Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations begin today, Saturday 14 November, with five festive destinations offering traditional markets, fairground rides, Santa experiences, live entertainment and Christmas shopping.
The city’s main Christmas market is opening in East Princes Street Gardens, with around 70 stalls, a giant observation wheel and an 80-metre-high Starflyer offering spectacular views across the capital.
West Princes Street Gardens will host a family funfair, Santa’s Stories and a programme of free entertainment, while George Street will welcome the return of the Polar Ice Bar and Coorie Inn.
A new festive entertainment venue at Bristo Square will bring circus, comedy and cabaret to the city, with a separate Christmas market opening on Castle Street later in November.
Four of the destinations form part of the official Edinburgh’s Christmas programme, which runs until 3 January 2027. The independently organised Castle Street Market will operate for four weeks in the run-up to Christmas.
Here are the opening dates, attractions and other details for all five locations.
Credit: Ben Whiting
1. Edinburgh Christmas Market – East Princes Street Gardens
Dates: 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Edinburgh’s main Christmas market has returned to East Princes Street Gardens, beneath the Scott Monument and overlooking the city’s Old Town.
Around 70 stalls will sell handmade Christmas gifts, decorations, jewellery, clothing and seasonal food.
Visitors can browse traditional market stalls offering products from independent traders, with an Alpine Bar providing somewhere to stop for a drink.
The 46-metre-high LNER Big Wheel is among the main attractions, offering views across Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and the city’s skyline from enclosed passenger pods.
For those looking for something more adventurous, the Around the World Starflyer reaches 80 metres above the gardens.
A vintage carousel, traditional helter skelter and photo snowglobe are also part of this year’s programme.
Admission to the market is free, with visitors paying separately for rides, food and drinks.
Tickets for the Big Wheel start at £12, while the Starflyer costs from £15.50.
The market will operate daily throughout the festive season, except Christmas Day. Opening hours vary on selected dates, so visitors should check the official programme before travelling.
2. Festive Family Funfair – West Princes Street Gardens
Dates: 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
West Princes Street Gardens is the main destination for families, with fairground rides, Santa experiences, festive food and entertainment.
The Festive Family Funfair has returned with attractions for different ages, including dodgems, waltzers, a carousel and other rides.
The gardens will also feature Christmas illuminations and the Winter Windows schools art project.
Santa’s Stories takes place from 20 November until Christmas Eve, offering children the chance to meet Father Christmas and enjoy a festive storytelling experience.
An elves’ workshop and letter-writing station will allow younger visitors to prepare their Christmas wishes and post letters to Santa.
The Ross Bandstand will host a programme of free entertainment and community celebrations, beginning with the Christmas Kick Off Concert featuring the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Scottish pop duo The Eves on 14 November.
Other events include Edinburgh Diwali on 15 November, Community Christmas on 21 November and a St Andrew’s Day ceilidh on 29 November.
Entry to West Princes Street Gardens is free, although rides and Santa’s Stories require separate payment.
Credit: Ian Georgeson
3. Polar Ice Bar and Coorie Inn – George Street
Dates: 19 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
George Street sees the return of two festive attractions and a programme of evening entertainment.
The Polar Ice Bar will welcome visitors into a frozen venue featuring hand-carved ice sculptures, with tables, chairs and drinking glasses made from ice.
Temperatures inside the bar are kept at minus eight degrees, with jackets and gloves provided to guests.
This year’s attraction features a Viking theme, with ice sculptures inspired by ancient Norse legends.
The adult Polar Ice Bar operates on selected dates from 19 November until 2 January, with tickets starting at £16.50. Admission includes a cocktail or mocktail served in a glass made from ice. The attraction is for over-18s.
A separate Family Ice Experience will allow children aged six and over to explore the frozen attraction, with tickets starting at £12. Family sessions will run from 21 November until 3 January.
Next door, the Coorie Inn returns as a free-entry festive bar and entertainment venue, with seasonal drinks, live music, quizzes and craft workshops.
The George Street programme also includes festive candle-making and wreath-making workshops.
One notable change for 2026 is the absence of Edinburgh’s traditional outdoor ice rink, which has been cancelled following concerns over costs and uncertainty surrounding city centre disruption.
The Polar Ice Bar and Family Ice Experience will operate instead, although neither offers ice skating.
4. Palais du Variété – Bristo Square
Dates: 20 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
A new addition to Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will bring live cabaret and circus entertainment to Bristo Square.
The Palais du Variété Spiegeltent will host a programme of performances, including the return of the internationally acclaimed La Clique Noël.
The Olivier Award-winning production combines acrobatics, comedy and variety entertainment, with performances scheduled throughout the festive season.
La Clique first appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2004 and has since performed to audiences in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and New York.
The Christmas programme at Bristo Square also includes Stamptown and Insane Magic’s The Big Christmas Show.
La Clique Noël tickets start at £39.50, including booking fees, with performances scheduled at 4.30pm and 7.30pm on selected dates.
The show lasts approximately 100 minutes and has an age recommendation of 16 and over, with front row and ringside tickets restricted to over-18s.
The venue offers an alternative to the traditional Christmas markets, particularly for visitors planning an evening out in Edinburgh.
5. Castle Street Christmas Market
Dates: 25 November – 22 December 2026
Castle Street will also welcome Christmas shoppers this winter, with a separate festive market set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.
Sitting between Princes Street and George Street, the market offers another option for visitors looking for Christmas gifts while shopping in the city centre.
The market brings together independent traders, artisans and food producers, with stalls offering jewellery, clothing, homeware, decorations, arts and crafts and seasonal food.
Organised by LocalMotive Markets, the Castle Street event has been a regular fixture in Edinburgh since 2007.
Unlike the other four destinations, it is organised separately from the official Edinburgh’s Christmas festival.
The market will run daily from Wednesday 25 November until Tuesday 22 December.
Opening hours are 10am until 7pm, with an earlier closing time of 6pm on Sundays.
Which Edinburgh Christmas attractions are best for families?
West Princes Street Gardens offers the largest selection of activities specifically aimed at children, including Santa’s Stories and the Festive Family Funfair.
East Princes Street Gardens combines traditional Christmas shopping with rides and attractions including the Big Wheel and Starflyer.
George Street’s Family Ice Experience provides something different for children aged six and over, while the adult Polar Ice Bar and Coorie Inn are better suited to evening visits.
Bristo Square’s La Clique Noël is intended for older audiences, while Castle Street offers another opportunity to browse Christmas gifts from independent traders.
All five destinations are within Edinburgh city centre, although Bristo Square is further south than the attractions around Princes Street.
The main Christmas festival sites are free to enter, with separate tickets required for rides and selected entertainment.
Visitors can find full programme details and booking information at the official Edinburgh’s Christmas website.