Harrogate Christmas Market 2026: What's On Instead
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre is not part of the 2026 festive calendar. Here is what runs instead, from the Little Bird Made market and the new Ice Pavilion in Valley Gardens to the Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair, RHS Glow and the pantomime, with dates, prices and where to eat and stay.
In short: Visit North Yorkshire says the Harrogate Christmas Fayre is not part of the festive calendar this year, so there is no town centre Christmas Fayre in 2026. What runs instead: the Little Bird Made Christmas Market in Valley Gardens on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, a covered ice rink there from Thursday 17 December, the Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair at the showground from 26 to 29 November, RHS Glow at Harlow Carr and the pantomime. Book the rink, the fair and Glow ahead.
Christmas in Harrogate for 2026: what is on, and where to eat, warm up and stay. Dates and prices were checked on each organiser's or venue's own website on 23 October 2026.
Is the Harrogate Christmas market on in 2026?
No. Visit North Yorkshire says the Harrogate Christmas Fayre "isn't part of the festive calendar for this year", and it is not in the 2026 festive programme set out by Harrogate BID and its partners. We could not open the Fayre's own pages, so this rests on Visit North Yorkshire. Any 4 to 13 December dates you see for a Fayre are out of date.
| Event | Where | Dates 2026 | Price or booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair | Great Yorkshire Events Centre | Thu 26 to Sun 29 Nov | £5 to £9 |
| Sleeping Beauty | Harrogate Theatre | Wed 25 Nov to Sun 17 Jan 2027 | From £20 |
| RHS Glow | RHS Garden Harlow Carr | Selected dates, 26 Nov to 30 Dec | Book ahead |
| Little Bird Made Christmas Market | Valley Gardens | Sat 5 and Sun 6 Dec | No entry price listed |
| Santa's Grotto | Victoria Shopping Centre | Selected December dates | Ticket for every child |
| Ice Trail | Town centre | Sat 12 Dec | Not published |
| Harrogate Ice Pavilion | Valley Gardens | Thu 17 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Book online |
What's on in Harrogate at Christmas 2026?
Little Bird Made Christmas Market
Little Bird Made's artisan market in Valley Gardens is the closest Harrogate gets to a Christmas market this year: two days of makers, not a town centre Fayre.
- 📅 Sat 5 and Sun 6 Dec
- ⏰ 10am to 3pm
- 📍 Valley Gardens, Low Harrogate
Harrogate Ice Pavilion
A covered real-ice rink in Valley Gardens, new for 2026, with public, toddler, disco and relaxed (SEN) sessions.
- 📅 Thu 17 Dec to Sun 3 Jan 2027
- 🚫 Closed Christmas Day
- 🎟️ Book online
Good to know: bookings made before midnight on 31 October 2026 get 15% off automatically. Ticket prices were not shown on the rink's own pages when we checked.
Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair
About 180 stalls indoors at the Great Yorkshire Showground, with a food hall and cafés: the best bet for a big Christmas shop under one roof.
- 📅 Thu 26 to Sun 29 Nov
- ⏰ 9.30am to 5pm (Sun to 4pm)
- 🎟️ £5 early bird, £7 online, £9 on the door
- 🚗 Free parking
RHS Glow at Harlow Carr
Light trails at RHS Garden Harlow Carr. The RHS says popular slots sell out.
- 📅 Selected dates, 26 Nov to 30 Dec
- 🎟️ Book on the RHS site
- 📍 Crag Lane, HG3 1QB
Good to know: the open dates, times and prices were not yet published.
Sleeping Beauty at Harrogate Theatre
The family pantomime runs well into January.
- 📅 Wed 25 Nov to Sun 17 Jan 2027
- 🎟️ From £20
- 🤟 BSL Sat 5 Dec, 12pm
- 🧩 Relaxed Sun 13 Dec, 11am
Good to know: book on the theatre's website.
Santa's Grotto at the Victoria Shopping Centre
Run by Santa's Village with Harrogate BID. Every child needs a ticket and leaves with a gift.
- 📅 Selected December dates
- 📍 Station Parade, HG1 1AE
- 🚗 Victoria multi-storey, East Parade
Good to know: we could not read the dates and prices on the booking page, so check there.
Ice Trail
Five ice sculptures around the town centre on Saturday 12 December, from Harrogate BID. Its curling rinks and giant snow globe have no published dates or places yet.
Where to eat near the Christmas events in Harrogate
The first three publish Christmas menus on their own sites.
Rhubarb Restaurant
The smartest festive lunch in the centre, and it scores 8.8 in our directory. The December set lunch puts a pig in blanket terrine and Christmas pudding ice cream on the menu.
- 🍽️ December set lunch £36
- ⏰ Wed to Sun lunch, Wed to Sat dinner
- 📍 Cheltenham Crescent, Town Centre
Sukhothai Harrogate
Three Thai Christmas sharing menus, one of them vegetarian, for a group that wants something other than turkey.
- 📅 23 Nov to 31 Dec
- 💷 £40, £42 or £48 a head, minimum two
- 📍 Cheltenham Parade, Town Centre
Papas Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine
A Greek and Mediterranean restaurant with a three-course Christmas Eve menu from 12pm.
- 🎄 Christmas Eve, Thu 24 Dec
- ⏰ Closed Mondays
- 📍 Princes Square, Town Centre
Good to know: the Christmas Eve price is not on its website, so ask when you book.
Efes Bar & Grill
Turkish grills on Swan Road beside Valley Gardens, handy for the market and the rink.
- ⏰ Mon to Thu from 4.30pm, Fri to Sun from 12.30pm
- 📍 Swan Road, Montpellier Quarter
Over & Above
A cocktail bar behind a bookcase, for a drink after the panto. It keeps space for walk-ins.
- ⏰ Tue to Sun, closed Mon
- 📍 Cheltenham Crescent, Town Centre
Where can I warm up after the ice rink?
Turkish Baths Harrogate
Heated rooms, a steam room and a plunge pool in an 1897 building. A session also makes an easy present.
- 💷 £29 Mon to Thu, £39 Fri to Sun
- 🔞 Over 16s only
- 🎟️ Pre-booking strongly advised
- 📍 Parliament Street, Town Centre
Good to know: Christmas opening hours were not published when we checked, so check its website before you go.
Where to stay for Christmas in Harrogate
Rudding Park
The full festive package, with a Narnia theme this year. It scores 8.9 in our directory.
- 📅 1 to 23 Dec: afternoon tea, party nights, Breakfast with Santa
- 🎄 24 to 26 Dec: the main Christmas programme
- 🛏️ Christmas Escapes stays
- 📍 Rudding Lane, Pannal
Good to know: festive prices are not on its pages yet, so book through its website.
Studley Hotel
Next to Valley Gardens, so the market and the rink are on the doorstep, with the Pan-Asian Orchid restaurant in the hotel.
- 🍽️ The Orchid in house
- 📍 Swan Road, Montpellier Quarter
Fountains Guest House
The value pick: ten en-suite rooms, cooked breakfast and free parking, a walk from the theatre and the shops.
- 💷 From £75 a night
- 🚗 Free parking
- 📍 Kings Road, Kings Road
Christmas in Harrogate: questions
Is the Harrogate Christmas market on in 2026?
No. Visit North Yorkshire says the Harrogate Christmas Fayre is not part of the festive calendar for 2026. The Little Bird Made Christmas Market is in Valley Gardens on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December instead.
What are the Harrogate Christmas market 2026 dates?
The Little Bird Made Christmas Market is on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 3pm, in Valley Gardens. Any 4 to 13 December dates you see for a Fayre are out of date.
Do I need tickets for Christmas events in Harrogate?
For the Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair (£5 early bird, £9 on the door), the Ice Pavilion, RHS Glow, the pantomime and Santa's Grotto, yes. Little Bird Made lists no entry price.
When does the Harrogate ice rink open?
Thursday 17 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 in Valley Gardens, closed Christmas Day. Bookings made before midnight on 31 October 2026 get 15% off.
Is there a Christmas market near Harrogate?
Knaresborough Christmas Market runs on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 5pm, and closes at 4.30pm on the Sunday with a firework finale.