A major new public art trail featuring ten giant sculptures will launch across York, North Yorkshire, on 29 June 2026 to encourage residents and visitors to explore the city centre. The project, titled The Watchers of York, is being produced by Make It York in partnership with York Minster. The free trail will run until 31 August 2026, placing the large figures in hidden gardens and along cobbled streets to create a landmark event for the summer cultural calendar.
The figures are inspired by the stone grotesques found on the exterior of the Minster and have been designed to look like they are “causing mischief” in the city. Stonemasons from the cathedral’s Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management created the original stone maquette, which was then used by Yorkshire-based Norse Sky Ltd to build the final fibreglass versions. These large sculptures are intended to bring historic architecture to life by moving traditional shapes from the walls of the cathedral into public spaces where families can easily see them.
Local and national artists can apply for a £1,000 commission fee to design and paint one of the sculptures, with the deadline for applications set for 17 April 2026. The trail will also include work from York St John University, students at York College, and the York Mystery Plays, ensuring local young people and cultural organisations are involved in the project. There is also a dedicated sculpture for community groups and local charities to help design, making the trail a collaborative effort across the whole city.
The launch of the trail will coincide with the York Mystery Plays, which this year includes a first-ever two-week fringe festival. This combined celebration helps support the city’s status as a UNESCO City of Media Arts by mixing traditional heritage with modern creativity. The project is part of a wider plan to bring more creative events to the streets of York and support local organisations.
Residents can pick up a physical map for the trail from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre starting in mid-June 2026. The project follows other successful local art trails, such as the Tansy Beetles (York Trailblazers) and the Snooks, which previously brought thousands of people into the city centre to explore. This year’s trail is designed to be accessible for everyone and is free to attend throughout the summer months.
