From hidden medieval rooms and artists’ studios to bestselling authors, opera and some of the country’s finest classical musicians, Beverley has a busy cultural calendar ahead this autumn.
There is something rather special about Beverley in autumn. The Westwood begins to change colour, the evenings draw in and the town’s medieval churches, Georgian streets and old buildings somehow look even better than they did in summer.
It is also when Beverley’s cultural calendar really comes alive.
Over the next few months there are concerts, exhibitions, literature, heritage, theatre, open studios and opportunities to explore parts of the town most of us normally walk straight past.
So we have gone through the programmes and picked out some of the cultural highlights worth putting in the diary.
Heritage Open Days
11–20 September | Beverley and across the East Riding
Autumn begins with one of the best opportunities of the year to explore the history sitting on our doorstep.
Heritage Open Days brings more than 100 free events to the East Riding, including buildings and places which are not normally open to the public.
Beverley has an especially strong programme.
Visitors can explore Beverley Friary, the priest’s room and bell tower at St Mary’s, Norwood House and the former Beverley Savings Bank on Lairgate.
There are also guided visits to the Second World War anti-aircraft battery at Butt Farm, historical walks around Molescroft, visits to the restored Syntan barge and specialist tours at Beverley Minster.
For anyone who has spent years walking past one of Beverley’s old buildings wondering what is actually behind the door, this is the weekend to find out.
Between Stillness and Story
18–30 September | Beverley Minster | Free
The Minster becomes an art gallery for part of September with a contemporary exhibition by Karen Riddle and Renata Anna Larkin.
Between Stillness and Story will be exhibited in the South Transept and is free to visit.
It follows the Hull and East Riding Broderers exhibition earlier in September and forms part of a surprisingly extensive programme of art, music and craft taking place at the Minster this autumn.
Beverley Minster Organ Concert
19 September | Beverley Minster
The Minster’s new assistant organist Llewelyn Blezard-Greenwell gives his first recital at the church at 6pm.
The concert forms part of the Minster’s 2026 organ series, with tickets costing £10 and admission free for under-18s.
Later in the autumn, Director of Music Robert Poyser performs on 3 October, followed by a concert combining organ and Riverside Brass on 7 November.
New Paths Autumn Festival
24–26 September | St Mary’s Church, Beverley
One of the jewels in Beverley’s cultural calendar returns at the end of September.
New Paths brings internationally recognised classical musicians to Beverley and places them inside one of the town’s most beautiful buildings.
This year’s artists include baritone Roderick Williams OBE, pianist Martin James Bartlett and countertenor Hugh Cutting, with concerts taking place at St Mary’s Church.
New Paths has developed a reputation far beyond East Yorkshire and its autumn festival offers the unusual opportunity to hear musicians of this calibre in the intimate surroundings of a medieval Beverley church.
If you have never tried one of its concerts before, this might be the autumn to change that.
A History of Printmaking
Until 24 October | Eastgate Studio | Free
Eastgate Studio is taking visitors through more than 1,000 years of printmaking this autumn.
The exhibition explores the development of print from early relief techniques through to contemporary methods, alongside working materials and prints produced in the studio.
There will also be live demonstrations.
The exhibition runs Wednesday to Saturday from 11am until 4pm and is family friendly.
Beverley Open Studios
3–4 and 10–11 October | Across Beverley and surrounding villages
For two weekends in October, Beverley itself effectively becomes an art gallery.
Artists and makers across the HU17 area open their studios and exhibition spaces, giving visitors the chance to meet the people producing the work and see where it is actually created.
The programme includes ceramics, painting, printmaking, jewellery, photography and other contemporary art and crafts.
Beverley Minster is among the venues taking part, hosting work by Helga Princz, Gail E. Hurst, Oleh Mazurchak and Sylvia Holmes in the South Transept from 3 to 11 October.
It is also a good excuse to explore parts of Beverley and its surrounding villages you might otherwise never visit.
East Riding Festival of Words
October | Beverley and across the East Riding
October also brings one of the biggest literary events in the East Riding.
The Festival of Words returns with bestselling authors, performers and speakers discussing everything from crime and history to fantasy, romance and contemporary culture.
This year’s programme includes Patrick Gale, Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, John Ironmonger and Dave Haslam.
One of the Beverley highlights is Suspense Saturday on 3 October at Toll Gavel Church.
The event brings together crime writers Tom Hindle, Gay Marris, J.M. Hall, M.J. Arlidge, Ajay Chowdhury, Remi Kone and Mark Billingham for a full day devoted to mysteries, thrillers and crime fiction.
The festival is organised by East Riding Libraries with Arts Council England funding.
Music at Beverley Minster
The headline concerts only tell part of the story at the Minster.
Its free Friday lunchtime concert series continues throughout autumn at 12.30pm.
October performers include pianist Simeon Walker, Beverley Male Voice Choir, Driffield School and organist Philip Prior.
November brings classical guitarist Daniela Fountain, musicians from Tranby School and soprano Elaine Dave with Robert Poyser.
Admission to the lunchtime concerts is free with a retiring collection, and soup and drinks are available beforehand.
It might be one of Beverley’s more overlooked regular cultural offerings.
And beyond Beverley…
There is plenty happening across the wider East Riding too.
Pocklington Arts Centre has a busy autumn of music, theatre and performance, while Bridlington Spa continues its programme of concerts and live entertainment.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens also provides something for those interested in local history, including exhibitions drawing on the collections of East Riding Archives and the region’s museums.
That wider programme means an autumn cultural day out needn’t involve heading for York, Leeds or further afield.
A remarkable few months for Beverley now on our event finder tool.
What stands out when all these events are put together is their variety.
Find out more on the Beverley Review Activity Finder
Within a matter of weeks, Beverley hosts one of the country’s largest celebrations of heritage, an international classical music festival, dozens of working artists opening their studios and a literary festival bringing bestselling authors to the town.
Alongside them are the smaller exhibitions, concerts, workshops and performances taking place every week.
We’ll continue adding to our autumn cultural guide as new events are announced.
If you’re organising a cultural event, exhibition, concert, performance, historical event or festival in Beverley or the East Riding this autumn, get in touch with Beverley Review.