You could attend a carol concert every day in December, and still not experience all the Silent Nights and Away In A Mangers London has to offer. We've put together our pick of carol concerts in the capital for Christmas 2026, including stunning settings, charity fundraisers — and the service where they welcome dogs into church.
ST PAUL'S CHURCH COVENT GARDEN: It's no surprise that a West End venue dubbed 'the actor's church' goes big on performances at Christmas. The Lady Ratlings Choir (24 November) and father and son duo Ben & Tom Waters (10 Decmeber) are among the performance groups getting their moment in the spotlight. Fundraising concerts for the Royal Theatrical Fund (4 December) and The Mace Foundation (9 December) and The Food Chain (16 December) are also on the programme. A selection of other carol concerts and Christmas celebrations take place throughout late November and December too. 24 November-10 December 2026
ANTHONY NOLAN TRUST: Stem cell research charity the Anthony Nolan Trust gets the festivities started early with its carol concert at St James's Piccadilly. Expect readings from special guests and performances from the acclaimed I Dodici Choir, all rounded off with a mince pie and a glass of prosecco. 26 November 2026
CADOGAN HALL: Around the corner from Sloane Square, Chelsea's Cadogan Hall has a busy programme of Christmas events running throughout December. Highlights include The Macmillan Carol Concert (1 December), The Kingdom Choir (18 December) and Candlelit Carols (23 and 24 December). The festive entertainment continues after the big day, too. 1-30 December 2026
MACMILLAN CAROL CONCERT: Cancer charity Macmillan takes over Cadogan Hall for one night, for a family-friendly event. Music line-up TBC. 1 December 2026
ROYAL ALBERT HALL: As ever, London's fanciest concert hall comes into its own at Christmas. Here are some of the highlights of its festive programme:
- Christmas with the Salvation Army includes performances by the charity's bands and singers, special readings and carol singing. (1 December)
- Christmas with the Royal Choral Society, a group which has been performing at the RAH since 1872. They're accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the British Imperial Military Band as they perform traditional carols such as Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come all Ye Faithful. (7 December)
- Carols at the Royal Albert Hall is the final countdown to Christmas, with up to three performances a day. Join in with festive favourites at these family-friendly events. (19-24 December)
WORLD HEART BEAT: Music academy World Heart Beat holds its Christmas Community Concert at Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms. Mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate are served, with money raised giving young people living in difficult circumstances an opportunity to learn music. 1 December 2026
ST PETER'S CHURCH, BELGRAVIA: Charity Kids for Kids holds a Magical Candlelit Christmas Concert, with a reading by Joanna Lumley, and other special guests in attendance. Add in a trumpet fanfare by Thames Fanfare Brass, school choirs, mince pies and mulled wine, and you've got the full yule experience. The event raises money to support children and their families living in the remote villages of Darfur, Sudan, who face ongoing war. 3 December 2026
RAINBOW TRUST: The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity holds its 17th annual celebrity-studded carol concert at St. Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge to raise funds to support families caring for a life threatened or terminally ill child. The Elstree School Chapel Choir leads the music, with festive performances and celebrity readings (names to be revealed) sprinkled throughout the evening. It's a special one this year, as the charity celebrates its 40th anniversary. 3 December 2026
BATTERSEA CAROLS: We shouldn't have favourites, we know, but we do have a soft spot for the Battersea Christmas Carol Concert, not least because they bring dogs into the church to form a canine guard of honour. Naturally, money raised goes back into the work Battersea does for dogs and cats, and there's a chance to purchase Battersea-themed gifts at the end of the concert. Really though, we're here for the pooches. Takes place at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, and it's so popular, there are three events this year. 3, 4 and 11 December 2026
SAVE THE CHILDREN: Save the Children ambassador, musician and presenter Myleene Klass performs at the charity's Christmas carol concert, a festive event at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge. Also on the programme: timeless Christmas carols, various musical performances, special readings by celebrity guests, and a chance to hear about the work Save the Children does in the UK and around the world. 4 December 2026
NORDOFF & ROBBINS: Music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins takes over St Luke's Church in Chelsea for an evening of traditional carols interspersed with superstar performers, hosts and celebrity readers. Exact line-up TBC, but this one normally manages to pull in some big names from the music world. 8 December 2026
ACTION SYRIA CAROLS: Action Syria, a small UK charity that works with local partners to make sure Syrian communities have the medical care and education they need, holds a fundraising carol concert at Bartholomew the Great to kick December off. Expect candlelit carols, celebrity readings, and spectacular performances, followed by a mince pie and a festive drink.8 December 2026
MAYOR'S CAROL SERVICE: The Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea's Charity Christmas Carol Service in aid of The Kensington + Chelsea Foundation is on at St Mary The Boltons, giving you the chance to sing along to your favourite carols aided along by mince pies and mulled wine. 9 December 2026
CAROLS AND ICES: London Canal Museum — a unique and atmospheric take on a carol concert. The Carols and Ices evening at the King's Cross museum also features boat trips on the canal at night, and Victorian ice cream-making demonstrations. 10 December 2026
MS SOCIETY: Westminster Chapel is the place to head for the MS Society's Carols by Candlelight. Expect choral music, special guests TBC as well as a silent auction.10 December 2026
LONDON ORATORY: Intrigued by the fancy-looking building next to the V&A on Brompton Road? It's the London Oratory, an ornate church with its own choir, Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory, who perform at its annual carol service, raising money for Aid to the Church in Need. 10 December 2026
CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST: Jenny Agutter, David Haig, Synnove Karlsen and Luke Martineau are among the past celebrity speakers at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust's Carols by Candlelight, taking place at St Luke's in Chelsea. Watch this space for 2026 line-up. 15 December 2026
ALL SOULS CAROLS: Last year, more than 14,000 people enjoyed (FREE!) carol services at All Souls Langham Place (near Oxford Circus), and the event is back across eight evenings this year, with an impressive three 60-minute concerts taking place on each of those days. Experience the Nativity story told through music and festive readings, with a live choir and orchestra performing, and free mince pies and warm Christmas punch available after the service. 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22 and 23 December 2026
NATIONAL BRAIN APPEAL: "Uplifting carols, seasonal performances and heart-warming moments" are promised at the National Brain Appeal's carol concert at St Clement Danes, with celebrities including Nicola Walker and Samuel West in attendance. 16 December 2026>
CHILDLINE'S CAROL CONCERT: Celebrity presenters and readers (TBC) part in Childline's carol concert, which moves to St Paul's Cathedral this year. 17 December 2026
