Richmond MayFest 2026

About

Richmond MayFest returns for 2026 as a community celebration of Maytime, blending history, tradition and family fun across the early May bank holiday weekend. With performances, parades, storytelling, music, dance and plenty of local involvement, the festival brings the streets and venues of Richmond to life with colour, creativity and heritage.

Date & Time

• Friday 1 May 2026 to Monday 4 May 2026 (early May bank holiday weekend)
• Main daytime activities on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with an opening talent show on Friday evening

Location

Various venues across Richmond, North Yorkshire, including Richmond Castle, Richmondshire Museum, the Market Place, Town Hall and local schools and churches.

Why Attend

Richmond MayFest is a chance to experience traditional and historical performance in a relaxed, friendly setting. The festival combines local community groups with professional artists, filling the town with music, dance, storytelling and family activities. It is rooted in centuries of Maytime celebration and offers something for all ages, from castle fairs and folk walks to concerts, ceilidhs and parades.

Event Highlights

• MayFest Fair at Richmond Castle with music, dancing, storytelling, craft stalls, games, circus fun, food and drink
• MayFest MiniFolkFest on Saturday night in the Town Hall, with the MayFest Tavern
• Ballad Walks around Richmond with Vivien Ellis, exploring history through songs and tales
• MayFest BaroqueFest on Sunday afternoon at St Mary’s
• MayFest Parade on Monday morning, with costumes and creations made at MayFest Makers craft sessions
• Sea shanty sessions with the Auckland Shanty Singers and the Ran Tanners
• MayFest ceilidh at Richmond School on Sunday
• Day of Dance with Richmond on Swale Morris Men and guest sides
• Hilarious panto from RADS at the Castle on Monday
• Many more performances, workshops and community events across the town

Admission

Richmond MayFest is mostly free, with a mix of open-access events and ticketed sessions:

• Free events in the Market Place and Town Hall (Saturday coffee morning £2.00 on the door)
• Local residents (DL9, DL10 and DL11 postcodes) receive free entry to Richmond Castle on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and to Richmondshire Museum on Saturday and Sunday with proof of address
• Evening events and workshops are ticketed, with discounts available for local residents
• Standard admission applies for visitors to Richmond Castle and Richmondshire Museum who are not in the local postcode areas
• Festival donations buckets at venues for voluntary contributions to support Richmond MayFest

Plan Your Visit

Richmond MayFest 2026 runs across multiple venues throughout the town, with outdoor performances, indoor concerts, workshops and walks spread over the four days. The main programme focuses on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with a Friday evening talent show to start the celebrations.

Local residents in DL9, DL10 and DL11 postcodes are encouraged to bring proof of address to access free entry at Richmond Castle and Richmondshire Museum. Visitors can explore the full schedule, evening event tickets, workshop details and any updates on the official website.

To support the festival directly, donations can be made online at richmondmayfest.org/donate.