NewsBeat
York Ice Trail 2026 – what’s new for this year’s event
York Ice Trail 2026 began this morning (February 7) and the streets are packed with residents and guests ticking off the 36 sculptures dotted around the city centre.
Bradleys the Jewellers in Low Petergate is always one of the most popular sculptures (Image: Kevin Glenton)
A familiar site across the city has been people enthusiastically ducking in and out of different corners of the city like Walmgate, Museum Gardens and Merchant Adventurers’ Hall ticking off sculptures with names such as The Wizard of Ouse!, Bettys Bern Bears and Mjölnir – The Bringer of Lightning.
Recommended reading:
York Ice Trail returns for winter 2026 – here’s everything you need to know
More than 30 frosty ice sculptures returning to the York Ice Trail
Parliament Street has undergone a transformation with nearly a quarter of the sculptures calling it home, and an Ice Village has also been created there.
Parliament Street has been transformed into an “enchanted city” (Image: Kevin Glenton)
At 12pm today near Browns department store, expert sculptors from Icebox treated a packed audience to the 360-degree creation of a special ice castle from a huge block stood on a plinth.
Further along Parliament Street and new for 2026, the experience went up a notch for those lucky enough to get tickets for ice carving masterclasses.
Greg Pittard, from specialists Icebox was expertly adjudicating after briefing the morning intake on safety and how to use the special chisel on the fresh block.
Greg Pittard and Pavla Lippman from Icebox (Image: Kevin Glenton)
He said: “The guys are carving polar bears, we’ve given them a cheat sheet and some tips on creativity to make their best version, and also how to avoid chopping its head off.
“It’s great for us to try something new at this year’s event – we spoke to the organisers and we’re glad it came to frution.”
The Ice Masterclass is so popular with visitors its sold-out its allocation of tickets for the entire weekend.