York Unlocked

FAQs

When is York Unlocked festival weekend?

The 2026 Festival Weekend was Saturday 3rd October - Sunday 4th October.

2027 dates are to be confirmed. Sign up to our newsletter to be one of the first to know.

Is booking required for the festival?

Most of our festival buildings and spaces can be enjoyed without a ticket.

You can simply turn up during opening hours. Free tickets are only required for a select few buildings, and details for these will be released closer to our next event.

Where is it and what are the opening times?

The 2026 weekend festival has now past but we were at various locations across the city of York in North Yorkshire.

All the buildings were listed in our programme or here, and had different opening times and days which they are open.

How much is entry?

Free. All York Unlocked is free, however some of buildings require free pre-booking prior to the weekend.

2026 Booking opens Friday 4th September at 1pm, details including a downloadable programme are available here

Where can I get a programme?

There are no printed programmes available this year, but you can download a digital version here, or visit our buildings page here.

Do I need to book in advance?

Most buildings operate on a drop-in basis where you can just turn up during opening times.

A select few buildings do require free, pre-booked tickets due to capacity. Details on how to book for our next event will be shared closer to the festival dates.

What happens if I book a ticket but can no longer attend?

If you book a ticket for a building and can no longer make it, we kindly ask that you cancel your ticket via your booking confirmation link so someone else can enjoy the space.

Do buildings have parking?

No, there is no dedicated parking for York Unlocked during the Festival Weekend.

York can be very busy during the weekend, so for venues in the city centre York’s Park and Rides might be a great option for you.

Alternatively York has many public car parks.

Do the buildings have toilets?

Each venue has different facilities and many will not have public toilets onsite.

York does have public toilets with controlled entry at 50p :

Coppergate Shopping Centre
Front Street
Nunnery Lane
Rougier Street
Rowntree Park (Free)
Silver Street
St George’s Field
St Leonard’s Place
Union Terrace
West Bank Park (Free)

Please see here for details https://www.york.gov.uk/PublicToilets

Are all the buildings accessibile?

Each building has different accessibility, below is a link to our accessibility document for all the venues. Here

Alternatively visit our accessibility page for details on blue badge parking, assistance animals, and public toilets –here

What happens in case of bad weather?

The event goes ahead rain or shine! Many sites are indoors, but we recommend dressing for the British autumn as you walk between venues.

Didn't find your answer?

Get in touch with our team for any specific questions about York Unlocked