Edinburgh's Christmas

Edinburgh's Christmas returns from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the market spread across East and West Princes Street Gardens, George Street and St Andrew Square. It's run by Unique Assembly for the City of Edinburgh Council, and the gardens keep Edinburgh Castle and the Scott Monument as their backdrop. East Princes Street Gardens is the heart of it, where wooden chalets bring together Scottish makers, independent traders and artisan food producers. West Princes Street Gardens is where the family-friendly fairground rides gather. The whole thing is opened by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh with fireworks and choirs, and there's a traditional Nativity Scene on the Mound.

There's a fair bit to do beyond the stalls. The LNER Big Wheel and the Around the World Star Flyer — one of the world's tallest transportable rides, standing around 80 metres high — run throughout. Santa's Stories runs from 20 to 24 December. For the adults, the Polar Ice Bar with Icelandair is 18+ and runs from 19 November to 2 January, with the bar sculpted fresh every year and kept at -10C. The Family Ice Experience with Icelandair runs from 21 November to 3 January, and there's a light trail to walk through as well.

Entry to the market areas is free, so you can wander through the chalets without spending a penny. Separate tickets are needed for the LNER Big Wheel, the Around the World Star Flyer, Santa's Stories, the ice rink and the light trail. The markets have been around since 1999, relaunched in their modern format in 2013, and now draw more than 2.6 million visitors each season.