York’s acts of Remembrance 2026
The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, the Civic Party and City of York Council will pay their respects to those who have served, at York’s official Remembrance Sunday service and parade.
On Sunday 8 November, the parade will leave Clifford’s Tower at 10:20am and process to the City War Memorial at Leeman Road, via the Mansion House.
From there, The Lord Mayor and Civic Party will lead the parade to the Memorial. They will be accompanied by serving military from regiments across York, with invited dignitaries and representatives from local organisations.
The ceremony will begin at 10:58am with the ‘Ode to the Fallen’ recited and ‘The Last Post’ played. This will be followed by prayers.
Local organisations will lay wreaths, led by the Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Johanna Ropner, and the Lord Mayor.
The Band of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment and the York Railway Institute Band will play during the parade and service.
The parade will then return to St Helen’s Square where the Mansion House flag will be lowered to half-mast, as a mark of respect, as the Lord Mayor, Civic Party and guests salute the parade as it continues along Coney Street.
The Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, said:
“Remembrance Sunday is a very special day. It brings the city together to pay our respects for those who have fallen, and show our gratitude to those who serve, including reservists and veterans. It is an honour to be able to mark this day alongside members of the Armed Forces, residents and visitors, and share our hopes for a peaceful future.”
Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council and Armed Forces Champion, said:
“This annual service of remembrance carries particular significance in York, a city with a 2,000-year-old military history. On Remembrance Sunday and later in the week, on Remembrance Day itself, we will reflect on conflicts past and present, and honour those who have served and fallen, and those who continue to serve. We do this as we proudly support our Armed Forces community by working with partners to ensure that those who serve, or have served, are treated fairly and with respect.”
As the parade progresses along the route to and from the service, the following roads will be closed between 10:10-12:30 on Sunday 8 November: Eye of York, The Castle, Tower Street, Clifford Street, Nessgate, Spurriergate, Coney Street, St Helen’s Square, Lendal, Museum Street, Lendal Bridge and Leeman Road.
On 8 November there will be no waiting on Coney Street, Leeman Road, Lendal, Spurriergate and St Helen’s Square between 7:00-13:00. There will also be a lane closure on Station Avenue from 10:00-12:00, and Castle Car Park will be closed 7:00-14:00.
Other events of remembrance taking place this year include:
- 31 October, 10:30, Royal British Legion’s Dedication, Garden of Remembrance, Duncombe Place
- 31 October, 12:30, Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Parade to York Cemetery’s Cross of Sacrifice
- 1 November, 15:00, Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance, Joseph Rowntree Theatre
- 8 November, 10.45, Act of Remembrance, Acomb war memorial, Acomb Green
- 8 November, 10:50, Sung Eucharist with Act of Remembrance, York Minster. This will be livestreamed
- 8 November, 18:30, Remembrance Evensong, St Lawrence’s Church
- 11 November, 10:30, York Railway Memorial service, Station Rise
- 11 November, 10:50, Service of Commemoration for Armistice Day, York Minster.
Anyone who would like to volunteer with the Royal British Legion to help sell poppies this year or in the future, please email trblyork@hotmail.co.uk.
Image caption: Left to right are Chief Executive Richard Webb, and Council Leader and Armed Forces Advocate, Cllr Claire Douglas. They stand alongside ‘There But Not There’, a silhouette which marks The Armistice.