16 – 22 February 2026, York, UK
It may be taking place during the February half term holiday, but organisers of JORVIK Viking Festival have had to expand capacity for the events aimed at adult audiences, after sell-outs on many key events.
This year’s JORVIK Viking Festival includes a host of additional workshops for adults, including blacksmithing in the living history encampment, flatbow making, leather working and nalebinding, which is a type of Viking knitting!
“As children, we always used to take home a souvenir from a visit to an attraction or event. As adults, many people want something more – and these workshops not only provide them with a handmade item that they have crafted with their own hands to take home, but also new skills and perhaps a new hobby that will last long beyond the festival,” comments Mark Jackson, who organises JORVIK Viking Festival for York Archaeology. “This tradition of learning is something that the Norse inhabitants of York would have passed on from generation to generation, so it is wonderful to see such enthusiasm the skills being kept alive!”
Indeed, with most of the workshops already sold out, additional capacity has been added to the blacksmithing workshops to help meet demand – but they are not expected to last for long.
Alongside the hands-on events, the Festival team has organised a sell-out programme of evening events – including the Viking Feast at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, and immersive Viking-themed theatrical experience at Barley Hall called ‘Jorvik’, and mead tasting!
A new event and late addition to the programme takes place at Barley Hall on Tuesday 17 February, when the team from York Distillery launches its new 866 Viking Vodka with an evening of tasting with a distinctly historical theme from their extensive range of spirits, in the medieval Great Hall. Tickets are £35 and available from the Festival website.
For those who prefer ale rather than spirits, JORVIK Viking Centre will be hosting an exclusive York Refectory Beer Tasting Experience with Northern Monk on Tuesday 19 February, with sessions at 7.30pm and 8.15pm. A visit to JORVIK followed by award-winning beers and discussion of evolution of beer over the centuries, including a taste of contemporary brewing at its best from Northern Monk. Tickets are £30 per person.
The last few tickets are also available for Beowulf by Candlelight at St Helen’s Church (opposite Betty’s in St Helen’s Square) on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 February at 7.00pm. Peter Carrington-Porter presents a captivating retelling of the classic legend, Beowulf in a candle-lit setting. Tickets are £20 per person, with prebooking essential.
This year’s Addyman Lecture, “JORVIK: A Portal to the Past”, takes place within JORVIK Viking Centre on the evening of Tuesday 17 February. Chris Walker, creative director at Bright White, will talk about the creation of the time portal, the newest feature in JORVIK’s introductory area which uses the latest video game technology to take visitors into the Viking world in an exciting and engaging way. He’ll also explore how this method of interpretation could become an integral part of many new museums as the skills and technology become ever more advanced. Tickets are £25 per person, including a visit to JORVIK itself.
