York Christmas Market returns from Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026, bringing festive shopping, seasonal food and Christmas atmosphere to the heart of the city.
York Christmas Market brings together the city’s renowned festive shopping, seasonal entertainment and independent traders in its historic surroundings.
Organised by Make It York, the Christmas Market is open six days a week, from 10:30am to 7pm, Wednesday to Monday, and closed on Tuesdays for a weekly rest day.
While York Christmas Market is closed on Tuesdays for a rest day, the city remains open and welcoming for your festive days out.
The festive season in York is always one of the most popular and atmospheric times of year in the city. With so much to do, you can explore York’s shops and historic streets, visit an attraction, stop for lunch or enjoy festive events taking place across the city.
The historic Shambles Market and Shambles Food Court remains open every day, 9am to 5pm, as usual in the heart of York’s city centre. A hub for independent traders where you can find something different every day, offering a delightful variety of choice.
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said: “Our aim is to ensure the city delivers a world-class Christmas experience that balances the needs of visitors, residents and businesses.
“We would love for everyone to keep York and the Christmas Market firmly on their itineraries. There’s so much to do and see in the city throughout the week, your time in the city can be easily packed with the city’s world-class attractions, events, and food and drink options.”
Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for the Economy said: “During the festive season York is the most Christmassy place in the UK, with people coming together to celebrate and explore our amazing city and its wonderful hospitality and retail businesses.
“This year, to ensure easier access to the city centre for everyone, we are trialling a Christmas Market rest day one day a week on Tuesdays.
“With so much to explore and enjoy seven days a week across the whole of York we are looking forward, with our partners, to what promises to be another fantastic festive period.”
York Christmas Market 2026 Key Information
Dates: Thursday 12 November to Monday 21 December 2026
Opening days: Wednesday to Monday
Opening hours: 10:30am to 7pm (except Monday 21 December 10:30am to 5pm)
Tuesdays: York Christmas Market is closed for a weekly rest day
Wider city: York’s shops, attractions, cafés, restaurants and events remain open throughout the week
Visitor advice: Check York Christmas Market opening times and travel information before visiting.
Plan your visit and discover Christmas across York at visityork.org/christmas
ENDS
PRESS RELEASE: 10 August 2026
NOTES TO EDITOR
The rest day is a trial following a decision of the City of York Council’s Executive on Tuesday 12 May. It means that on Tuesdays throughout the market, the stalls will be closed and the Goodramgate, King’s Square, Colliergate loop for Blue Badge holders will be in operation. For the other days when the market is open, in line with recommended anti-terrorism measures, arrangements will be similar to last year with restrictions on vehicles within the footstreet area.
About Make It York – Make It York’s purpose is to develop and promote the city and its surroundings, nationally and internationally, as a vibrant and attractive place to live, visit, study, work and do business. Its mission is to grow the economic prosperity and wider wellbeing of York and its citizens. In practice, this means delivering a range of projects and programmes based around our corporate strategic priorities. These are, city positioning and profile-raising, ensuring an exciting city centre, and delivering the city’s ground-breaking cultural strategy.
About Visit York – Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand. Under the brand Visit York, Make It York’s aim is to market York as a must-see world-class destination to the leisure and business visitor and ensure investment to develop the quality of tourism in York. Activity covers all aspects of tourism marketing and PR, including market intelligence, as well as providing business support through the membership programme. Visit York operate the Visit York Pass, York’s city-sightseeing card, and run the Visitor Information Centre.
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