Looking ahead to the 'best one day show in the North of England' at Pateley Bridge and crowds of 15,000

Preparations are under way for Pateley’s Bridge’s biggest event of the year which attracts crowds of up to 15,000.

With a heritage stretching back over the centuries, Nidderdale Show is affectionately known as ‘Pateley Show’ and is widely regarded as a ‘proper agricultural show’.

This year’s celebration of the best of agricultural traditions will take place in the beautiful surroundings of Bewerley Park on Sunday, September 20.

As many as 15,000 people are expected to attend an event which was officially established in 1895 by the Nidderdale Agricultural Society.

But its roots go all the way back to medieval times and the historic Pateley Bridge Fair which was granted by charter in 1320.

Writing in his Showing the Way column on the Nidderdale Show website, local author and writer Lambert Coverdale said: "It is debatable whether those early pioneers of the Nidderdale Show, back in 1895, imagined that this agricultural show would go from strength to strength over the ensuing years to become one of the premier one day shows in the North of England.

"Today it still showcases that we produce some of the finest food in the world.”

With just eight weeks to go until this year’s show, entries for classes for Nidderdale Show 2026 are already open and tickets are on sale.

Renowned for top class livestock and horse sections, Nidderdale Show boasts one of the finest exhibitions of animals anywhere in the UK and also attracts more than 170 different trade stand exhibitors.

The competitive classes include cattle, sheep and pigs, pygmy goats, horses and show jumping, fur and feather, young farmers competitions, sheep dog trials, dry stone walling, vintage tractors, commercial vehicles and machinery, children's classes, horticulture, farm crops, home produce and handicrafts.

Attractions include terrier racing, Summerbridge & Dacre Band, forestry exhibition, Pateley Pantry marquee, trade stands, craft marquee, heritage marquee, family area marquee, children’s entertainment, funfair and a cricket match.

The Nidderdale Show traditionally marks the end of the agricultural show season.

General admission tickets and memberships are available to purchase now.