York is taking centre stage on Sky as the television phase of Visit York’s “Summer in York: Sunrise to Sunset” advertising campaign goes live on 13 July 2026.

The four-week TV campaign will reach audiences during the peak summer holiday period, inspiring visitors to arrive earlier, explore further and turn a day trip into an overnight stay.

Built around the message “One day isn’t enough – arrive early, fall in love by evening, stay for tomorrow”, the advert showcases York as a destination filled with memorable experiences from sunrise to sunset.

Viewers are invited to discover a full summer day in the city, from attractions, heritage and culture to green spaces, riverside walks, shopping, outdoor dining, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

The TV activity will reach regional and national audiences as they plan summer days out, short breaks and overnight visits. The wider campaign is particularly focused on regional families living within 60–90 minutes of York and adult couples aged 25–55.

The Sky advert forms part of a coordinated programme of activity across Visit York’s owned and paid channels. This includes targeted advertising across Instagram and Facebook, boosted social media content, Visit York eNewsletters, PR, influencer activity, collaboration with York Mumbler and promotion through digital screens at York Visitor Information Centre.

York Park & Ride are key campaign partners, helping Visit York promote affordable, sustainable and convenient travel into the city. By highlighting later Park & Ride services, the campaign gives visitors greater flexibility to enjoy York into the evening.

Wider campaign activity has also featured York Dungeon, the National Railway Museum and City Cruises, with Castle Howard and York Designer Outlet supporting the campaign through partner packages.

Encouraging visitors to spend more time in York represents a significant opportunity for the city’s visitor economy. Although staying visitors account for 19% of York’s total visitor volume, they generate 44% of all visitor days and contribute £1.11 billion in economic impact. With 92% of staying visitors eating or drinking after 5pm, longer visits can deliver valuable benefits for accommodation providers, attractions, hospitality businesses, retailers, transport partners and York’s evening economy.

Visit York members can support the campaign by sharing its messaging and using the free Summer Toolkit to promote relevant experiences, offers and sustainable travel options.

The launch of the Sky TV activity marks one of the campaign’s most visible moments, bringing York’s summer offer directly to audiences at a key point in the holiday-planning period. By showcasing the city from first light to golden hour, Visit York is strengthening York’s profile, supporting member businesses and giving visitors every reason to make a stay of summer in York.

Watch the advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCPFEob94Rw&feature=youtu.be

Explore the campaign: https://www.visityork.org/summer