26 Things to Look Forward to in 2026
As we say goodbye to 2025, there's so much we're looking forward to in 2026
1. Winter Wonderland
The Winter Olympic Games return next year: Milano Cortina 2026 runs from 6th to 22nd February. An exhibition of the world’s finest athletes, catch everything from ski jumping and curling to bobsleigh and figure skating. New for this year, witness the dizzying heights as competitors take on ski mountaineering for the first time. The North has some promising up-and-coming talent including champion junior figure skater Edward Solovyov from Cramlington and Sheffield figure skater Luke Digby.
2. All New
Gisborough Hall is set to open its Sakura Spa in spring, a new luxury retreat offering six treatment rooms, an extensive thermal garden with a vitality pool, saunas and steam room, and a dining space exclusive to spa guests. INLAMENTATION, the new intimate fine-dining restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Michael O’Hare is set to open in early 2026, serving just 16 diners per night. Culture House in Sunderland is currently set to open in the first half of 2026, bringing together the City Library, The Atrium digital event space, the Immersion Gallery of digital storytelling, the Media Studio and the Sky Garden. Foodies will also be excited to hear that Flat Iron, the signature steakhouse, will be opening its first North East location on Grey Street in Newcastle in 2026.
3. Blast from the Past
Kynren, the live-action show bringing 2,000 years of history to life, is undergoing a major transformation ahead of next summer. Kynren – The Storied Lands will be a new and ambitious historical theme park bringing English myths and legends to life. Explore the Land of the Vikings, step into the immersive Victorian Adventure and visit the Legend of The Wear for a retelling of the Lambton Worm. Work is also underway on the Lost Feather Arena. Once complete, the arena will include a lake, a sweeping hillside stage and a performance bridge, and (involving more than 300 birds) the displays are designed to explore the powerful and ancient relationship between birds and humanity, blending entertainment with a strong focus on conservation and biodiversity.
4. On Screen
There are so many gems coming to the small screen next year. We’re eagerly anticipating the newest series of Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes and Denise Welch will be returning to Waterloo Road from early 2026 as the school’s Head of French. We’re eagerly anticipating Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights featuring Margot Robbie, which releases on Valentine’s Day 2026 and was filmed around the Yorkshire Dales. It’s been confirmed that the outrageously funny Riot Women, which was filmed and set in Hebden Bridge, is returning for a second season.
5. Racing Ahead
With 18 days of high-quality flat racing at York, including May’s Dante Festival and the Sky Bet Ebor Festival in August combining fashion and fun with York’s oldest, richest and fastest races, Doncaster’s Lincoln Family Fun Day, and famous St Leger, racing over jumps at Wetherby, the special 1930s Style Race Day at Ripon in April, and Catterick’s family-friendly Summer Festival in late July, there’s so much great racing across Yorkshire for everyone to enjoy. Further north, The Northumberland Plate Festival, a major highlight of the North East’s racing calendar, returns this June with Plate Day taking place on Saturday 27th. Belsay International Horse Trials return slightly earlier, in May.
6. Big Energy
In a world first, Luke Jerram’s impressive seven-metre diameter installations Gaia and Museum of the Moon will be displayed together as part of Blyth’s first Festival of Energy. Running from Thursday 5th–Sunday 8th March, the festival is a part of Blyth Celebrates, and will feature large-scale artworks, performances, and immersive experiences inspired by the sea, wind, moon, and earth. Created to celebrate Blyth’s heritage, its people, and its role as a global leader in renewable energy, other highlights include the Tower of Light, a giant lighthouse bringing the quayside to life, and Whale Song, a life-sized humpback whale brought to life through projection and sound.
7. Take Pride
Northern Pride is one of the North’s largest pride celebrations, taking place over a fun-filled three day festival including its famous march through Newcastle. Though official dates are yet to be announced, the event typically takes place in July. Leeds Pride is one of Yorkshire’s largest pride celebrations (attracting more than 70,000 visitors last year) and in 2026 the event will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, promising to be bigger and better than ever when it returns in July. Elsewhere, York Pride returns to the city’s streets in May, and Sheffield’s Kelham Pride will also return in May.
8. Bookworm
The North is a hub of literary talent and its book festivals get better year on year. As we wait for the dates of Durham Book Festival to be announced, we’ve already pencilled in the return of Bay Tales in February and Hexham Book Festival in May. It has also been confirmed that Berwick Literary Festival will return in October. The Ilkley Literature Festival makes its return in October 2026, and the popular Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will return to Harrogate in late July.
9. The Greatest Show
One of the highlights of our year, The Great Yorkshire Show returns to Harrogate Showground in July. Running from 14th–17th, this year marks 167 years of the show and there’s so much to look forward to. In the Main Ring, catch motorbike stunt team The Bolddog FMX performing gravity defying stunts. Elsewhere, stop by the Great Yorkshire Food Theatre and the Game Cookery Theatre for chef demonstrations, visit the national breed shows and attend expert talks on all things agriculture. Make sure you stop by Living North’s stand to say hello while you’re there!
10. Total Eclipse of the Heart
A total solar eclipse is set to occur, crossing Greenland, Iceland and Spain this coming summer and although we won’t get the full show, the UK will still be treated to an exciting and significant partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12th August. Though roughly as common as lunar eclipses, they are visible from a much smaller area making them all the more special.
11. A Fresh Page
Some of the North’s top writing talent are preparing to release new work this year. Half a Dark Heart by H. F. Askwith is a sumptuous blend of Gothic horror and romantasy, following a girl with disturbing visions and mysterious powers who must unravel the mystery surrounding her sister’s disappearance. Emily P Webber’s Mining Men tells the story of Britain’s last generation of miners using personal interviews and extensive archival research. The next hotly-anticipated instalment in LJ Ross’s DCI Ryan series (due to be released in February) is Berwick, where we see our steadfast detective put to the test when his wife is arrested for murder. Author of the hit Slow Horses, Mick Herron is also set to release Clown Town, and as the northern king of mystery we know it’s going to be great.
12. Born to Run
This year marks 45 years of the biggest and best half marathon in the world, the AJ Bell Great North Run.Taking place on 13th September, it’s been reported that this year’s run has seen a record-breaking number of ballot entries. If you were unsuccessful in the first ballot, there’s always January’s ballot for a chance to get in on the fun.
13. Home, Sweet Home
We love bringing you the very latest from the world of interiors and 2026 is set to be an exciting year. Upcoming trends we’re looking forward to include curating a lived-in vibe in your home, swapping loud patterns for natural wood in the kitchen, and swapping classic frames for tapestries and wall hangings. Check in each month as we bring you the best advice on how to make your house a home in 2026.
14. Show Time
In January, there’s a world premier of Weird at Newcastle Theatre Royal, reimagining Shakespeare’s Macbeth through the eyes of the witches. On its first ever tour of the UK, The Karate Kid – The Musical is coming to Leeds Grand Theatre in May and Sunderland Empire in July. Expect breathtaking choreography and musical numbers as Daniel LaRusso tries to find his inner strength with the help of Mr Miyagi. Heathers The Musical will be showing at the same venue in September, and at Grand Opera House York, enjoy the heartwarming The Ballad of Johnny & June The Musical from July, a brand new musical telling the love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter. Don’t miss Strictly on tour when it comes to Utilita Arena Newcastle in January and Sheffield in February, featuring a sensational line-up of celebrities and pro dancers.
15. Music to Our Ears
There’s no end to the amazing musical acts heading our way in 2026. Florence + The Machine will be back to Newcastle and Sheffield in February as part of their Everybody Scream Tour. Local legend James Arthur will also be returning to the venues in the same month. Nineties boyband sensation Take That will be bringing their The Circus Live tour to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in June, and Lily Allen’s wildly popular upcoming tour for West End Girl will be coming to Newcastle’s O2 City Hall and Sheffield City Hall in March.
16. Loving Local
Each month we’re privileged to bring you the very best the North East and Yorkshire have to offer, from fabulous foodies, inspiring interiors, and stories from folk across the North to groundbreaking artists, actors and musicians. We can’t wait to spend another year sharing positive news with you within the pages of Living North, online at livingnorth.com, across social media and via our twice-weekly newsletters. We’ll always bring you a dose of happiness to lift your spirits. Start 2026 the best way with a subscription to Living North and get a complimentary ticket to every Living North Fair in the duration of your subscription.
17. Starry, Starry Night
Boasting some of the best dark skies in the country, we can’t wait for the return of Dark Sky season. In February, Kielder Observatory will host the North East Dark Skies Festival, with the aim of raising awareness of protecting the darkness for wildlife. The Yorkshire Dales National Park also has enviable views of the night sky. Their annual Dark Skies Festival will be returning from 13th February to 1st March 2026, with a whole host of fabulous events planned.
18. Northern Creativity
Sunday for Sammy, a biennial charity showcase of northern talent held in memory of the late actor Sammy Johnson, returns this February to Utilita Arena Newcastle. First held more than 25 years ago, past performances have included Tim Healy, Denise Welch, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Jill Halfpenny. Though the final bill is never made public, the charity can now count The 1975’s Matty Healy and Vera’s Brenda Blethyn among its patrons.
19. An Eye for Art
At The Bowes Museum in March, don’t miss Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary, running until September. This multi-gallery exhibition will feature rarely seen pieces, giving visitors a glimpse into one of Britain’s most provocative designers. For the first time, the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) will host the 2026 Turner Prize, one of the world’s leading artistic awards. The Turner Prize exhibition will open in autumn 2026. At Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Rise is the ambitious first solo museum exhibition from artist LR Vandy, opening in March, inspired by the last working ropery in the UK and featuring breathtaking sculptures made using found materials. At Leeds Gallery, the stunning ‘Don’t Let’s Ask for the Moon…’ exhibition celebrating Atkinson Grimshaw’s atmospheric moonlit scenes continues until April.
20. Hooray for Yorkshire
Taking place on 1st August each year, Yorkshire Day is a celebration of everything that makes the county unique. First established in 1975, each year, a new town or city is given the honour of hosting the day’s festivities, and this year the official hosts will be Goole. The town is also celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2026, and will host special Yorkshire Day civic celebrations in August to mark the milestone.
21. Naturally Lovely
Newcastle’s Nature Networks project is set to wrap up in February 2026, after working tirelessly to support pollinator networks in the city through habitat restoration. The Coastal Grasslands Reconnected project, delivered by the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership, successfully concludes in February too. This project focused on improving the state of the unique grassland areas which exist between Seaham and Blackhall Rocks. The North East Yorkshire Pine Marten Pathways Project will be coming to a close in 2026. Led by Forestry England, NatureSpy and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the project aims to assess how a viable population of Pine Martens can be supported in Yorkshire. Currently in its development stage (due to be completed in June 2026), Linking Levisham is a new project covering 2,880 acres which aims to restore natural habitats, increase ecosystem resilience and protect biodiversity.
22. Fun at the Fair
With so many talented makers and creators to celebrate, we can’t wait for the return of Living North’s fairs. Living North LIVE is at York Racecourse from 20th–22nd March and Newcastle Racecourse from 24–26th April making for a fabulous spring day out. Living North’s Christmas Fair will also make a return to the racecourses later in the year, kickstarting Christmas with a whole host of new exhibitors to discover in November. It’s the region’s biggest and best Christmas Fair and the North’s best independent shopping experience.
23. Full Steam Ahead
The ambitious Northumberland Line, connecting south east Northumberland to Newcastle for the first time in decades, is set to be completed in 2026. Stations at Blyth Bebside, Newsham, Ashington and Seaton Delaval are now in operation, with the final stations at Bedlington and Northumberland Park set to open early next year.
24. Sporting Chance
Besides the FIFA World Cup, there’s so much sport to look forward to this coming year. Yorkshire’s only Ironman competition will be taking place across Leeds this August. This year will also see England v Pakistan in a thrilling Test Match at Headingley in August and the ground is also hosting multiple fixtures of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, bringing together 12 of the world’s top cricketing teams. Mark the 21st of March for the Tyne-Wear derby match between Sunderland AFC and Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The Newcastle Red Bulls are also off to a strong start this year, with more fixtures taking place from early January onwards.
25. Barrel of Laughs
Northern comedian Ross Noble is bringing his Cranium of Curiosities tour to Doncaster’s Cast and Newcastle’s O2 City Hall in February, and to St George’s Hall in Bradford in March. You can also catch everyone’s favourite Sue Perkins at Hull City Hall and Grand Opera House York in January and then at Tyne Theatre & Opera House in February. In March, head to York Barbican and Durham Gala for the always-delightful Aisling Bea, and Maisie Adam returns to Leeds Grand Theatre and Tyne Theatre & Opera House in September.
26. …And You!
Whether you’re reading our pages every month, exploring our website, tagging us in your daily content on socials or attending our spring and Christmas fairs, we’re looking forward to spending another year hearing about your local area, and sharing it with you in 2026.
