University of York and Sheffield Hallam University will be among those joining the festival for work experience placements this summer.
The festival is also working with schools, music hubs and education partners across the region to make sure young people can take part, attend concerts and discover more about careers in the arts.
programme.
The festival’s wider community of volunteers is also being celebrated this year. Ryedale Festival has been nominated for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, one of the highest recognitions a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Volunteers remain at the heart of the festival’s success, making it possible for the festival to bring music to so many places across North and East Yorkshire.
Festival Director Christopher Glynn said: “This is shaping up to be a very special year for the Ryedale Festival. Ticket sales are stronger than ever, but what matters just as much is that the festival is reaching further than ever before, into new places, new communities and the lives of more young people.
“The nomination for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is also a wonderful recognition of the volunteer community that makes the festival possible. From welcoming audiences and stewarding concerts to supporting artists and spreading the word locally, our volunteers give the festival so much of its warmth, reach and character.”
Festival Producer Kate Hall added: “We want young people to see that the arts are for everyone, whatever their background or aspirations, and that a festival like Ryedale can be a place where they discover new passions, build confidence and imagine a future in the creative industries.”
The 2026 programme includes five artistic residencies, major premieres, family events, folk, jazz, chamber music, choral music and orchestral concerts.
It also continues the festival’s extensive partnership with BBC Radio 3, with performances by BBC New Generation Artists recorded for broadcast to listeners nationwide.
For the full programme and tickets go to ryedalefestival.com
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