York's Christmas market, the St Nicholas Fair, fills Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square every winter. In 2025 it ran from 13 November to 21 December. Travel guides list similar dates for 2026, but we couldn't confirm them on an official page as of 1 November, so we list the market as expected.
The fair is organised by Make It York. In 2025 the organiser changed the layout to widen walkways, removing some huts and moving food stalls, so the number and position of pitches can change from year to year.
If you want a stall in York
Make It York handles trader enquiries for its markets. York's Christmas trade is heavily tourist-driven: visitors want gifts that are easy to carry, local and clearly priced. A few things to prepare before you apply anywhere:
- Photos and a short description of your products and your stall set-up. See our product photo checklist.
- A link where buyers can see your full range and prices. Organisers and customers both use it.
- Your numbers from previous markets: what you took and what it cost you. Without them you can't judge whether a five-week pitch pays off.
Smaller makers markets and craft fairs run across York and North Yorkshire through December. To find them for the month you choose, try the Mercader market finder.