Access All AreasCuffe and Taylor is celebrating record ticket sales and a record number of shows for its TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre series.
With three months before the first show of 2026, the Live Nation-owned promoter said 150,000 tickets have been sold so far for this summer’s series, beating the previous record by 35,000.
According to an economic impact assessment carried out by North Yorkshire Council, the 18-show run at the venue last summer generated an estimated £8.8 million in direct economic benefit for the local economy, excluding ticket sales revenue and spend within the venue.
With 10 additional shows set to take place at the Scarborough venue this year, it is predicted the economic uplift for the local area will reach £15m. The 2026 series commences on 5 June with Rick Astley and Lottery Winners.
More than one million tickets have now been sold for shows at the North Yorkshire Council-owned venue since it was refurbished and re-opened in 2010.
“This summer is going to be the biggest and best-ever at Scarborough Open Air Theatre,” said Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor. “Many of the shows have already sold out and many others are close to being sell-outs. There is a real buzz about the venue, not just here in North Yorkshire but across the country and abroad. This is one of the hottest outdoor concert venues anywhere in Europe.”
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for arts and culture Cllr Simon Myers said,“To have more than a million tickets sold over the past 16 years is a clear indication of just how popular the Open Air Theatre is, and the record number of concerts this summer will bring even more memorable performances and economic benefit to Scarborough and wider area.”