Inaugurated in the summer of 2023, the Scarborough Fair festivals have comprised a wide-ranging and eclectic spectrum of arts, heritage, music, sports and cultural events, with the five differently themed main festivals - Scarborough Streets, Fringe, Art, Extreme and Lights – spread throughout the calendar year.

Organisers of the series have now announced potentially highly encouraging figures for 2025 that have exceeded their expectations.

Recently calculated, the estimated operating figures for last year reveal that eight festivals (nine if the collaboration with Big Ideas by the Sea is included) were staged with 332 events and installations (2,018 instances – number of performances or dates that an exhibition/installation were running) in 132 locations ranging across the town.

The vast majority of these events offered free admission welcoming in the region of 100,000 people, selling 6,680 tickets, with an average ticket price of £4.

The Ukrainian Choir at the Scarborough Fair’s Countdown to Christmas performances. Photo by Julian Caddy.

placeholder image — The Ukrainian Choir at the Scarborough Fair’s Countdown to Christmas performances. Photo by Julian Caddy.

Scarborough Fair festivals director Julian Caddy stated: “At its heart, The Scarborough Fair is a community-driven organisation, which is there to help nurture and support local talent, as well as acting as a prominent showcase for Scarborough to visitors from far and wide.”

“We are pleased at how the events have been received over the past three years and look forward to developing them for many years to come”.

Among the numerous highlights throughout the year included the appearance of 360 Allstars urban circus street culture event at the Grand Hall at Scarborough Spa, the recent specially commissioned Drone Display at the Castle and the Scarborough Histories and Mysteries church projections at St Mary’s.

Both of these latter pre-Christmas events celebrated the 400th anniversary of the town as Britain’s first seaside resort.

Scarhorough, created by a formation of drones at the display at Scarborough Castle in November 2025. Photo by Wandering Photography.

The Scarborough Fair is part-funded through the UK Government’s Town Deals initiative and additional Scarborough Streets Festival events will be taking place throughout 2026, supported by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund.

The new Scarborough Fair 2026 Summer Season commences on May 15, with the Big Ideas By The Sea Festival featuring BBC broadcaster Peter Taylor CBE among other eminent speakers between May 15 and 30.

There follows Scarborough Streets (May 29-31), Scarborough Fringe (June 12-21) and Scarborough Art (July 5-August 2).

Registration is open until March 13 for artists and creative individuals or groups to take part in the 2026 editions of Scarborough Art and Scarborough Fringe.

For further information see scarboroughfair.uk or search @thescarbfair on Facebook and Instagram.