What's On in Yorkshire in November 2026: Arts and Events Guide

The clocks have gone back, the light goes by teatime, and Yorkshire's venues answer by filling the diary. This November there is opera, poetry, folk, stand-up and the first of the Christmas shows, spread from Leeds out to York.

Below is a run through the month, city by city. After that comes something from our own side of the trade: what actually happens when a grand piano has to get through a doorway.

Leeds

Leeds has the busiest November of the five, with a long run of theatre, opera and a Christmas musical arriving mid-month. If you are planning a night out, the Playhouse programme alone could fill three weekends. Leeds is also a city of steep terraces and tight hallways, which is where our piano removals in Leeds work gets interesting.

• Once Upon a Time in Sokoto, Leeds Playhouse, 11 to 14 November, an epic new story of friendship, family and the creation of Nigeria from Inua Ellams, writer of Barber Shop Chronicles.
• DYKE Systems Ltd., Leeds Playhouse, 20 to 21 November, described as equal parts corporate seminar and queer fever dream.
• Woodhill, Leeds Playhouse, 24 to 25 November, shining a light on the hidden story of HMP Woodhill.
• Hollie McNish and Harry Baker, Leeds Playhouse, 28 November, two of the UK's best-loved poets sharing a bill after years of solo shows.
• Dr Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Leeds Playhouse, from 19 November, running into January 2027.
• Rigoletto, Opera North, at multiple venues, until 20 November, one of the company's autumn productions.
• Wicker, Leeds, 3 to 18 November, a long run for anyone who likes to book early and not rush.
• Jason Byrne: 30 Years Byrning, Leeds, 6 November, marking three decades of touring.

Huddersfield

The Lawrence Batley Theatre has something on across most of the month, from dance and workshops to a family musical that runs well into December. It is a good month to try something you have not seen before. Anyone with a piano to move in the town can read about our piano removals in Huddersfield.

• Dance Dhamaka, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 1 to 7 November, opening the month.
• Frozen, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 4 November to 9 December, the longest run on the calendar.
• Bollywood Dance Class, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 6 to 7 November, a hands-on session for those who would rather join in.
• The Betray-tors, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 8 November, a single Sunday date.
• Giants Cheerleading & Gymnastics Academy Annual Show 2026, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 11 November, a local academy's yearly showcase.
• Dylan Moran: Looking For Trouble, Lawrence Batley Theatre, 13 November, with the same tour reaching Sheffield a few days later.

Sheffield

Sheffield City Hall fills almost every night of the month. The mix runs from folk and soul to a visiting German orchestra, so there is rarely a bad evening to pick. Our piano removal in Sheffield page covers the practical side for anyone in the city with an instrument to shift.

• Macy Gray, the Trouble with the Truth Tour, Sheffield City Hall, 4 November, an early-month soul night.
• Jack Savoretti, Sheffield City Hall, 5 November, the following evening.
• Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Sheffield City Hall, 18 November, a big band night with a piano at its centre.
• Sheffield International Concert Season 26/27: Stuttgart Philharmonic, Sheffield City Hall, 19 November, the orchestral highlight of the month.
• Bellowhead, Sheffield City Hall, 21 November, the folk big band on tour.

Harrogate

Harrogate's November leans towards comedy and conversation, then ends with pantomime season getting under way. The town has several venues, so check the listing for where each show is staged before you travel.

• Alexei Sayle: How I’ve Tried to Change the World, Harrogate, 8 November, part of the town's comedy festival series.
• Bellowhead: Burlesque 20th Anniversary Tour, Harrogate, 13 November, a few days before the band reach Sheffield.
• HSO Winter Concert, Harrogate, 14 November, a seasonal orchestral date.
• Richard Ayoade: Afterthoughts, Harrogate, 20 November, an evening with the comedian.
• Sleeping Beauty, Harrogate Theatre, from 25 November, the family pantomime, running into January 2027.

York

York Barbican has a date almost every other night, with a strong run of musicians from the 1980s onwards. The Grand Opera House adds a couple of nights of its own.

• Chris Packham's World of Wonder: A Planet On The Edge, York Barbican, 3 November, a talk built around a lifetime of curiosity and conviction.
• The Shires, York Barbican, 6 November, the country duo on their first full band UK tour in four years.
• Gipsy Kings by André Reyes, York Barbican, 8 November, a night of flamenco-flavoured pop.
• Del Amitri, York Barbican, 16 November, the Past To Present tour marking four decades of songs.
• Midge Ure, A Man Of Two Worlds, York Barbican, 20 November, the Ultravox frontman on tour.
• Tony Hadley, The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026, York Barbican, 21 November, an early dose of festive music.
• Dr John Cooper Clarke, Grand Opera House York, 5 November, the poet's visit to the city.
• Gareth Malone, Grand Opera House York, 7 November, the choirmaster on stage.

Piano logistics: how a grand gets through a doorway

A grand piano looks impossible to move. It is long, curved, heavy and fragile. Yet most grands leave a house through an ordinary front door. Here is how.

The survey comes first

Before anything is lifted, the route is measured. That means the clear width of every doorway, which is less than the frame because hinges and door stops eat into it. It also means the turns, the thresholds, the steps outside and the floor the piano will cross. A tight turn in a hallway is often a bigger problem than the door itself, because a grand cannot pivot like a sofa.

Legs off, piano on its side

For a grand, the legs and pedal lyre come off first. The lid and music desk are removed or secured. The body is then tipped onto its straight edge on a padded skid board, a flat low platform that the instrument is strapped to. The case, without its legs, is shallow compared with its length, so once it stands on its side it is the depth of the case that has to fit the door, not the length of the piano. That is why a grand that looks enormous can pass through a gap that surprises the owner.

Movers walk it through at a steady pace, with one person calling each step and another watching the clearance on both sides. Nothing is rushed. The aim is that it never touches the frame.

Why stairs change a job

Stairs add weight, angle and risk. The load shifts as the piano tilts, and the person below carries far more than the person above. Extra hands and a clear landing at the turn make the difference between a controlled carry and a dangerous one. Upright pianos are less awkward in shape but denser than people expect, so the same logic applies.

Settling before tuning

November adds its own wrinkle. A piano that has spent hours in a cold van and is then wheeled into a warm, centrally heated room is going through a sudden change. Wood, felt and strings respond to temperature and humidity at different rates. If you tune straight away, the pitch will drift as the instrument adjusts. Leave it in its new room to settle before the tuner arrives, and keep it away from radiators, fireplaces and draughty windows.

The same applies to pianos stored in an unheated building over the winter. Damp raises the humidity in the case, felts swell and keys can become sluggish, so a gentle return to normal room conditions matters. Earlier guides in our Yorkshire piano news archive cover other seasonal care.

If you are heading to one of the shows above and thinking about the piano at home that needs a new place to live, we are happy to talk it through. A quick quote is the easiest way to start.