Manchester Christmas Markets 2026: Dates, Opening Hours and the 10 Sites

Manchester’s Christmas markets return for 2026 as a trail of 10 sites across the city centre, with more than 210 stalls. The main trail runs from Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, while Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens carry on until Sunday 3 January 2027.

One change to note for 2026: Lincoln Square is a new site this year, and Piccadilly Gardens is not part of the markets in 2026. If you visited in a previous year and headed straight for Piccadilly Gardens, you will need to change your route.

The 10 sites

The 2026 markets are spread across Albert Square, Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens and Market Street. Lincoln Square is new for 2026. Piccadilly Gardens is not one of the market sites in 2026.

Albert Square

Albert Square is one of the two sites that stay open past Christmas, running until Sunday 3 January 2027. Its festive hours after the main trail ends are: 24 December 10am–5pm, 25 December closed, 26–30 December 10am–6pm, New Year’s Eve 10am–12.30am, and 1–3 January 10am–6pm.

Cathedral Gardens and Skate Manchester

Cathedral Gardens is the other site that continues to Sunday 3 January 2027, with the same festive hours as Albert Square: 24 December 10am–5pm, 25 December closed, 26–30 December 10am–6pm, New Year’s Eve 10am–12.30am, and 1–3 January 10am–6pm.

Cathedral Gardens is also home to Skate Manchester, the ice rink, which runs from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

The other sites

The remaining sites — Lincoln Square, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange and Market Street — run with the main trail from 6 November to 22 December 2026, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Together with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, they hold more than 210 stalls across the city centre.

Christmas Parade

The Manchester Christmas Parade takes place on Sunday 6 December 2026. It is one of the few dated events in the programme, so if you want to see it, plan your visit around that Sunday.

Opening hours in full

All sites are open 10am to 9pm daily from 6 November to 23 December 2026. After that, only Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens stay open, on the festive hours listed above. Note that the council’s Cathedral Gardens page as indexed contains two obvious month typos, giving “30 January” and “31 January” where 30 and 31 December are meant; the same hours are confirmed by the council’s Albert Square listing.

Tips for your visit

• The markets are spread across 10 sites, so the trail is a walk through the city centre rather than a single market square. Comfortable shoes and time to wander are worth planning for.
• The two sites that stay open after Christmas are Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens. Every other site finishes on 22 December.
• Christmas Day is the one full closure: Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens are closed on 25 December.
• Dates and hours can change at short notice, so check the official Manchester City Council and Visit Manchester pages before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

When do the Manchester Christmas Markets open in 2026?

The main trail opens on Friday 6 November and runs to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens continue to Sunday 3 January 2027.

Which sites are part of the Manchester Christmas Markets in 2026?

Albert Square, Lincoln Square (new for 2026), King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens and Market Street. Piccadilly Gardens is not a site in 2026.

What time are the markets open?

All sites are open 10am to 9pm daily from 6 November to 23 December. Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens then switch to festive hours, including closing at 5pm on Christmas Eve and staying closed on Christmas Day.

Is there an ice rink?

Yes — Skate Manchester, the ice rink at Cathedral Gardens, runs from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.