The York Early Music Christmas Festival returns with Christmas music spanning centuries and continents, featuring a line-up of world-class performers.
Discover Christmas in 17th century Paris, medieval music from Spain, festive overtures from 18th century London, and a celebration of the life of John Dowland, plus a specially commissioned Carol.
The 2026 festival runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 13 December.
Most concerts will take place in the atmospheric medieval surroundings of St Margaret’s Church, the perfect venue to enjoy a musical Christmas experience.
The Christmas celebrations open with a concert by the current New Generation Baroque Ensemble, Bellot Ensemble, whose concert at the Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival was broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.
Providing a spectacular finale to the festivities, the festival has commissioned a brand-new Carol from NCEM Young Composer Award alumnus, the award-winning composer Owain Park.
Owain is Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers, and director of The Gesualdo Six, who recently took the BBC Proms by storm. The Carol will be performed by former BBC New Generation Artist soprano Ruby Hughes together with lutenist extraordinaire and festival friend Jonas Nordberg as part of * Amidst the Shades*, a concert celebrating the 400th anniversary of John Dowland.
Other highlights include:
- ArteSonado: Mon 7 Dec, 6.30pm, NCEM. Medieval specialists from Spain present music and dance inspired by the 13th century court of Alfonso X, promoted in association with the Instituto Cervantes**.**
- Echo Vocal Ensemble: Cozzolani Unbound!: Sun 5 Dec, 6.30pm, NCEM. Join the cloistered world of 17th century Milanese nun Chiara Margarita Cozzolani sharing her extraordinarily dramatic world from her Vespers to The Magnificat.
- Yorkshire Bach Choir with Yorkshire Baroque Soloists: Bach Mass in B Minor: Sat 5 Dec, 7pm, Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, University of York. Festival favourites return with a performance of JS Bach’s truly magnificent Mass in B Minor.
- The Portrait Players: Sun 6 Dec, 2pm, Bedern Hall, York. Christmas in 17th century Paris, invoking mystery, revelry and merriment with music by Couperin, Marais and more.
- Spiritato: Handel and the New Society: Tues 8 Dec, 6.30pm NCEM. A programme of glorious overtures, rarely heard jewels and Giuseppe Sammartini’s Christmas Concerto.
Dr Delma Tomlin, MBE, director, NCEM said: “The York Early Music Festival ends what has been a very exciting 50th anniversary year here at the NCEM with a fantastic programme of music, harking back to Christmas past but also celebrating the new.
“Highlights include our very own Christmas Carol composed by the award-winning Owain Park who is no stranger to our audiences. There’s also an array of festive music from Europe, workshops and talks, accompanied by lots of delicious mince pies!
“We hope you will join us to enjoy the glorious array of music on offer this December.”