Manchester Christmas Markets are open with more than 200 stalls to browse

Expect swing grills, gifts, Glühwein, steaming hot chocolate in iconic mugs, artisan pastries, a legendary giant Santa, illuminated walk-through musical cracker, plus brand-new for this year – an exclusive limited-edition range of festive Manchester winter woollies!

Named only weeks ago as the best Christmas Markets in the UK, Manchester Christmas Markets are back for another six-week run, helping the city and its visitors to celebrate the season.

Albert Square is once again at the centre of the city’s Christmas-is-coming festivities with several new features and stalls this year – including live artisan pastry baking, a pop-up festive pub that is sure to be everyone’s favourite local by the time the markets are done, plus the return of the almighty giant Ferris Wheel with its stunning views from the top over the city, and a brand-new selfie sleigh nestled inside a mini forest of snow-covered fir trees, reached through an ornate gateway.

Also back on Albert Square for the first time in nearly a decade is everyone’s favourite giant Santa, taking pride of place in front of the city’s magnificent Grade I Listed Victorian Town Hall.

Gone is the huge, gift-wrapped present he has sat aloft in the past, this year sees the city’s much-loved giant Santa sitting on top of an enormous walk-through green Christmas Cracker with golden bows at each end.

Festooned with fairy lights inside, visitors are invited to walk through the cracker with its colour-changing twinkling lights, underneath Santa, serenaded as they go by a musical playlist of Christmas classics.

Just around the corner from Albert Square, this year’s Christmas Markets also see the addition of a brand-new market location, with Lincoln Square off Brazennose Street transformed into a festive foodie delight with over a dozen market stalls and trucks, offering a mouth-watering selection of food and drinks, plus cosy undercover seating.

Other Christmas Market locations across the city for 2026 include King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.

Christmas Market regulars who visit St Ann’s Square this year will see a big difference on the square which is one of the longest-running of the city’s Christmas market locations – with even more craft, food, and drink stalls on offer in a brand-new layout providing more choice and even better browsing opportunities around the stalls.

And over at Cathedral Gardens Skate MCR is back, transforming the gardens into the ultimate winter destination with a range of market stalls alongside an undercover ice rink – perfect for a seasonal skate whatever the weather – that will remain open through the festive season until the new year.

Visitors to Manchester’s world-beating Christmas Markets this year will also be first in line to get their hands on an exclusive limited-edition range of Winter woollies.

The exclusive range with its colourful fun retro design includes jumpers, hats, scarves and tote bags – all featuring none other than Manchester’s much-loved iconic giant Santa and available exclusively – while stocks last – in Albert Square at The Manchester Shop stall.

Manchester’s Christmas Markets were officially opened by Councillor Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, supported by traders from across the markets and former Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Carl Austin-Behan.

This year’s Christmas Markets in the city will be the first without Councillor Pat Karney at the helm who had been the face of Christmas in Manchester since the very first Manchester Christmas Market took place in 1998.

Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I think it’s probably fair to say that Pat loved Christmas more than Father Christmas himself and it feels very strange not to have him once again celebrating the opening of our legendary Christmas Markets with us.

“We owe it to him and the city to make sure therefore that Christmas this year in Manchester is the very best yet.”

Markets across the city are now open until Tuesday, December 22, except at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens which will remain open throughout the festive season until January 3.

Families with young children will also want to put a date in their diary this festive season for the magical Manchester Christmas Parade, which this year takes place on Sunday, December 6 – the feel-good festive treat for all the family.