Colour & Light: Eye of York road closures reminder

City of York Council says the roads in the Eye of York close to Clifford’s Tower between the junction with Tower Street will be closed on evenings ahead of and during Colour & Light.

Starting in the early hours of Tuesday (February 3) and ending at midnight on Sunday, February 22 the road will be closed daily between 5pm and 9pm.

As previously reported by The Press, Colour & Light is back for 2026 and will be one of the city’s biggest light projection shows to date.

The spectacle will transform the Eye of York with large-scale illuminations revealing the rogues, rebels and legendary figures who have shaped York’s history.

For the first time, two of York’s landmark buildings will be illuminated together, as York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower become a combined canvas for a fully choreographed, family-friendly projection.

Last year’s event at York Minster attracted more than 100,000 people and showcased the natural world in and around the city with creatures – from mice to dragons – lighting up the front of the building. 

Carl Alsop, operations manager at York BID, said: “Colour and Light has become a real bright spot in York’s winter calendar, and we’re proud to be bringing it back bigger than ever for 2026.

“Making the event completely free is incredibly important to us – it means anyone can come into the city centre, enjoy the atmosphere, and experience our city after dark.

“By working with York Museums Trust and English Heritage, we’ve been able to create a show on our biggest scale yet and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

It runs from Wednesday (February 4) to Sunday, February 22 taking in the school half-term break with the show starting at 6pm and running to 9pm nightly, with shows roughly every 10 minutes on a continuous loop.

Free to watch, the event will be held every night for three hours.

Traffic signs and barriers will be in place to inform motorists, and emergency services will be allowed access.

During the closures an alternative route for diverted drivers will be signed via York’s Inner Ring Road.

The council say it will not affect access for residents and business owners.

For more information, please contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk.