York’s iciest event is set to return next year for two days of magical fun.
The hugely popular York Ice Trail will be transforming the city streets into ‘An Enchanted City’ on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026.
A spell has been cast over York, and ice sculptures inspired by magic, mystery, and the weird and wonderful will appear across the cobbled streets.
But who cast the spell? And why? The whole family can follow the trail to uncover the truth, before the ice melts and takes everything with it.
York Ice Trail is a free event open to all from 10:30am to 4pm. The ice sculptures, curated by Make It York and partners, are created by Icebox – the UK and Europe’s leading ice sculpture specialist, and will be on display at various iconic locations throughout the city.
Sarah Loftus, managing director of Make It York, said: “We’re always excited to bring back the York Ice Trail, which is a highlight of our calendar.
“It’s a fantastic event that brings residents and visitors together to experience the city, and this year’s enchanted theme won’t disappoint!”
And new for 2026, Make It York will be launching the ‘Ice Village’ – a carefully curated market under the umbrella theme ‘enchanted’, which will inspire a magical mix of family-friendly activities and themed traders.
Running over the same weekend, local retailers and caterers are invited to apply for limited pitches and be part of York’s winter vibrancy. Application deadline is 5pm on Friday 24 October 2025, by completing the online form.
Each ice sculpture is sponsored by a local business, whose support makes the event possible. The previous York Ice Trail event in February 2025 was a huge success, with footfall counts reaching over 85,000 visitors during the weekend.
To find out more, head to the Visit York website.