Huge demand for Great Yorkshire Show sparks tickets action
Organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show look set to welcome the largest attendance to the four-day showcase of rural life since before the pandemic, as they revealed “unprecedented demand” for the 167th edition of the event had triggered a contigency plan.
Just days before the gates of Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s 250-acre showground are opened the charity has made an extra 2,500 tickets available each day, for purchase in advance only, taking the daily capacity from 35,000 a day to 37,500 a day.
This year, additional tickets have been made available for the Wednesday, which have already sold out, while the society said Thursday was close to selling out and Tuesday and Friday had limited availability.
David Tite, the society’s manager, described the demand for tickets as “phenomenal” and “a real testament to the continued popularity of the show”.
It is believed the increase in demand for the show may partly reflect last year’s fine weather at the event and the society’s rising amount of community work and support, which has boosted the show’s profile.
He said the logistics and consequences of increasing numbers attending the event had been thoroughly studied.
He said: “Pre-Covid we were averaging 45,000 a day on the showground, with a maximum, once, of about 55,000 on site. Pre-Covid we didn’t control attendance through advance sales only and during Covid times we were directed to do this to be able to run the show in 2021. It has sat very comfortably with us.”
Mr Tite said the attendance in 2021 was significantly less than 35,000, so over the years the society had been been monitoring the numbers, attendance, capacity, how the showground felt, equipment on site and car parks with aerial shots.
He said: “We decided as a bit of a contigency that we would have this in our armoury to say ability to increase. Over the last two years we have spent £120,000 working on the car park fields to park cars better and faster, have tripled the number of water points on site and have new scanners on the gates to make getting onto the showground significantly faster for visitors.
“Everything working in tandem is making us more capable to handle that increase.
“Working with our partners, we have carefully considered how best to ensure more people can enjoy the show and have spread the extra tickets over the four days. This means more visitors can enjoy the Great Yorkshire Show while still having a safe and comfortable visitor experience.”
The show will see some 8,500 animals exhibited in pursuit of prize rosettes as the best of British agriculture is showcased alongside an array of equestrian classes, entertainment and shopping.
Organisers aim to celebrate all aspects of farming, food and the countryside across 21 sections, from a packed programme in the Food Hall, cookery theatres and Cheese and Dairy Show, to forestry, farriery, the Garden Show and hives and honey.
The Ariat GYS Stage features fashion shows, chat shows and meet and greets with celebrity guests, the future of farming is the focus of a dedicated Agri-Innovation Village and families can enjoy free activities in the Discovery Zone.
Tickets prices for the 2026 Great Yorkshire Show are frozen at the same rate as last year, priced adults £36.50, children £13 and families £89.
For details, visit greatyorkshireshow.co.uk