- Festival returns to the National Science and Media Museum this month, with a family friendly programme running 15–23 February.
- The museum will be hosting a fun-filled half term of all things gaming, with hands on activities, workshops and experiences for all ages.
- Full programme details, tickets, and free museum admission available to book online now.
Yorkshire Games Festival returns to the National Science and Media Museum for its ninth edition from 10–23 February, following the museum’s reopening. The festival celebrates all things gaming, hosting hands on activities and events across the museum over two weeks, including a half term programme of family friendly gaming fun as well as industry focused conference event, Game Talks.
The festival’s half term programme runs from 15–23 February, and includes activities, workshops and experiences for all ages to enjoy. In addition to experiencing cutting edge games technology with the Yorkshire Games Festival 2025 Showcase and Pudsey Computers, visitors will also be able to learn more about gaming history with daily videogame object handling sessions from the museum’s expert team of curators and volunteers.
Pictureville Cinema’s Cubby Broccoli screen will also host to Big Screen Gaming sessions, giving visitors the opportunity to play Nintendo classics like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros on a full-sized cinema screen. One floor of the museum will also be transformed into The YGF Arcade, encouraging gamers to get hands on with the museum’s own library of iconic retro arcade games.
As part of the February half term programme, CBBC will be hosting intergenerational gaming challenge Game On Grandparents across the museum throughout the week. Younger gamers are invited to train up their “noob” adults in the museum’s foyer throughout the week, ahead of a live gaming tournament in Pictureville on Saturday 22 February – hosted by YouTube gaming legend Yammy.
The popular gaming comedy game show Wifi Wars will also be returning to Yorkshire Games Festival after its success in previous years. The event will be hosted by comedian, TV presenter and videogame pundit Steve McNeil, and allows audiences to play along and compete against one another using their own device.
As one of the largest festivals dedicated to gaming in the North of England, Yorkshire Games Festival is a unique chance for gamers of all ages to get involved with gaming technology, explore new development and celebrate the rich history of video games in an interactive environment. The festival offers a diverse and engaging range of events, whether visitors are looking to deepen their gaming knowledge or try something new.
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For more information and images, please contact Alice Browne, Senior Press Officer alice.browne@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
A media pack of images can be downloaded here.
About the National Science and Media Museum
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.
The museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to Pictureville, Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema with three screens including Europe’s first IMAX and the only public Cinerama venue in the world.
The National Science and Media Museum reopened on 8 January 2025, following a £6m once in a generation transformation. The museum is open seven days a week, from 10.00–17.00. For more information and to book tickets, please visit our website.
