The York Mystery Plays are a theatrical spectacle performed by the communities of the City of York, and they will return in June 2026 at locations across the city. Special midsummer performances will be staged as the Mysteries return to the Market Place in Shambles, where audiences will have the chance to experience several plays in this unique and atmospheric setting.

The York Mystery Plays were originally performed on decorated wagons that moved around the city so different crowds could watch each play. There were 48 plays, each staged by a different guild, and the full cycle could last up to 20 hours over several days.
Guilds performed stories linked to their trades—for example, the Shipwrights staged The Building of the Ark, and the Butchers performed The Crucifixion. The wagons followed a set route through the city, passing places such as Micklegate, Ouse Bridge, Coney Street, Stonegate, and the Minster. After nearly 200 years, the plays were stopped during the Reformation, and the last medieval performance was in 1569. They then remained untouched for almost 400 years as many of the original guilds disappeared.

The York Mystery Plays were brought back in 1951 with performances on a fixed stage in the Museum Gardens, a tradition that continued until 1988. They were then performed at York Theatre Royal in 1992 and 1996. Later productions took place at York Minster in 2000 and 2016, and the plays returned to the Museum Gardens again in 2012. 

Sunday 28th June and Sunday 5th July 2026

Book your tickets here https://www.yorkmysteryplays.co.uk/the-2026-festival/