Durham, County Durham, United Kingdom
Durham Christmas Festival
A three-day festival rather than a month-long market — and all the better for it, packed into the peninsula below the cathedral.
- Dates
- 4 – 6 Dec 2026
- Admission
- Free entry to the outdoor markets
- Address
- Palace Green and Durham Market Place, Durham
Dates last checked 27 August 2026 · source · Always confirm with the organiser before travelling.
Durham does something different: rather than a market running for six weeks, it concentrates everything into a single weekend in early December. Three venues run at once — the Craft and Producers’ Marquee on Palace Green between the cathedral and the castle, the Festive Outdoor Market in the Market Place, and the indoor Victorian Market Hall. Because it is short, it is busy; because it sits on the World Heritage peninsula, it is one of the most striking settings of any market in Britain. Check dates carefully — a three-day event is easy to miss.
