Date: 3 February 2026

Enjoy a Viking takeover at the Yorkshire Museum this February Half-Term. 

Saturday 14 February – Sunday 22 February 2026 

This February Half-Term, explore the Yorkshire Museum’s star exhibition, Viking North, and celebrate all things Viking. Join immersive performances from History Riot on Tuesday 17 and Friday 20 February and listen to Viking tales from a winter camp with a spotlight on star objects in the exhibition. Join artist led workshops on Wednesday 18 and Saturday 21 February for Creative Families, where everyone can make and take home their own Viking inspired clay coil pots. Take part in additional Make and Play sessions, drop in any day between Tuesday 17 February and Sunday 22 February for self-guided creative activities. Sessions are open for all ages to enjoy, included in general admission and take inspiration from the Viking festivities.   

From 16 February – 22 February 2026 the Vikings are taking over York and returning the city to its Nordic roots in the much-loved JORVIK Viking Festival. A popular event in York’s seasonal calendar with a living history camp, workshops, tours, traditional crafts and more. Explore more at the Yorkshire Museum and get hands on with some Viking objects with an amazing handling collection kindly loaned for the duration of the festival by York Archaeological Trust. 

The Yorkshire Museum transports visitors throughout ancient history, right back to prehistoric Yorkshire. Walk with the dinosaurs and have a go at feeding Alan the dinosaur in a Virtual Reality experience. Explore Jurassic fossils of magnificent sea creatures, then move forward in time and try on some replicas of Mesolithic antlers from Yorkshire in the Star Carr exhibition. Star Carr is closing soon, visit now to see it in its final weeks. Discover Roman York and walk as the Romans might have, across a magnificent mosaic, see pottery and artefacts from Eboracum and learn about the people who lived and worked in the Roman city. 

Join the team at the Yorkshire Museum for an unforgettable half-term, filled with history, and return again using your general admission ticket, valid for 12 months. A new and exciting exhibition for 2026 will be announced shortly and will be included in admission. As a registered charity, all ticket sales support the vital work of York Museums Trust, and help us continue to share the wonderful collections, gardens, buildings and stories in our care for generations to come.