An exciting year for Yorkshire coast with Scarborough 400 celebrations and Hull Maritime Museum relaunch
In 2026, Scarborough will celebrate 400 years since its designation as a spa town and Britain’s first seaside resort.
Its journey began in 1626 with the accidental discovery of mineral spring waters by Mrs Thomasin Farrer, who stumbled upon natural springs bubbling beneath the cliff south of the town, which were found to cure minor ailments.
To mark the milestone, an outdoor art installation is being commissioned for Scarborough Spa, an entertainment and conferencing complex in the town, whilst a programme of engagement projects, events and community activities is being devised to celebrate and promote Scarborough
But that’s not all that’s happening across Yorkshire’s coast this year. England’s Coast, a tourism initiative, says it is gearing up for a “landmark year for visitors to England’s North West and North East coasts”.
In the summertime, Hull Maritime Museum is expected to relaunch after a major restoration project. The Grade II* listed building first opened in 1971 as Hull’s Dock Offices and regularly saw ships sail past its windows. It later became the city’s Maritime Museum in 1975, celebrating 800 years of history.
The museum has been undergoing refurbishment as part of the Hull Maritime Project, a scheme to restore Hull’s maritime heritage, architecture and collections. The task of building and installing new displays, projections and technology is now underway, with exhibitions set to include ship models, maritime art and a 40-foot whale skeleton.
2026 will also mark the first full year of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Yorkshire. The final section in the region, between Easington and Bridlington, was completed in August, which made a continuous path from the Scottish border all the way down to Gibraltar point in Lincolnshire.
The Yorkshire stretch, of course, takes in the coastline that houses the famous seabird colonies of Bempton, as well as the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head, Spurn Point, Whitby and Scarborough. When finished, the path will be a 2,700-mile long National Trail around the whole of the English coast.
Coastal festivals and organised walks will offer guided routes that showcase local history, wildlife and scenery. Highlights include the Walking East Yorkshire Festival and a series of guided coastal walks arranged by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, showcasing the wildlife, fossils, and night skies of Flamborough and Spurn between January and April.
Meanwhile, the North York Moors Dark Skies Festival returns in 2026, with coastal spots such as Whitby’s Bruce Observatory and Robin Hood's Bay among the sites for stargazing activity. And food lovers can also look forward to a vibrant calendar with the likes of Whitby Restaurant Week and Filey Food Festival.
Samantha Richardson, Academy Director of the National Coastal Tourism Academy which delivers the England’s Coast initiative, says: “(Next year), Scarborough will celebrate 400 years since being designated a spa resort, triggering a host of celebrations on the Yorkshire coast, whilst 98 per cent of the King Charles III England Coast Path will be complete, opening up new walking routes and coastal views to the public for the first time. From Dark Skies Festivals to restored museums, hotel launches to restaurant weeks and food and drink events, 2026 promises a packed coastal calendar.”