York Early Music Festival 2026
3-11 July 2026
Created in a wave of excitement in 1977, the festival is now established as the premier early music festival in the UK – in turn inspiring the restoration of St Margaret’s Church, York in 2000 and the creation of the National Centre for Early Music.
Drawing in visitors locally, regionally and internationally, the festival is firmly ‘part of the festival world’ and in 2026 we celebrate just how far early music has travelled – beyond the borders of the myriad historic venues of the city – to a world-wide audience.
ncem.co.uk
The National Centre for Early Music is based in a medieval church in York. Home of the internationally acclaimed York Early Music Festival, the NCEM promotes a year-round series of jazz, world, folk and early music concerts as well as a thriving education programme and Venue Hire.
ncem.co.uk
Tim Burton's Universe By Mystery Ensemble
Friday 30 October 2026
The National Centre For Early Music (NCEM), York
Welcome to the fantastical worlds of Tim Burton! We invite you to celebrate this Halloween weekend on a journey through the music that made it unforgettable. This unique concert will take place in the iconic National Centre of Early Music, located in the heart of York.
From the shimmering wonder of Alice in Wonderland to the festive magic of The Nightmare Before Christmas, from the haunting lyricism of Edward Scissorhands to the eccentric brilliance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — this concert immerses you in the soundscapes that shaped Burton’s unique cinematic universe.
At the heart of it all is the music of Danny Elfman, Burton’s lifelong collaborator and one of the most distinctive film composers of our time. Elfman’s music blends playfulness with menace, tenderness with grandeur — a perfect mirror of Burton’s visual imagination. Alongside Elfman, highlights include unforgettable moments from Corpse Bride, the cult favourite Beetlejuice, the gothic sweep of Batman, and the razor-sharp drama of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
In this premiere, Mystery Ensemble brings Burton’s worlds to life in unique arrangements. Expect soaring voices, bold instrumental colours, and an atmosphere that shifts in an instant — from the macabre to the magical, from the intimate to the epic.
This is not just a soundtrack concert — it is a live theatrical experience. The concert's mysterious magic will arise from the connection between the musicians and the surrounding architecture.
Feel as if you are stepping inside a Tim Burton movie itself!
Tickets
