Christmas in Leeds 2026: Markets, Ice Skating and Shows

Christmas in Leeds 2026 starts properly on 19 November, when the Christmas market opens on City Square and runs until 23 December, with Ice Cube skating back on Millennium Square, the Grinch at Leeds Playhouse and Northern Ballet's Cinderella at the Grand. Add a trip out to Harewood for Magic at the Mansion and a warming pint in an old city pub, and you have the season covered. Here is what is on, with the dates we could actually confirm.

The Christmas market on City Square

The main market is Thor's Winter Village on City Square, right outside the station, and according to Visit Leeds it runs from 19 November to 23 December 2026. The square fills up with Christmas trees and three bars: THOR's Tipi Bar, THOR's Highland Lodge and the Folie Après Ski Bar. The stalls open every day from 10.30am, closing at 7pm Sunday to Thursday and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. More stalls and gluhwein bars spread across Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens, so you can walk the whole route from the station up to Millennium Square with a cup in your hand.

Our tip: go on a weekday afternoon if you want to actually see the stalls, and on a Friday night if you want to see half of Leeds in a Christmas jumper. Both are valid.

Ice Cube on Millennium Square

Ice Cube, the covered skating rink, is returning to Millennium Square alongside the market. Last year it was a 400 square metre rink under a see-through marquee, with daily sessions, a Penguin Club for under nines on weekend mornings, and a Big Wheel, a carousel and a 30 metre Starflyer around it. For reference, 2025 tickets were £12.75 for adults, £9.75 for under 13s, and £10 for everyone in the off-peak weekday afternoon slots, and it closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The 2026 times and prices were not published when we checked, so book through the official Ice Cube site and look at the off-peak sessions first.

Christmas shows

Leeds Playhouse has a new production of Dr Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical, running from 19 November 2026 to 16 January 2027. It is directed by Tom Wright, the Playhouse's artistic director, and it is a safe bet for families.

At the Leeds Grand Theatre on New Briggate, Northern Ballet's Christmas production is Cinderella, from 15 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. It is a lovely thing to take someone to who claims they do not like ballet.

City Varieties ran Aladdin as its rock and roll panto for 2025, but at the time of writing we could not confirm the 2026 title or dates from an official source, so check the Leeds Heritage Theatres box office before you plan around it.

Harewood: Magic at the Mansion

Out at Harewood House, north of the city, Christmas 2026 is called Magic at the Mansion and runs from 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the house dressed for the season. The Harewood Christmas Market, curated by Little Bird Made, runs on two weekends, 6 to 8 and 27 to 29 November. For younger children, the Elf Village on the North Lawn hosts Father Christmas from 5 to 24 December, on weekends and then every day from 21 to 24 December, with sessions at 9.45am, 12.05pm and 2.35pm. Tickets include the house and gardens and parking is included, but arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for your slot.

Christmas shopping and a warming pint

Skip the chains for a bit and do your food shopping at Kirkgate Market on Vicar Lane, and get the trimmings sorted from independent traders rather than a supermarket aisle. Then duck down Turk's Head Yard off Briggate to Whitelock's for a pint. The market crowds will be outside. You will be inside, being smug.

A Leeds Christmas day out

Arrive by train, walk straight into the market on City Square, and work your way up past Victoria Gardens to Millennium Square for a skate at Ice Cube. Lunch at Kirkgate Market, a wander through the arcades, then an evening at the Playhouse or the Grand. If you have a car or a free weekend, give Harewood a whole day. Then finish with a gluhwein on the way back to the station, because it would be rude not to.