Durham Christmas Festival
Friday 4 December – Sunday 6 December 2026
Palace Green, Market Place and city centre, Durham, County Durham
For three days in December, Durham Christmas Festival fills the heart of this County Durham cathedral city, set in a loop of the River Wear, from the Market Place up the cobbled streets to Palace Green. There a big heated marquee holds more than 120 stalls of handmade gifts, artwork, decorations and festive food beside street food and seating. The Cathedral Cloisters host a market of regional food and drink producers, more stalls line the Market Place and Market Hall, and most traders are small North East businesses. Carollers sing in the streets, Father Christmas waits in his grotto, and on the Sunday children carry lanterns behind a band up to the Cathedral. With the central streets closed to traffic, visitors can stroll between it all and Durham's cafes, pubs and shops.
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What to expect
Date & times
Friday 4 December – Sunday 6 December 2026
Getting there
Palace Green, Market Place and city centre, Durham, County Durham
Dogs
Information coming soon
Accessibility
Available: Wheelchair accessible, Step-free access, Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking. Not confirmed: Accessible viewing areas.
Stalls
Stall list coming soon
Live schedule
Full timetable available when market goes live
Interactive map
Site map with GPS location available when market goes live
Live announcements
Real-time updates available when market goes live
Accessibility
Confirmed:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking / blue badge parking
Not confirmed:
- Accessible viewing areas
Notes
The Craft and Gift Marquee is wheelchair accessible with ramp entrances, though the festival cannot guarantee a completely flat floor on its grassed site. The route up to Palace Green through Durham Cathedral has lifts and ramps as alternatives to any steps, and a free, fully wheelchair-accessible taxi service runs from just below Market Place to the rear of the Cathedral. Accessible toilets are on Palace Green and in several other city centre buildings, and Changing Places toilets are at Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre and Durham Bus Station. Blue badge holders can park in city centre on-street bays without charge or time limits.
Frequently asked questions
When is Durham Christmas Festival?
It runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December 2026. All the markets open at 9am each day; closing times vary by market and by day, so check each market's listing on the festival's website.
Where does the festival take place?
Across central Durham. The Craft and Gift Marquee is on Palace Green, the Festive Outdoor Market is in Durham Market Place, the Regional Food and Drink Producers' Market is in the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral, and Durham Market Hall is open each day too. During the festival, Market Place, Silver Street, Saddler Street, Bailey, Elvet Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge are closed to traffic, so visitors can walk between Market Place, Palace Green and the Cathedral. The festival also publishes its own map, linked from its home page.
What markets are there?
The heated Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green has over 120 stalls of artwork, handcrafted gifts, seasonal decorations, homewares, clothing and festive food and drink. The Festive Outdoor Market in Durham Market Place has more than 30 independent local traders selling gifts, jewellery, clothing, homewares, takeaway food and hot drinks, from 9am to 5pm each day. The Cathedral Cloisters host a regional food and drink producers' market of more than 30 traders, and Durham Market Hall is home to 40 independent local businesses. Palace Green also has a streetfood market, with seating so you can take a break.
How much does it cost to get in?
The Craft and Gift Marquee has an entry charge in 2026: £5 on the day at the entrance, or £4.50 if you buy in advance through the Discounted Advance Tickets link on the festival's website. Accompanying children aged 16 or under go free. College and university students with current student ID get half price on Friday.
What times does the Craft and Gift Marquee open?
It opens at 9am each day and closes at 4.30pm on Sunday. Check the festival's website for the Friday and Saturday closing times. Friday is regularly the quietest day.
What is there for children and families?
The festival lists a static falconry display, storytelling, a children's entertainer and Father Christmas in his Festive Grotto on Palace Green. Carols for All services take place in Durham Cathedral on the Saturday and Sunday, and local entertainers and musicians perform around the city centre. Programmes may change at short notice or be affected by weather.
What is the Children's Lantern Parade?
On Sunday 6 December a procession of children carrying lanterns leaves Durham Market Place at 3pm, follows the Chester-le-Street Salvation Army Band up to Palace Green and arrives at Durham Cathedral for the St Nicholas Service at 3.30pm. Reserve a lantern in advance through the festival's website: it costs £6, comes with battery-operated candles and is kept by the child afterwards. Bring your confirmation email and collect the lantern from the bottom end of Market Place from 2pm. Lanterns are recommended for children up to 12, but all ages can join the parade and attend the service.
How do I get there and where do I park?
The festival recommends public transport or the city's Park and Ride. Durham railway station is about a 10-minute walk from Market Place, with trains from places including Newcastle and Darlington, and local buses run from Sunderland, Newcastle and Bishop Auckland. The Cathedral bus will not run to Palace Green. City centre car parks are likely to be full early each day. Park and Ride costs £2.20 per adult for an all-day ticket, under 16s travel free with an adult aged 21 or over, and sites are open 7am to 7pm on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Belmont (DH1 1SR) and Sniperley (DH1 5AA) are open 7am to 7pm and Howlands Farm is closed.
Is there help getting up to Palace Green?
Yes. A free taxi service runs from just below Market Place to the rear of Durham Cathedral for anyone who cannot walk up the cobbled streets, with two wheelchair-accessible taxis and an 8-seat minibus. It is first come, first served. On Saturday from midday the drop-off moves to The College, behind the Cathedral. There are also lifts and ramps through the Cathedral to Palace Green as alternatives to any steps.
Are dogs allowed?
Only assistance dogs are permitted in the Craft and Gift Marquee.
Is the festival accessible?
The Craft and Gift Marquee is wheelchair accessible with ramp entrances, though the festival cannot guarantee a completely flat floor on its grassed site. Accessible toilets and baby change are at Prince Bishops Place Car Park, Palace Green, Durham Market Hall (RADAR key needed), Gala Theatre and Cinema, Durham Cathedral and The Riverwalk Shopping Centre, with Changing Places toilets at Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre and Durham Bus Station. Blue badge holders can park in on-street pay and display bays in the city centre without charge or time limits, and Prince Bishops Place Car Park has accessible spaces on level 1. On Friday, carers enter the marquee free with the person they care for.
Is there first aid, and what if a child gets lost?
There are two first aid stations: one in Durham Market Place near the Town Hall and one behind the Cathedral end of the Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green. For a lost child, go to the main entrance of the marquee on Palace Green.
Can I bring a coach party?
Yes. Coaches must be pre-registered by completing the Coach Booking form on the festival's website and paying in advance; a fee is payable per coach per day.
How do I get a stall?
The Craft and Gift Marquee is fully booked for 2026 and the festival expects to invite expressions of interest for 2027 in February or March 2027. The Festive Outdoor Market in Durham Market Place is booked through Durham Markets Company.
Is this your market?
This is a basic listing we've put together so visitors can find Durham Christmas Festival. If you're one of its organisers, you can claim it — take control of the page, add your schedule, map and more.
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