Cardiff's festive season for 2026 is now mapped out, with dates confirmed for the city's major Christmas attractions, including Winter Wonderland, the Bute Park light trail, and the Cardiff Christmas Market.
Winter Wonderland Returns to Two Locations
The annual attraction will again occupy two city centre sites: Cardiff Castle's grounds and City Hall's lawns. This year, Cardiff Castle will offer ice skating, an ice walk, the Tafarn bar, food and drink, and entertainment. Curling is brand new for 2026. City Hall Lawn will host the classic giant wheel, a family fairground, food and drink, and entertainment. The popular street food stall Spudman will make its Cardiff debut this year.
Winter Wonderland runs until Sunday, January 3, 2027, with opening hours varying across the season. As in previous years, it will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The event starts on Thursday, November 12.
Christmas Market and City Lights
The Christmas market returns to the heart of the city centre, with stalls around the Hayes and the Museum of Cardiff, on St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street, and Trinity Street. Each year, 70 stalls represent over 200 individual businesses selling arts, crafts, and seasonal food and drink. This year's trader line-up will be confirmed in due course.
Opening hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with late nights until 7pm on Thursdays in December, and Sunday hours of 10am to 5pm. The market runs from Thursday, November 12 to Wednesday, December 23. The city centre Christmas lights will be switched on Thursday, November 12.
Light Trail, Theatre, and Family Shows
Christmas at Bute Park returns with a reimagined route featuring a new journey through the Spirit of Christmas, starting Thursday, November 19. At the New Theatre, Gethin Jones joins Mike Doyle and Steve Spiers for Beauty and the Beast, running from December 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
Wales Millennium Centre's festive show is the Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda The Musical, running from December 9, 2026 to January 17, 2027. The Spiegeltent returns to Sophia Gardens from November 26 with tribute acts, a family show, A Christmas Carol, and Storytime with Santa.
Santa's grottos are available at Cardiff Castle (December 5-23), on a speedboat at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs (December 12-19), and at John Lewis (December 19-23). The Sherman Theatre presents The Merry Adventures of Maid Marian (November 27 - January 2) and Pinocchio in English and Welsh (November 23 - January 2). Depot's festive takeover at the Curran Road venue begins November 27, featuring Bingo Lingo across four weekends and James B Partridge's Big Christmas Assembly on December 8.
