Manchester's giant zippy Santa is returning to Albert Square for the first time in nearly a decade, taking up residence outside Manchester Town Hall as the main hub of the Manchester Christmas Markets for 2026. The festive event opens across the city centre from Friday 6 November, with ten locations confirmed for this year's wooden huts.
Giant Santa returns to Albert Square
Manchester Town Hall will host the big Santa sculpture this year for the first time since 2017, as the multi-million pound refurbishment works approach their end. The giant Santa has been situated outside Manchester Central Library for the past nine years while work continued on Albert Square. Although the full refurbishment of the town hall will not be complete until early 2027, there is now enough room for Santa to return to his rightful place overlooking the markets on the city's main civic square.
Albert Square will also host the Big Wheel again for 2026, along with a new pop-up pub and a host of food and retail stalls. New additions include a live artisan pastry baking hut and a selfie sleigh inside a Christmas tree for photo opportunities. Manchester Council has confirmed that Albert Square will stay open until midnight on New Year's Eve to host the annual fireworks celebration to see in 2027.
New locations and changes for 2026
Piccadilly Gardens, which had been the main hub in recent years, is ruled out of action this year amid its own major transformation. This means a new location, Lincoln Square, coming off Albert Square, will host Christmas Market stalls for 2026. Other locations include King Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, Cathedral Gardens, and Market Street.
St Ann's Square, one of the longest-running locations, will feature a brand-new layout with more craft, food, and drink stalls. At Cathedral Gardens, Skate MCR is back, transforming the gardens into a winter destination with market stalls alongside an undercover ice rink that will remain open through the festive season until the new year.
Award-winning markets
Last week, Manchester Christmas Markets were named the best in the UK, as well as second best in the world for 2026, narrowly missing out to Nuremberg and seeing off the likes of New York and Strasbourg. Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester's Christmas spokesperson, said: "Christmas can never come round quickly enough for me and I'm very excited for everything we've got coming up across the city - it's going to be fabulous. The festive season has to be my absolute favourite time of the year in Manchester because there's nowhere that does Christmas quite like we do."
He added: "We've been saying for years to anyone who will listen just how brilliant our markets are - they really are up there with the very best in the world and everyone should come. So it's no surprise at all to us that as well as Best in the UK, we've also been voted second Best Christmas Markets in the World by a whisker - coming within touching distance of Nuremberg who bagged first place."
Location-by-location guide
Albert Square will feature the 50-metre Ferris wheel, a vintage helter skelter, and the return of giant zippy Santa outside Manchester Town Hall. New for this year is a festive pop-up pub with drinks and live entertainment, plus heated covered seating areas. Visitors can watch live pastry baking demonstrations with donations to local charities, and there will be a French toast stall, hot chocolates, and bratwurst sellers. A glittering Christmas Tree with a life-size sleigh and ring lights offers a selfie opportunity. Albert Square is open daily except Christmas Day from 6 November to 3 January 2027, with stalls from 10 am to 9 pm, closing at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and reopening on 26 December until 3 January from 10 am to 6 pm, except New Year's Eve when it remains open until just after midnight.
Lincoln Square, a brand-new location for 2026, offers festive refreshments and warming drinks from local and international traders, with jerk chicken, homestyle lasagne and pasta, Korean corn dogs, and more. A cosy heated marquee serves seasonal special alcoholic hot chocolate or festive spritzers from truck bars. Open daily from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
King Street returns with favourites like soaps, decorations, local spirits, truckle cheeses, chocolate kisses, and the Italian deli for gourmet meats, cheeses, and Mediterranean produce. Food stalls include chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, Hong Kong-style French toast, Italian pizza and arancini, Greek gyros, Spanish dishes, award-winning pies, hot mash, and seasonal veggies. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
St Ann's Square, the original home of the markets, has a major new layout for 2026. Visitors can enjoy singers, buskers, and community choirs, a bigger covered seating area, a giant Christmas tree, and a dedicated Guinness cart. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
Exchange Square, one of the largest locations, features a popular hot chocolate bar back for 2026, homemade mulled wine, the Porky Pig Yorkshire pudding wrap, and traditional bratwurst from the swing grill. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
Corn Exchange is retail only, with no hot food or drink. It offers unique gifts from crafters, pork pies, handmade truffles, artisan cheeses, clothing, jewellery, and quirky accessories. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
Exchange Street is back with loaded hash browns, decadent hot chocolates, hot chocolate taps, crafts, gifts, and twinkling light displays. Open from 6 December to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
New Cathedral Street, sandwiched between Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, hosts quirky gift stalls, hot food and drink, and the famous German bratwurst stall The Witch House. The steak frites stall offers hot raclette cheese poured over fries. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
Market Street will be "bigger than ever" this year, with more craft and gift stalls, including tweed hats, scented candles, Christmas ornaments, spiced rum, and foodie favourites. New carnival-style games include darts and hook-a-duck. Open from 6 November to 22 December, from 10 am to 9 pm, except 22 December when it closes at 6 pm.
Cathedral Gardens, traditionally the family-friendly zone, is home to Skate Manchester's huge covered ice rink. It offers mini-fairground games, free live entertainment, cheese fondue served in hot bread bowls, salt and pepper-style chicken fries, authentic crêpes, gourmet hot dogs, and hot chocolate. Open daily except Christmas Day from 6 November to 3 January 2027, with stalls from 10 am to 9 pm, closing at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and reopening on 26 December until 3 January from 10 am to 6 pm, except New Year's Eve when it closes at 6 pm.
Opening dates and times
Markets across the city will be open daily from Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December, except at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens which remain open until Sunday 3 January 2027. Opening hours at all market locations (except Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens) are from 10 am to 9 pm, except on the final day of trading 22 December when stalls close at 6 pm. On Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, stalls open from 10 am to 9 pm each day, closing at 5 pm on Christmas Eve and reopening on 26 December until 3 January from 10 am to 6 pm each day, except for New Year's Eve, when Cathedral Gardens closes at 6 pm, whilst Albert Square remains open until just after midnight.
