York Environment Festival wouldn’t exist without all of the wonderful people who create and take part in each and every event.
Anyone can take part, either as an event organiser or as an attendee – the Festival is free and open to all.
I want to attend a York Environment Festival event
We will release the full events programme for YEFEst 2026 in advance of the Festival opening in October. When it’s live, you will be able to view the calendar here:
From here, you can browse and reserve a place on any events that take your fancy.
How much does it cost to attend York Environment Festival?
All events are free to attend. Some require booking and/or may have limited spaces – you can find out in the event description, with details of how to book if you need to.
View the events calendar here.
What type of events are there?
The Festival is home to a wide range of events: from talks and film screenings on a variety of environmental topics, to hands-on workshops and foraging courses.
We aim to create a diverse programme with something for everyone. And for the organisers, YEFest is a chance to showcase the brilliant work being done by local environmental groups, campaigners, businesses, universities, schools, arts organisations – and more!
Where is York Environment Festival?
York Environment Festival takes place across the city of York and outer York – event organisers have joined us from Heslington, Acomb, Naburn, South Bank and many more.
To see what’s going on in your area, use the ‘Map’ view when looking at the events calendar: https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/events/map/
Are there any online events?
Yes! The Festival is open to online and hybrid events, and you can view a selection of interesting talks from previous years here.
To explore only the online events in 2026, use the ‘Virtual Events’ filter when looking at the events calendar.
I have a question about an event. How do I contact the organiser?
Organiser information will be on the details of each event booking.
However, if you have a particular question and can’t get in touch, please contact the YEFest volunteer group at info@yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk who will help wherever they can.
Where do I find out about accessibility?
Accessibility information for each event and its venue can be found on the event listing. We ask organisers to share this information with us when they submit their event, however if you’re in doubt or have any questions then please contact the venue where the event is being held.
You can read more about our work to keep the Festival accessible and inclusive here.
I want to host a York Environment Festival event
Anyone can submit an event for consideration to be part of York Environment Festival. If you have an idea for something that will inspire, uplift and engage more people in York to protect local nature, increase biodiversity, reflect on their environmental impact and build a more sustainable city, we want to hear it!
We’ll be launching our call for events for York Environment Festival 2026 very soon. Subscribe to our mailing list to make sure you don’t miss out.
Why should I host a York Environment Festival event?
Whether events and activities are your bread and butter or you’re trying something a bit different, this is your chance to:
- Meet new people in your community
- Raise interest and awareness for your group or project
- Connect with other environmentally-minded groups in York
- Be featured on a major, city-wide platform – for free!
In the past, organisers have commented that being part of the YEFest programme offers greater visibility for their events, enables them to reach new audiences, and gives them the sense of being part of something bigger.
Testimonial from previous event organisers:
“A brilliant opportunity – thank you for putting on a wonderful itinerary of events/activities and for including us!“
“York Environment Week has been a great platform to host our event with, and we encourage the community approach to supporting environmental initiatives in York.“
“Thank you to the organising team for the support before and during the events!“
How do I submit my York Environment Festival event?
- Check out our guidelines page first – all events in the Festival must follow these guidelines. No exceptions!
- Prepare your idea for an event – you’ll need to know the details of what, when and where it is, as well as the show’s name and an overview of what attendees can expect. An outline for now is fine, you can share more details later.
- We also want to know what the impact of your event will be – how will it help communities in York to engage with, and understand, the environment and our impact on it?
- When the call for events is open, submit your idea via the application form. We’ll be in touch before the start of the Festival to confirm the next steps.
Have some questions about organising an event before submitting? Contact the YEFest volunteer team at info@yorkenvironmentfestival.org.