Manchester's Christmas Markets are one of the biggest in the UK, spread across several squares in the city centre. Visit Manchester has confirmed the 2026 dates: Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens staying open until Sunday 3 January 2027. Opening hours for 2026 had not been published as of 1 November.
Last year the markets ran from 7 November to 22 December 2025, with Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens open into January.
What it means if you sell
A seven-week market in a city centre is a big commitment. Before you contact the council about a stall, work out:
- Your total cost for the run. Pitch fee, stock, travel, staff and the weeks you won't be selling anywhere else. Compare it with what you've taken at other markets.
- Who covers the hours. Seven weeks of daily trading means a rota, not a solo weekend.
- How you take payments when the signal drops. Busy squares overload mobile networks. Use a card reader that stores payments offline, and log every sale so you can see which days and products worked.
If a seven-week pitch is too much, look at the shorter weekend makers markets around Greater Manchester in December. Many are only announced on social media a few weeks ahead.
After the market
A lot of people buy at Christmas markets as gifts and come back in January if they liked what they found. A QR code on your stall that opens your catalogue with prices keeps those sales going. Our market day checklist covers the rest of what to bring.
To find more markets near Manchester for the month you choose, try the Mercader market finder.