Voted the UK’s best and the world’s second-best Christmas Market for 2026, Manchester’s festive markets return across ten city-centre locations, with Albert Square at the heart of the festivities. Alongside a giant Ferris wheel, pop-up pub, and tree selfie sleigh in Albert Square, this year’s Christmas markets will also see the return of the iconic giant Santa to the Town Hall after nearly a decade. Visitors can also explore a new market site at Lincoln Square, a redesigned layout at St Ann’s Square, and the Skate MCR undercover ice rink at Cathedral Gardens.
The markets run daily from Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December, operating from 10am to 9pm across most locations. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens remain open through to Sunday 3 January 2027 with tailored festive hours, including an extended late-night celebration past midnight on New Year’s Eve at Albert Square.
All of the Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 locations
Albert Square
Albert Square serves as a primary hub for Manchester’s Christmas Markets from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027 (except Christmas Day), featuring a wide array of festive attractions, local and international stalls, and family entertainment. Visitors can take in panoramic views from the 50-metre Ferris wheel, ride a vintage helter-skelter, snap photos at the Christmas tree selfie sleigh, and see the iconic giant Santa in front of the Town Hall. The market also includes a festive pop-up pub with live entertainment, heated seating areas, and diverse food options ranging from hot chocolate and Parisian French toast to live charity pastry-baking demonstrations.
Lincoln Square
Located just steps from Albert Square, a brand-new 2026 food-focused Christmas market will offer diverse international street food—including jerk chicken, homestyle pasta, and Korean corn dogs—alongside truck bars and a heated marquee for enjoying festive drinks. The market operates daily from 6 November to 22 December, opening 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
King Street
The King Street Christmas Market will offer a wide array of artisan gifts, gourmet deli goods, international street food—ranging from gyros and Italian classics to Hong Kong-style French toast and hot pies—and festive drinks like German beers and seasonal cocktails. The market runs daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
St Ann’s Square
The original home of Manchester’s Christmas Markets will feature an updated 2026 layout with expanded covered seating, live music from community choirs and buskers, and a giant Christmas tree. Visitors can enjoy food alongside seasonal drinks, glühwein, and a dedicated Guinness cart. The market operates daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
Corn Exchange
Browse the stalls in front of the Corn Exchange for unique gifts from crafters. Take home tasty festive treats, such as pork pies, handmade truffles and artisan cheeses, or shop for clothing, jewellery, fabulous accessories and more. The market runs daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
Exchange Street
The Exchange Street Christmas Market returns with craft and gift stalls alongside popular food and sweet treats, including loaded hash browns, tap-poured gourmet hot chocolate, affogatos, and Dubai-inspired chocolate strawberries. The market operates daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
New Cathedral Street
The New Cathedral Street Christmas Market is a prime destination for Christmas shopping, featuring a wide selection of festive gifts alongside food and drink highlights like traditional German bratwurst, German beers, and steak frites topped with hot raclette cheese. The market operates daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
Market Street
The Market Street Christmas Market returns bigger than ever, featuring an expanded lineup of craft, gift, and food stalls selling items like tweed hats, candles, ornaments, and spiced rum, alongside carnival-style games like darts and hook-a-duck. The market operates daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
Exchange Square
One of the largest Christmas Market locations, with festive food, drinks, gifts and crafts. Visitors can warm up with a hot chocolate at the hugely popular hot chocolate bar – back for 2026, or enjoy a classic mulled wine, home-made here in Manchester. Or why not try a Yorkshire pudding wrap or a traditional bratwurst from the swing grill? The market runs daily from 6 November to 22 December, open 10am to 9pm (closing at 6pm on 22 December).
Cathedral Gardens
The Cathedral Gardens Christmas Market is a family-friendly hub featuring the Skate Manchester covered ice rink, mini-fairground games, and live entertainment. Food and drink highlights include cheese fondue served in hot bread bowls, salt-and-pepper chicken fries, authentic crêpes, and gourmet hot chocolate. The market operates daily (except Christmas Day) from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
“We’ve been saying for years just how brilliant our markets are – they really are up there with the very best in the world and everyone should come.”
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: “Christmas can never come round quickly enough for me, and I’m very excited for everything we’ve got coming up across the city – it’s going to be fabulous. The festive season has to be my absolute favourite time of the year in Manchester because there’s nowhere that does Christmas quite like we do.
“It’s no surprise then that our legendary Christmas Markets have been voted the Best Christmas Markets in the UK. They’ve been helping make magical memories of Christmas in the city for generations of Mancunians for a good two-and-a-half decades now, and the crowds of people visiting them from up and down the country and far beyond get bigger and bigger every time.
“We’ve been saying for years just how brilliant our markets are – they really are up there with the very best in the world and everyone should come. So it’s no surprise either that, as well as Best in the UK, we’ve also been voted second Best Christmas Markets in the World by a whisker – coming within touching distance of Nuremberg who bagged first place.
“I take my Santa’s hat off to Nuremberg for being top of the Christmas tree once again this year – it’s a beautiful place, full of tradition, and well worth a visit – but there’s definitely room for two at the top next year. We’ll bring the tinsel!”
