Keep up to date with all things festive on our Christmas 2026 in London page.
Like it or not, Christmas 2026 is coming — very soon. Before October's out, the first seasonal ice rink opens, and there are even a few early stagings of A Christmas Carol! After that it's a slippery (if twinkly) slope into fulon festive mode.
Want to know when the capital's Christmas markets open? When the London Christmas lights are switched on this year? When you can get your skates on? We've put together this calendar of the biggest and best festive happenings in the capital this year, so you can plan your Christmas adventures accordingly.
🎩 27 October 2026: The first A Christmas Carol of the season — namely Christmas Carol Goes Wrong — hits the London stage, marking a flurry of Scroogy shows that go on well into January.
❄ 31 October 2026: Skate Leicester Square opens, the first ice rink to freeze over for the festive season.
🛍 2 November 2026: Spirit of Christmas Fair opens at Olympia, for early birds to get their Christmas shopping sorted.
🛍 2 November 2026: Southbank Centre's Winter Market opens, offering twinkling cabins alongside the river.
💡 4 November 2026: Carnaby Christmas lights are switched on, the first major festive illuminations of the season.
💡 5 November 2026: Regent Street's Christmas lights are switched on, with the street going traffic-free for a special lighting event.
💫 5 November 2026: Ever After Garden opens in Duke of York Square, raising money for charity while offering somewhere to reflect during the festive season.
❄ 6 November 2026: Glide at Battersea Power Station ice rink opens, for skating in front of those iconic chimneys.
🍷 9 November 2026: Miracle on Russell Street festive bar opens — think seasonal cocktails served in extremely covetable drinkware, just for the grown-ups!
❄ 11 November 2026: Skate at Somerset House ice rink opens, for figure-of-eights in the magnificent courtyard.
💡 12 November 2026: Covent Garden Christmas lights are switched on, including the towering tree in the Piazza.
💫 13 November 2026: Christmas at Kew opens, one of our annual favourites — an enchanting light trail through the botanical gardens after dark.
🎄 13 November 2026: Wundrful World of Christmas opens at Excel — a family friendly experience with fairground rides and a Christmas village.
🚂 14 November 2026: Epping Ongar Lights Party Express chugs into town, wending through the trees with stunning lights and festive singalongs.
🎭 14 November 2026: Cinderella opens at Lyric Hammersmith, heralding the start of panto season, which is packed with Cinders, Dicks and Jacks galore — oh yes it is!
❄ 18 November 2026: Queen's House ice rink opens, twice as big before, among the historic buildings of Greenwich.
🎄 19 November 2026: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens, bringing huge crowds to the area in search of funfair rides.
❄ 19 November 2026: Hampton Court Palace ice rink opens, a wonderful riverside rink with a gorgeous palace backdrop.
🎄 20 November 2026: Santa's Winter Garden opens at Fulham Palace: new for 2026, head to the walled garden to stroll through Candy Cane Walk and Lamplight Lane to meet Santa at North Pole HQ.
💫 25 November 2026: Chelsea Winter Village opens, offering festive illuminations and a Christmas market in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
🎄 27 November 2026: Christmas at the Tower opens at the Tower of London, showcasing Victorian festive traditions through a series of Christmassy scenes as you explore the historic fortress.
🐸 27 November 2026: It's in the singing of a street corner choir, it's going home and getting warm by the fire... and it's most certainly on the screens of the Prince Charles Cinema, where they're showing The Muppet Christmas Carol every day from 27 November till Christmas Eve — 55 times in all!
🎄 28 November 2026: Winter Palace at Hampton Court Palace opens, taking you into a world of mythical beasts as you wander through the palace, its rooms dressed for Christmas.
🛍 4 December 2026: Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre, a food-centric market where you can stock up on Christmas gifts and treats while being serenaded by musicians at the bandstand.
🍷 4 December 2026: Humbug Christmas party bar opens, another adults-only boozy night out — this year Santa's landed his sleigh in Greenwich.
🚂 5 December 2026: The Polar Express train ride steams into Euston, scooping up families and taking them on a magical train ride based on the enchanting festive film.
🚂 12 December 2026: More steam trains — this time, the Santa Express, which is doing festive round trips from Victoria station on 12 and 19 December.
These are just the highlights of a packed calendar of Christmas events in London. See also:
🎅🏻 When are London's Christmas lights switched on this year?
🎅🏻 Where to go ice skating in London this Christmas
