Hull Fair 2026: Rides, Food and a Week of Fun

Hull Fair has packed up for another year, and the 2026 edition has left its mark on the city centre. The fair opened on Friday 9 October, when the Lord Mayor, Maria Coward, rang the bell at 4pm, and it ran until Saturday 17 October on Walton Street, on land next to the MKM Stadium and the Tigers Trust Arena. The event goes back to 1279, when a royal charter from King Edward I allowed the city to hold an annual fair. Hull City Council organises it today.

The fairground itself was a big one. Somewhere between 250 and 300 rides and attractions were set up, from roller coasters and thrill rides to carousels and games aimed at younger visitors. The Elevate 85 stood out as the tallest mobile ride in the world, a title it holds on record. Among the newer machines was Joker, a breakdance ride built by the Czech manufacturer Kolmax-Plus and owned by Dexter Hackett, which opened in November 2024 and carries 32 riders per cycle. Sartori Techno Jump was also among the attractions on show.

The food stalls kept to the fairground classics. Visitors could pick up candy floss, toffee apples, fresh doughnuts, chips, BBQ, toasted sandwiches, patties, crumbles and chocolate slices. The fair opened at 2pm on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays, with closing time at 11pm across the run. It did not open on Sunday 11 October, the day Hull City played Everton at home.

For anyone who wants a look back at the fair's past, the Western Library has a display of archive and modern photographs of the event, which runs until 21 November. The fair has not always taken place every year. It was not held between 1915 and 1918 or between 1939 and 1945, and it was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It came back in full in October 2021.