Oct23to 3 Jan
Christmas Market
Bryant Park Winter Village
New York, United States
Free ice skating in midtown Manhattan, ringed by more than 180 glass-fronted kiosks.
Checked 27 AugChristmas Markets
Every market we cover, sorted by opening date. Dates change year to year — always check the official site before you book.
97 markets
Oct23to 3 Jan
Nov4Wed
In 16 days
Light Switch-On
Carnaby Street Christmas Lights Switch-On
London, United Kingdom
The first big West End switch-on of the season — and for 2026, the theme is the nineties.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov5to 24 Dec
Christmas Market
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market
Birmingham, United Kingdom
The largest authentic German market outside Germany and Austria, run in genuine partnership with Frankfurt since 2001.
Checked 22 Sep
Nov6to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Bristol Christmas Market
Bristol, United Kingdom
One of the earliest openers in the country, running the length of Broadmead from early November.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov6to 27 Dec
Christmas Market
Glasgow Christmas Market
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Two sites, not one: gift stalls and an observation wheel at St Enoch Square, the rink and funfair over at Glasgow Green.
Checked 22 Sep
Nov6to 22 Dec
Christmas Market
Manchester Christmas Markets
Manchester, United Kingdom
England’s biggest Christmas market — 210 stalls spread across seven city-centre sites, and a mulled wine mug people genuinely collect.
Checked 22 Sep
Nov7to 20 Dec
Christmas Market
Gloucester Quays Christmas Markets
Gloucester, United Kingdom
Seven weekends of South West makers and food on the historic docks — weekends only, from early November.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov12to 3 Jan
Christmas Market
Aberdeen Christmas Village
Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Scotland's northernmost big Christmas market, set out along Broad Street in front of one of the largest granite buildings in the world.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov12to 24 Dec
Provisional dates
Christmas Market
Canterbury Christmas Market
Canterbury, United Kingdom
Around 120 huts across Whitefriars, St George's Street and the Cathedral Precincts — dates reported, organiser still to confirm.
Nov12Thu
In 24 days
Light Switch-On
Cardiff Christmas Lights Switch-On
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Cardiff's lights come on the same day its Winter Wonderland opens — the start of the Welsh capital's Christmas.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov12to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Cardiff Christmas Market
Cardiff, United Kingdom
The biggest market in Wales by some distance — 200 chalets across five pedestrianised streets.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov12Thu
In 24 days
Light Switch-On
Covent Garden Christmas Lights Switch-On
London, United Kingdom
Over 300,000 lights, the giant baubles and mirror balls, and a British-grown tree on the West Piazza.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov12Thu
In 24 days
Light Switch-On
Newcastle Christmas Lights Switch-On
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Newcastle starts its Christmas a week before the market opens, with the lights on Grey Street.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov12to 24 Dec
Christmas Festival
Nottingham Winter Wonderland
Nottingham, United Kingdom
An ice rink, a skating path, an observation wheel and a market, all in front of the Council House — and free to walk into.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov12to 15 Nov
Provisional dates
Christmas Market
Oxford Victorian Christmas Market
Oxford, United Kingdom
Four days of Victorian-themed stalls on Broad Street in mid-November — a separate, earlier event from the main Oxford market.
Nov12to 26 Dec
Christmas Market
Sheffield Christmas Market
Sheffield, United Kingdom
More than fifty log cabins running from the Town Hall right down to the bottom of The Moor — and still open on Boxing Day.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov12to 27 Dec
Christmas Market
Southampton Christmas Market
Southampton, United Kingdom
Chalets from the medieval Bargate down Above Bar, with a Ferris wheel and rides in Guildhall Square.
Checked 26 Sep
Nov12to 21 Dec
Christmas Market
York Christmas Market
York, United Kingdom
Alpine chalets on medieval streets, with the Minster at the end of every view.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov13to 3 Jan
Christmas Festival
Christmas in Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom
An ice rink, a big wheel and a Christmas market on Parker's Piece — free to walk in, and running into January.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov13to 13 Dec
Christmas Market
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
Exeter, United Kingdom
Wooden chalets on Cathedral Green, in front of the longest unbroken Gothic vaulted ceiling in the world.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov13to 23 Dec
Christmas Market
Innsbruck Old Town Christmas Market
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck's traditional market below the Golden Roof, with the Alps rising behind the medieval lanes.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov13to 26 Dec
Christmas Market
Vienna Christkindlmarkt
Vienna, Austria
The Rathausplatz market: enormous, immaculate, and unapologetically theatrical.
Checked 27 Aug
Nov14Sat
In 26 days
Light Switch-On
Belfast Christmas Lights Switch-On
Belfast, United Kingdom
The Lord Mayor lights up Belfast at City Hall — on the same day the Continental Christmas Market opens. Ticketed.
Checked 3 Oct
Nov14to 22 Dec
Christmas Market
Belfast Christmas Market
Belfast, United Kingdom
A genuinely international market — over 100 traders from 28 countries, in the grounds of Belfast City Hall.
Checked 22 Sep