York’s Colour & Light returns for 2026 with its biggest show yet

Thursday, 29 January 2026 09:37

York BID has confirmed the return of its much-loved Colour & Light event for 2026, promising the biggest and most ambitious display the city has ever seen.

For the first time, two of York’s most famous landmarks will be illuminated together, as York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower become a single combined canvas for a spectacular, fully choreographed projection show. The display will transform the Eye of York into a glowing centrepiece of light, colour and storytelling.

The continuous, looped ten-minute projection show will bring York’s historic characters to life in a family-friendly experience designed to be welcoming to all. The show will be completely free to watch, with no tickets required, allowing residents and visitors to simply turn up and enjoy the display.

Colour & Light will run nightly from 4 to 22 February 2026, with shows taking place between 6pm and 9pm, starting every ten minutes. The best viewing point will be from the Eye of York (YO1 9WZ), where the full effect of the projections across both buildings can be seen together.

Accessibility has been built into the event, with the final hour of each evening designated as a quiet hour, featuring reduced noise and lower crowd levels. Benches will also be available for those who need to sit and enjoy the show in comfort.

York BID says the event aims to celebrate the city’s heritage while creating a magical winter attraction that can be enjoyed by families, tourists and local residents alike.

With two iconic buildings now forming one enormous canvas, Colour & Light 2026 is set to be the most visually striking edition of the event so far.