THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Monday, February 16, 2026

✨ What a weekend for York commuters dealing with rail disruption, while Katherine Jenkins fans have something brilliant to look forward to in October. From transport troubles to cultural triumphs, here's your Sunday roundup of what's happening in our city

🚨 TRAVEL

🚆York-Leeds rail line blocked by landslip; Sunday travel between York and Leeds is completely disrupted after a landslip near Wakefield blocked the lines. Replacement bus services are running, but expect major delays throughout the day as engineering work compounds the issues.

⛈️ WEATHER

🌤️ Sleet and snow forecast for York this week; York saw brief sleet and snow early Saturday morning before turning to rain, but there's more on the way. BBC Weather predicts more sleet and snow tomorrow night (Sunday) and early Tuesday, especially on higher ground, with possible further falls later in the week, including in York itself.

🚨 CRIME

💷 Street Rangers stop shoplifter with meat cleaver; York BID Street Rangers got a shock when police discovered a meat cleaver in a shoplifter's pocket after rangers detained him. Head ranger Scott Sinclair said the team had been with the suspect for 20 minutes before police arrived and searched him, calling the discovery "quite shocking." The incident highlights the dangers rangers face daily while protecting city centre businesses.

“I worked my way up to where I am now, you know, I’ve done the job for over 10 years now. So born and bred, a York lad. So I know York really well. I wanted to make York a better place.”

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🎭 Katherine Jenkins announces York Barbican date; Classical music star Katherine Jenkins is bringing her 25 Year Anniversary Tour to York Barbican on October 15, 2026. The Welsh soprano is celebrating a quarter-century in the industry, and tickets go on sale February 20.

🗿 Brutalist sculpture planned for University of York; The University of York is planning to install Michael Kenny's "Original Sin" sculpture between Derwent College and Heslington Hall. The Portland stone brutalist piece would be a permanent addition to the campus.

🚧 BBC Race Across World wants Yorkshire adventurers; The hit BBC show Race Across the World is actively seeking northern applicants, including from Yorkshire, for its seventh series. Producers say they're particularly interested in hearing from northerners willing to race across continents with a partner. Applications close March 29, 2026, with filming between September and December 2026.

🏃 SPORT

⚽ York City return to top with sixth straight win; The Minstermen are back on top of the National League after thrashing Wealdstone 3-0 at home on Saturday. Morgan Williams, Zak Johnson, and Daniel Batty all scored their first goals for the club in the convincing victory – York's sixth consecutive win.

🍽️ FOOD & DRINK

🍸Award-winning Chinese cocktail bar opening on Lendal Bridge Life on Mars, an award-winning cocktail bar from Shenzhen, China, is opening in the West Lodge of Lendal Bridge in March or April. The bar is owned by Ross Woodford, a bartender from York's Skosh restaurant, bringing international cocktail culture to the city centre.

👥 COMMUNITY

🦁 York woman fundraising for IVF after NHS denial; Sophie Glasby, 33, from Clifton, has been denied NHS-funded IVF because her partner has a child from a previous relationship. Friends are now fundraising to help the couple afford private treatment, which costs around £12,000 for the first round.

💝York Vikings Rotary golf day raises funds for charity York Vikings Rotary Club hosted their annual charity golf day at York Golf Club in May, with two golfers scoring holes-in-one on the same day – a first for the event. The tournament raised funds toward the club's £250,000 total raised over the years for local charities.