United Kingdom
JORVIK Viking Festival – 16-22 February 2026
Why the JORVIK Festival matters for travel & group events
If you’re looking to offer your clients an unforgettable group travel experience in early 2026, the JORVIK
Viking Festival is a standout. Scheduled from 16–22 February 2026, this seven-day living-history spectacular in
York brings Viking heritage to life through combat displays, family workshops, feasting, and immersive events.
jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk+1
For a transport provider specialising in group coach hire, this presents a golden opportunity: coach travel from
major hubs such as Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham, seamless logistics, high-impact marketing for your clients
and strong sustainability credentials. In this article, you’ll find everything you need—from festival programme
insights, travel itinerary possibilities, coach logistics, multi-city landing suggestions, and tips to maximise
your group’s experience.
What is the JORVIK Viking Festival?
Origins and evolution of the festival
Hosted by the York Archaeology Trust through the JORVIK Viking Centre, this festival brings the Viking Age into the present with re-enactors, craft demonstrations and site activations across York. jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk+1 Beginning as a smaller heritage event, it has grown into one of the most immersive Viking-themed festivals in the UK, drawing thousands of visitors annually during a traditionally quieter period for city tourism.
The 2026 edition: key facts & figuresThe festival is scheduled from Monday, 16 February to Sunday, 22 February 2026. jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk+1 Organisers expect thousands of visitors, living-history camps, public battle re-enactments, Viking feasts, and a full roster of free and ticketed events across the city. This makes it ideal for group travel: the programme provides structure, the destination is iconic and accessible, and the timing (February) means you’re offering something outside the peak season.
Venue & dates – York, 16-22 February 2026
Schedule, access and ticket info
You’ll find the full event roster on the official site, which is already promoting the dates and encouraging
early bookings. Jorvik Viking
Festival+1
Some events are free (parades, outdoor encampments) while others (feasts, boot camps, combat shows) require
tickets. Groups should plan ahead for specialist events.
York is very accessible by road. For group coach hire:
- Pick-up from your base city (Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham) early morning to arrive in York ahead of the first activity.
- Drop-off ideally at a designated coach bay near the JORVIK Viking Centre (19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT) and other festival hubs.
- Plan for return transport after evening events or the following morning, depending on your group’s schedule. Coach travel offers built-in advantages: regulated rest times for drivers, seat-belted travel, group coordination, and carbon-emission savings vs individual car travel.
What to expect: highlights, live history, immersive experiences
Living-history encampments & combat spectacles
Expect Viking encampments, armoury displays, sword-fights and full-scale re-enactments in the streets of York—most notably the “March to Coppergate” and battle scenes near historic landmarks. jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk+1
Family-friendly events, evening feasts & workshops
There are workshops (e.g., “Berserker Bootcamp” for kids), mead tastings, Viking feasts in heritage venues, and evening entertainment. Jorvik Viking Festival+1 This variety means your client group could include families, corporate outings, school groups or heritage societies—all benefiting from dedicated transport solutions.
Multi-city coach hire options for your group
Here are tailored landing page sections for your clients, showing you cater to multiple departure cities:
Coach Hire from Manchester to JORVIK Viking FestivalDepart Manchester early-morning, arrive in York mid-morning. Drop-off near festival zone, pick-up after evening events or next morning. Perfect for northern-based groups avoiding rail congestion and offering full-day immersion.
Coach Hire from Leeds to JORVIK Viking FestivalA short one-hour coach ride from Leeds makes York very accessible. Ideal for school groups or heritage societies. Evening return or overnight stay, depending on group preference.
Coach Hire from Birmingham to JORVIK Viking Festival
For Midlands-based groups, depart overnight or early morning, arrive in York in time for conference breakfast or
first events. Return could include a break-stop and bagged debrief session on board.
Each of these pages should internal-link back to your main transport service page: “Coach Hire UK – The Coach
Company UK” and the event page itself: “JORVIK Viking Festival 2026 Details”.
Travel tips: comfort, compliance & group coordination
Recommended pick-up timings & drop-off plans- Aim for pick-up at least 90-120 minutes before your first festival activity, allowing for traffic buffer.
- Return pick-up: if evening events run late, schedule a coach for 22:00 or next-morning departure to avoid fatigue.
Safety, seat-belt compliance and sustainability credentials
- Use seat-belted coaches, ensure drivers are DBS checked and operating within legal working hours.
- Use this festival trip as a sustainability case-study: show CO₂ savings vs private cars, highlight your group transport credentials.
Itinerary suggestion: 7-day travel plan for your group
| Day | Activities |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Depart home city early morning, arrive in York, check in, evening welcome dinner. |
| Day 2 | Festival opening ceremonies, encampment tours, and family activities. |
| Day 3 | Main battle day – full programme, evening Viking feast. |
| Day 4 | Workshops in the morning, free afternoon in York city centre, optional brand-team debrief. |
| Day 5 | Return travel or optional second day’s events, afternoon departure and on-coach debrief. |
Engagement, community and cultural impact of the festival
Supporting local heritage and tourism in YorkThe JORVIK Viking Festival is more than entertainment—it underpins York’s tourism calendar in what is traditionally an off-peak month. jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk Group travel to this event supports the regional economy, heritage preservation and brand experience.
Sustainability: group travel benefits & carbon savingsBy bringing your clients in on coach travel, you’re aligning with sustainability narratives: fewer individual cars, lower emissions, and central coordination. Use this as part of your value proposition.
Conclusion
The JORVIK Viking Festival 2026 (16–22 February) presents a powerful opportunity for your students, staff and
even clients, and you to craft a memorable group travel experience rooted in heritage, culture and immersive
event programming. With coach logistics handled via The Coach Company UK, you deliver more than transport: you
offer a seamless journey, strong ESG credentials, and a standout event for families, corporate groups or travel
clubs. Internal-link to your main transport service page and use city-specific landing pages (Manchester, Leeds,
Birmingham departures) to enhance SEO visibility and cater to diverse client bases.
Book early, plan meticulously and ensure your group is ready to march like Vikings through York.
