Ilkley Manor House has announced a summer of art, photography, music, makers, theatre and Yorkshire stories.
This summer, Ilkley Manor House will open its doors, galleries and courtyard for a rich programme of exhibitions, photography, live music, family activities, makers’ fairs, Yorkshire Day celebrations and open-air theatre — bringing one of Ilkley’s most historic buildings vividly to life.
Running throughout June, July and August 2026, the summer programme invites visitors to experience the Manor House not only as a heritage site, but as a living cultural space: a place where history, creativity, community and contemporary voices meet.
From contemporary art and local stories to photography, Shakespeare, handmade work, poetry and family-friendly activities, the season offers something for returning visitors and first-time audiences alike.
The programme begins in June with two exhibitions exploring memory, place and the imaginative possibilities of objects and stories. RE-Play, curated by artist Kathryn Fox and Andreea Chițan, brings together artists whose work reflects on play, repetition and materiality. Alongside it, Victorian Life at the Old Castle looks back at the lives of those connected to the Manor House cottages, opening up the human stories embedded in the building’s past. Both exhibitions run from 6–28 June.
Also continuing through the summer is Vivid Impressions by the Solar Gallery Artists, a vibrant exhibition with a colourful selection of works by this group of locally based artists.
In July, Ilkley Manor House becomes one of the key venues for photoILKLEY, the town’s grassroots photography festival, which returns from 3–19 July with the theme HUMAN:NATURE. Through exhibitions, workshops, and participatory activity, the festival explores the relationship between people, place, bodies, care, memory, identity, landscape and belonging.
The courtyard will also play a central role in the summer programme. On 11 July, Ilkley Manor House will host live music as part of Ilkley Live, welcoming audiences into one of the town’s most atmospheric outdoor spaces.
Families will also be able to take part in creative sessions, part of the popular Family Fun activities which happen every second Saturday of the month.
Later in July, the much-loved Summer Makers’ Fair returns on 25–26 July, bringing together artists, designers and independent makers for a weekend of handmade work, creativity and community atmosphere. Visitors will be able to browse stalls, meet makers and enjoy the Manor House as a lively summer destination.
The season closes in theatrical style over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the return of Bard in the Yard, presented in partnership with Ilkley Playhouse. Shakespeare will once again fill the Manor House courtyard, with performances of The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing bringing drama, wit and language into the open air.
At the end of August, Ilkley Manor House is also proud to host the launch of So Let It Be: Collected Poems by Colin Speakman, a celebrated Yorkshire writer, campaigner and author whose work has been deeply connected to the landscapes, history and people of the region for decades.
Julia Richards, Joint Chair of trustees, said:
“Our summer programme shows Ilkley Manor House at its best: rooted in history, but full of life, creativity and contemporary voices. Across exhibitions, photography, music, family activity, makers’ fairs, poetry and theatre, we want people to feel that the Manor House is a place where stories continue to unfold, and where everyone is welcome to be part of them.”
With many free events and activities throughout the season, Ilkley Manor House offers visitors the chance to experience art, heritage and community in one of the town’s most distinctive settings.
The Manor House is open at weekends from 11am–4pm. Some events require booking.
For full programme details and booking information, visit: www.ilkleymanorhouse.org/whats-on
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