She's the cabaret siren, bringing a blaze of Broadway glamour, old Hollywood shimmer and flame-haired icons to Ripon – and she cannot, she insists, do a show without funny bones. There is a particular kind of performer who walks into a room and instantly rearranges its atmosphere. Amber Topaz is one of those.

US-born baritone Davóne Tines, renowned for his work in opera and gospel, has been described as an “electrifying” performer (The Guardian). The Grammy-nominated singer, named Musical America’s Vocalist of the Year in 2022, is appearing at the Wesley Centre, in Harrogate, on 12 June.

Harrogate International Festivals has announced the shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award for new UK and Irish writers. The winner will be revealed on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 23 July.

Raworths Salon North returns with star-studded line-up at The Crown Hotel. The latest instalment of Raworths Salon North – dubbed the "night out for your brain" – comes to The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, on Thursday 4 June, featuring an all-female line-up of award-winning speakers.

Almost ten years since her last appearance in Aldborough, the famed clarinettist Emma Johnson MBE is making a much-anticipated return with her star-studded trio. Described by The Times as ‘Britain's favourite clarinettist’, Emma Johnson is one of the few clarinet players to have made a career as a soloist.

Harrogate International Festivals has revealed the full programme for the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious celebration of crime fiction, at a special reception at Hachette, Carmelite House in London. This year marks Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s twenty-third year.

It’s back, and it’s bigger than ever. The much-loved Spiegeltent makes a joyous return to Harrogate this summer with 10 days of non-stop entertainment and unforgettable nights.

Ripon Theatre Festival (RTF) launches its 2026 programme on 27 March, promising a summer to look forward to. Firmly established as a key date in the region’s cultural calendar, this year’s festival runs 5-12 July with 8 days and nights of performances and activities.

A nationwide hunt is now on for the best UK classical vocal talent of 2026. Hosted by the prestigious Northern Aldborough Festival in North Yorkshire, the annual New Voices Singing Competition returns for a fourth year. The competition provides a springboard for emerging talent, offering paid performance opportunities for winners, as well as a £7,000 prize fund.

Rebecca Philipson, author of ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ and Creative Thursday attendee: “I took part in Creative Thursday in 2023 and 2024. I was still drafting ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ and the workshops were incredibly helpful.

One of Yorkshire’s classical music festivals has announced its 2026 line-up. Now in its 32nd year, the Northern Aldborough Festival puts the North Yorkshire village at the epicentre of classical music for ten days, from 18 to 27 June, 2026.

Harrogate International Festivals, a registered arts charity with a mission to bring accessible arts, literature, community and education projects to Yorkshire and beyond is taking The Big Read on tour for a series of free events in libraries across Yorkshire and the North of England on 22-24 September.

It's been a few years since British country music really exploded onto the charts with the dominance of Ward Thomas and The Shires on the airwaves and in the album charts. In the time since, country festivals have really exploded across the UK, and Blackpool's response, The British Country Music Festival, has grown each year, and it is now in its sixth year.

Summer is festival season, and while many seem to be trying to get ever bigger, Krankenhaus is very much the tiny kid brother. It may be small in size (just 1,500 people), but it’s mighty in scope and ambition.

Normally considered a milestone event for teenagers following their exam results, the Leeds Festival continues to draw one of the country's youngest festival audiences.

A celebrated playwright, a national treasure, and a host of bestselling authors and household names take part in the first ever Whitby Lit Fest. More than 50 authors will take part in venues across the coastal town from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 November.

Berwins Salon North – the evening that gets everybody talking – returns this autumn as three special guest speakers explore the complexities of relationships, how they shape us and how they can help us deal with life’s challenges.

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival celebrates its most successful event ever after record numbers of crime fiction fans from around the world flocked to the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate to enjoy more than 30 events with 120 authors over four days, 17-20 July.

Bradford Live is inviting people to come and explore the building and see the amazing restoration that has taken place in this iconic venue as part of a fun-packed free family fun day, The event will include access to all the venue’s event spaces and a chance for children to enjoy themselves with a treasure hunt, face painting and other activities.

Bestselling novelist Elly Griffiths will be honoured with the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her remarkable crime fiction writing career and ‘unwavering commitment to the genre.’ The award will be presented at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s most prestigious celebration of crime fiction and thriller writing, on Thursday 17t…