What to Expect From Hull Fair 2026
07 October 2026 • 6 min read
About the author: Our SEO Content Exec Morgan Toft has lived all over the place – originally from Hull, she went to uni at York’s own University of York and had a quick stint in Middlesbrough before settling down in Sheffield for her master’s degree at the University of Sheffield. With no intentions of leaving Sheffield any time soon, she’s spent a lot of time around Ecclesall Road, Highfield, the city centre, and beyond.
One of the main perks to living in Hull as a student is being able to experience what is arguably the biggest event of the year – Hull Fair. This eight-day long festival takes place shortly after the University of Hull’s Freshers’ Week, and is an eagerly-anticipated rite of passage for Hull students all over the city.
So, whether this is your first time visiting or you’re a seasoned fair-goer, here’s everything you need to know about Hull Fair 2026, as told by someone who’s been going their whole life.
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Everything you need to know about Hull Fair 2026
What is Hull Fair? 🎡
Hull Fair is widely considered to be one of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe, and (according to Visit Hull) has roots dating back all the way back to the 1200s (!).
This huge event is made up of hundreds of fairground rides, stalls, and attractions, and brings in hundreds of thousands visitors every year – in fact, this 2024 BBC Newsround article says that over 600,000 people visited Hull Fair in 2023 alone, and it’s predicted that half a million people will descend upon the fair again this year.
When is Hull Fair 2026? 🗓️
Taking place every October and lasting for just over a week, this year Hull Fair starts on Friday 9th October 2026 and finishes on Saturday 17th October 2026.
Here are full the opening dates and times:
- Friday 9th October 16:00-23:00
- Saturday 10th October 12:00-23:00
- Monday 12th October to Friday 16th October 14:00-23:00
- Saturday 17th October 12:00-23:00
Remember: Hull Fair is closed on Sundays, to give local residents living nearby a much-needed break from all the noise and lights.
Where is Hull Fair 2026? 📍
Hull Fair's home is the massive Walton Street Car Park (as well as Walton Street itself), which is sandwiched between Anlaby Road and Spring Bank West and is next door to MKM Stadium and West Park.
This West Hull site is really easy to get to, and can be accessed from either end of Walton Street depending on where you're travelling in from.
How to get to Hull Fair 🚗
Getting to and from the fair is simple, thanks to all the extra buses operating throughout the week.
Services like the 13 and the 62 will get you from East Hull to Anlaby Road via the city centre's Interchange in no time, whereas the 67 is your best bet for getting to the fair from Beverley Road and beyond (this one's especially handy if you live in student accommodation in the popular Newland Ave area).
There are loads of other bus options, too, including specific Hull Fair Shuttles and Park & Ride services. Stagecoach has more details on all the Hull Fair buses available, including what times they're running until – click here for more information.
Thinking about driving? Bear in mind that street parking is hard to come by, as it's residents-only. You'll usually be able to find a few pop-up car parks in the surrounding area (I once parked at one at Loran House, the care home on Albert Ave), but these tend to be expensive. Hull City Council will be operating a public car park at MKM Stadium, so if driving is your only option then try here.
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What’s on? 🎢
Rides
One of the best parts about Hull Fair (in my opinion) is that there's an endless amount of rides to all kinds of tastes. It doesn't matter if you're a thrill seeker or you're like me and prefer to keep both feet on the ground, there's something iconic for everyone.
Here are the kinds of rides you can expect to find at Hull Fair:
- Rollercoasters
- Ferris wheels
- Waltzers (my personal fave)
- Bumper cars
- Carousels and merry-go-rounds
- Giant swings
- Ghost trains
- Drop rides
Stalls
It doesn't stop at rides – there are loads of stalls you can spend your time at, too. Think traditional games like hook-a-duck and ring toss, as well as goal-scoring and test-your-strength competitions.
Good luck with trying not to get distracted by all the shiny things you can buy, as well; before you know it, you'll be walking away with a pink cowgirl hat or even a palm reading.
Food
The food at Hull Fair is almost as iconic as the rides themselves. Expect to find hearty meals in the form of noodles, sandwiches, and the Hull delicacy that is patty and chips, as well as loads of sweet treats. I love buying brandy snap (only the proper Wright & Co stuff, though), but you can also get doughnuts, candy floss, churros, toffee apples, traditional sweets... the list goes on. Apparently there'll be a crumble stall or two this year, which is something I'm particularly excited for.
My top tips ✅
- Take shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, especially if it rains.
- Check the weather beforehand, and make sure you wrap up warm if it's going to be cold.
- Decide on an easy-to-find meet up point with your mates in case you get lost
- Be careful with your valuables – you don't want anything falling out your pockets when you're upside down on a ride.
- It gets busier the later it is, so consider going earlier in the day if you don't like crowds.
- Eat after you go on rides, not before (otherwise you might feel a bit sick – don't ask me how I found this one out).
- Injured or need help? Look out for patrolling police officers or for St John's Ambulance volunteers, and they'll be more than happy to help you out.
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Head back from the fair to your Hull student accommodation
Fair season is here, which can only mean one thing: it'll soon be time to start looking for student accommodation.
Here at UniHomes, we work with letting agents all over Yorkshire to bring you a wide variety of student accommodation options in Hull, all with bills-included. So, whether you fancy solo-living in a cosy flat or are after a shared house for you and your friends, we can help you find the Hull student property that's right for you.
