*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.
When do Christmas markets open in the UK this year?
If you’re trying to research the answer to this question, you may have run into some trouble… that’s because the opening dates for Christmas markets in the UK vary by town, city & region.
Some are open for the entire festive season, whereas others are just one day events, or weekend events.
That’s why we created this page for you, so you can peep the opening dates for the UK’s Christmas Markets quickly and at a glance.
For extra organization bonus points, we’ve also separated dates into Christmas market opening dates for England, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
We hope you find it helpful!
NOTE: Most Christmas markets don’t announce their confirmed dates until a few months before, so please excuse the sparse list for the time being! We’ll be sure to update this list with more dates as soon as they are released. Let us know in the comments if you know of any we should add for 2026!
This list is by no means exhaustive, and includes mainly bigger Christmas markets that we could find official websites and dates for. Let us know in the comments if you have any more we should add.
Referencing this information on your own website or article? We’ve put a lot of work into researching and creating these Christmas Market resources for our visitors, so we would greatly appreciate if you referenced/credited us with a link back to this page. Thank you for your understanding!
2026 Christmas Market Opening Dates in England
Note: Christmas market dates for 2026 will be confirmed later in the year. For now, here are the 2025 dates for your reference.
| City | Christmas Market Name | 2025 Dates | More Info | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | Bath Christmas Market | Nov 27 - Dec 14 | More Info | |
| Birmingham | Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market | Nov 1 - Dec 24 | More Info | |
| Birmingham | Christmas in Cathedral Square | Nov 7 - Dec 24 | More Info | |
| Bournemouth | Bournemouth Christmas Market | Nov 13 - Jan 1, 2026 | More Info | |
| Bristol | Bristol Christmas Market | Nov 7 - Dec 23 | More Info | |
| Canterbury | Canterbury Christmas Market | Nov 12 - Dec 24 | More Info | |
| Cheltenham | Cheltenham Christmas Market | Nov 20 - 23 Dec 11 - 23 | More Info | |
| Chester | Chester Christmas Market | Nov 19 - Dec 22 | More Info | |
| Chichester | Chichester Christmas Market | 13 & 14 | More Info | |
| Cirencester | Cirencester Advent Market | Nov 23 Nov 29 and 30 Dec 14 Dec 16 - 18 Dec 21 | More Info | |
| Durham | Durham Christmas Festival | Dec 5 - 7 | More Info | |
| Exeter | Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market | Nov 20 - Dec 19 | More Info | |
| Gloucester | Gloucester Quays Christmas Markets | Nov 8 and 9 Nov 15 and 16 Nov 22 and 23 Nov 29 and 30 Dec 6 and 7 Dec 13 and 14 Dec 20 and 21 | Official Website | |
| Grassington | Grassington Christmas Market | Nov 29 Dec 6 | More Info | |
| Kingston | Kingston Christmas Market | Nov 13 - Dec 28 (Closed Dec 25) | More Info | |
| Leeds | Leeds Christkindelmarkt | Nov 21 - Dec 21 | More Info | |
| Leicester | Christmas in Leicester | Nov 13 - Dec 28 | More Info | |
| Liverpool | Liverpool Christmas Market | Nov 15 - Dec 24 | More Info | |
| London | Southbank Centre Christmas Festival | Nov 3, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 | More Info | |
| London | Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | Nov 14, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026 | More Info | |
| London | Christmas by the River | Nov 13, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 | More Info | |
| London | Christmas at Kew | Nov 14 - Jan 4, 2026 (Closed Nov 17, Nov 25 and Dec 25) | More Info | |
| London | Skate Leicester Square | Nov 1, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 | More Info | |
| London | Greenwich Market Grotto | Nov 19 - ? | More Info | |
| London | Christmas Under the Canopy at King's Cross | Nov 28 - Dec 22 | More Info | |
| Manchester | Manchester Christmas Market | Nov 7 - Dec 22 | More Info | |
| Newcastle | Newcastle Christmas Market | Nov 15 - Dec 23 | More Info | |
| Norfolk | Norfolk Festive Gift Show | Nov 7 - 9 | Official Website | |
| Nottingham | Nottingham Winter Wonderland | Nov 12 - Dec 31 | More Info | |
| Plymouth | Plymouth Christmas Market | Nov 27 - Dec 21 | More Info | |
| Rochester | Rochester Christmas Market | Nov 28 - 30 Dec 5 - 7 Dec 12 - 14 | More Info | |
| Salisbury | Salisbury's Christmas on the Square | Nov 21 - Dec 31 | More Info | |
| Sheffield | Sheffield Christmas Markets | Nov 13 - Jan 2, 2026 | More Info | |
| Skipton | Skipton Yuletide Festival & Christmas Market | Dec 7 Dec 14 | More Info | |
| Southhampton | Southhampton Christmas Festival | Nov 13 - Jan 4, 2026 (Closed Dec 25) | More Info | |
| Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market Festival | Nov 29 and 30 Dec 6 and 7 | Official Website | |
| Taunton | Hestercombe Christmas Market | TBA | More Info | |
| Winchester | Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market | Nov 21 - Dec 22 | More Info | |
| Worcester | Worcester Christmas Fayre | Dec 4 - 7 | More Info | |
| York | York St Nicholas Fair | Nov 13 - Dec 21 | More Info |
Looking for more England travel inspiration?
Check out these guides on the best places to visit in…
2026 Christmas Market Opening Dates in Cornwall
Note: Christmas market dates for 2026 will be confirmed later in the year. For now, here are the 2025 dates for your reference.
| Location | Christmas Market Name | 2025 Dates | Official Website | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodelva | Cornwall Christmas Fair at the Eden Project | Nov 19 and 20 | Official Website | |
| Bude | An Enchanted Castle Christmas | Dec 5 - 7 | Official Website | |
| Bude | Bude Beach Hut Christmas Market | TBA | Official Website | |
| Fowey | Fowey Christmas Market | Nov 14 - 16 | Official Website | |
| Mousehole | Mousehole Harbour Lights | Dec 11, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026 | Official Website | |
| Penryn | Jubilee Wharf Christmas Fair | Dec 13 & 14 | Official Website | |
| Penryn | Makers Cornwall Christmas Fair | Nov 7 - 9 | Official Website | |
| Truro | Made in Cornwall Christmas Fair | Nov 21 - Dec 24 | Official Website | |
| Truro | Healeys Christmas Markets | Weekends Nov 8 - Dec 14 | Official Website | |
| Wadebridge | The Cornish Winter Fair | Nov 15 and 16 | More Info |
2026 Christmas Market Opening Dates in Scotland
Note: Christmas market dates for 2026 will be confirmed later in the year. For now, here are the 2025 dates for your reference.
| Location | Christmas Market Name | 2025 Dates | More Info | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen Christmas Village | Nov 13 - Dec 31 | Official Website | |
| Aberdeen | Curated in the Quad at Marischal College | Fridays to Sundays from Nov 15 - Dec 22 | Official Website | |
| Balloch | Christmas at Loch Lomond Shores | Dec 6 and 7 | Official Website | |
| Blair Castle | Blair Christmas Fair | Nov 21 - 23 | Official Website | |
| Crathes Castle | Crathes Christmas Fair | Nov 7 - 9 | Official Website | |
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh Christmas Market [Multiple locations] | Nov 15, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 | Official Website | |
| Glamis Castle | Glamis Castle Christmas Market | TBA | Official Website | |
| Glasgow | Glasgow Winterfest in St Enoch Square | Nov 18, 2025 - Jan 5, 2026 | Official Website | |
| Glasgow | Glasgow Winterfest in George Square | Cancelled for 2025 | Official Website | |
| Inverness | Eden Court Christmas Market | Nov 14 - 16 | Official Website | |
| Oban | Oban Winter Festival | Nov 14 - Dec 21 | Official Website | |
| Perth | Perth Winter Festival | Nov 22 & 23 Dec 20 - 22 | Official Website | |
| Stirling | Stirling Castle Christmas Shopping Fayre | Dec 2 | Official Website | |
| Traquair | Traquair Christmas Opening | Nov 29 and 30 | Official Website | |
| Whitekirk Hill Resort | Whitekirk Hill Christmas Fair | Nov 30 | Official Website |
2026 Christmas Market Opening Dates in Wales
Note: Christmas market dates for 2026 will be confirmed later in the year. For now, here are the 2025 dates for your reference.
| Location | Christmas Market Name | 2025 Dates | Official Website | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caerphilly | Winter Food and Craft Market | Nov 29 | Official Website | |
| Cardiff | Cardiff Christmas Market | Nov 13 - Dec 23 | Official Website | |
| Cardiff | Cardiff Christmas Festival | Dec 4 - 31 | Official Website | |
| Cardiff | Christmas in Bute Park | Nov 21 - Dec 31 | Official Website | |
| Conwy | Conwy Medieval Christmas | Nov 29 | Official Website | |
| Dinefwr | Christmas at Dinefwr | Nov 21 - 23 | Official Website | |
| Hay-on-Wye | Hay Festival Winter Weekend | Nov 27 - 30 | Official Website | |
| Llanelwedd | Royal Welsh Winter Fair | Nov 24 and 25 | Official Website | |
| Narberth | The Queen's Hall Christmas Market | Nov 28 - 30 | Official Website | |
| Newport | Christmas at Tredegar House | Dec 4 - 31 Closed Dec 25 - 26 | Official Website | |
| Pembrokeshire | Bavarian Christmas Fair at Llys-y-Frân Lake Visitor Centre | Dec 6 & 7 | Official Website | |
| Portmeirion | Portmeirion Christmas Food and Craft Fair | Dec 5 - 7 | Official Website | |
| Swansea | Swansea Christmas Market | Dec 5 - 7 Dec 12 - 14 | Official Website | |
| Ystrad Mynach | Winter Food & Craft Market | Nov 15 | Official Website | |
| Vale of Glamorgan | Christmas at Fonmon Castle | Nov 22 - Dec 23 | Official Website |
2026 Christmas Market Opening Dates in Northern Ireland
Note: Christmas market dates for 2026 will be confirmed later in the year. For now, here are the 2025 dates for your reference.
| Location | Christmas Market Name | 2025 Dates | More Info | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | Belfast Continental Christmas Market | Nov 15 - Dec 22 | Official Website | |
| Derry/Londonderry | Christmas Craft Fair | Nov 14 - 16 | Official Website | |
| Glenavy | Christmas at The Ballance House | Nov 29 | Official Website | |
| Lisburn | Twilight Christmas Market | TBA | Official Website | |
| Lisburn | Carryduff Christmas Market | Dec 17 | Official Website | |
| Lisburn | Dundonald Christmas Market | TBA | Official Website | |
| Newry | Santa's Cottage (Not a market, but a notable Xmas attraction!) | Nov 21 - Dec 24 | Official Website | |
| Portstewart | Flowerfield Christmas Craft Market | Nov 15 - Dec 23 | Official Website |
Help us improve this list of UK Christmas Market dates!
Do you know of a confirmed UK Christmas Market we should add to our list? Let us know in the comments!
Dear Sir or Madam;
We are a West Sussex based Catering and Events Management Company.
We run numerous bars, private fine dining events and weddings through the year.
The business also attends a Christmas festival each year.
The business traded at Blenheim Palace back in 2019 and offered the main food supply for the front entrance by the shop.
The business happily fed all on site staff at cost price and had a lucrative Christmas due to our ability to offer extremely high quality food at a fast turnover rate. This in hand enabled a substantial to be paid to the Palace.
We offered, mulled wine, gourmet burgers and “loaded” chips in 2019.
Since then the business has expanded their “Street food” offering and grown the wedding catering side to current capacity.
The business is able to offer a mixture of vehicles and catering solutions in collaboration with “Sister” Companies.
At the Blenheim Christmas market in 2019 the business provided services on a commission basis. This was a successful business model enabling effective collaboration between venue and supplier.
Sneaky Duck Catering operates a “cashless” financial system enabling all transactions to be transparent/”open book.
We would be delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the Southbank Centre not only this Christmas but going forward on other events.
If there was anything you could do to enable Sneaky Duck and any Christmas Markets or events in the future I would be eternally grateful.
With kind regards,
James
07725 066851
Hi James, just to clarify: we are simply a website providing information regarding Christmas markets, and are not the organizers of any Christmas markets themselves. We’d recommend getting in touch with the official organizers of whichever market you’re hoping to sell at for more information. Best of luck!
You could add the Hestercombe Christmas Market, 19-21 Nov 2021; near Taunton in Somerset! http://www.hestercombe.com/market
Hi Chris, that’s great – thanks so much! We’ve just added it to the list 🙂
Hi,
The Reading listing you’ve put up is for Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Not the one in Berkshire.
can someone from the US enter any of the Holiday markets?
Yes, of course! The markets are open to anybody.
Hi The link you give for a Christmas market in Reading is actually forReading in USA not Berkshire
Ah our mistake!! Thanks so much for catching that. We’ve deleted the bad link now 🙂 Cheers.
Lincoln Christmas Market 1st – 4th Dec 2022 https://www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk/
Thanks, Neil! We’ve added it to the list.