The City of York Council has approved a trial rest day for the city’s Christmas market on Tuesdays throughout the 2026 season. The market, organised by Make It York, will run from Thursday 12 November to Sunday 20 December 2026, operating from 10.30am to 7.00pm on six days a week. On Tuesdays, stalls will be closed to improve access to city centre shops, banks, and other services for residents and visitors.
The move follows restrictions in the 2024-2025 season, when an Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO), requested by North Yorkshire Police, barred Blue Badge holders and other vehicles from the city centre during market hours. On Tuesdays in 2026, Blue Badge holders will be permitted access via a designated loop route through Goodramgate, King’s Square, and Colliergate. Additional temporary Hostile Vehicle Measures (HVM) will be installed to protect Church Street, Low Petergate, and King’s Square.
Support for the rest day has come from the York Disability Rights Forum and other disability activists. Amanda Cooper of the forum highlighted that previous restrictions created significant barriers for disabled people trying to reach essential services, such as banks, which, she said, “could cause some to go into financial difficulties or debt.”
While the council acknowledged that the change could result in an estimated loss of spending between £2.6 million and £7.8 million, according to development lead Garry Taylor, officials stated the decision was made to strike a balance between accessibility and security. The council proceeded with the trial despite advice from North Yorkshire Police, which had recommended keeping the market open all week for maximum security, but accepted that the final decision rested with the council.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
