Eminent Scarborough BBC broadcasters headline eclectic Big Ideas Festival
From practical and academic archaeology, via classical music concerts, poetry, jazz, theatre, Americana gigs and historical talks to a bespoke Sex Pistols exhibition, the forthcoming Big Ideas By The Sea festival in May again offers an increasingly wide range of arts events.
Two leading Scarborough journalists who have pursued high-profile BBC television careers appear in a joint event which is one of several key highlights in this year’s programme.
Renowned documentary broadcaster Peter Taylor CBE and the BBC arts correspondent David Sillito will be in conversation together at a unique event to be held at St Mary’s Church.
The 2026 festival features four differing classical music concerts that includes the debut collaboration with the celebrated North York Moors Chamber Music Festival who will stage a special Schubert concert at St Martin’s Church.
A special day-long Archaeology Symposium at The Grand Hotel features three leading international specialists in the field of human remains, Professor Joanne Fletcher, Dr Stephen Buckley and Professor Charlotte Roberts.
The highly popular Big Day Out at Scarborough Castle (including the Legio VI Victrix Roman Legion re-enactment group from York) is also prominent fixture.
The previously sold-out Community Choir Finale concert returns once again to St Mary’s Church on the last evening.
Throughout the festival period, The Big Dig archaeology excavation takes place once more at Paradise with numerous junior school groups participating in the first week and is then open to the public during the second week.
Big Ideas By The Festival 2026 is at various Scarborough venues from May 15-30.
For more details and ticket information, see bigideasbythesea.com