The York Early Music Christmas Festival was created in 1997 to introduce audiences to the extraordinary wealth of music associated with Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, from the Medieval to the Baroque, intertwined with the sagas, stories and tales of the north.

The 2026 Christmas festival features guest artists including Ruby Hughes soprano & Jonas Nordberg lute; the sparking instrumental ensemble Spiritato led by violinist Huw Daniels; Echo Vocal Ensemble directed by Sarah Latto; Spanish medieval specialists ArteSonado; Ex Corde Vocal Ensemble with York Waits and Ceruleo.  See below for full details including information on associated workshops, NCEM Platform Artists and Yorkshire Bach Choir’s performance of JS Bach’s monumental B Minor Mass.