Christmas

Major plans announced for Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 – food, drinks, stalls and more

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 11th September 2026

Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.

Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.

Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.

This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.

Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds

Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.

In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.

Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.

Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.

La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds

Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.

There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.

If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".

Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.

Read more: Leeds Santa Dash is returning for 2026 and it’s set to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Leeds and West Yorkshire, subscribe to The Hoot Leeds WhatsApp broadcast HERE.

Featured Images - The Hoot Leeds

Christmas

Everything you need to know about the Leeds Christmas Markets 2026

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just a weeks time, and we've got everything you need to know.

This year, the markets are looking a little bit different than before as outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi have stepped up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular.

They're organising a market where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.

Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.

So, let's get into it...

Opening dates and timings

The Leeds Christmas Markets will kick off from Thursday 19 November and run until Wednesday 23 December. So that's almost five weeks of festivities flooding the city, and plenty of time for you to make the most of it.

The markets will be open 7 days a week, the exact timings are:

Trader Village & Leeds Street Food

Sunday-Wednesday: 10:30am-7pm

Thursday-Saturday: 10:30am-8pm

THOR’S Highland Lodge & Folié Ski Bar

Sunday-Tuesday: 11am-9pm

Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-11pm

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Locations

The main stalls and street food will be located at City Square, here you will also find the main Christmas tree and two THOR's bars.

Ice Cube at Millennium Square will also be making a return, here you'll find rides, an ice rink and more food and drink. This is separate to what is being run by THOR's this year, though.

There will be plenty of other festive activities taking place throughout the city throughout November and December, you can find out more and view the Leeds Christmas map here.

Food

Okay, now we can get onto the good stuff.

We all know that the highlight of the markets is the food, and this year there's going to be more independent and local trader than ever before.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

From Leeds' very own Italian street food restaurant Stuzzi to homemade mini tiramisu drawers, you're going to want to arrive feeling very peckish at these markets that's for sure.

The current full list of street food vendors at City Square is as follows:

  • Cut & Craft (steak and chips)
  • Beth Bakes Cakes (hot chocolate fudge cake)
  • Misu Tiramisu (mini tiramisu drawers)
  • Crumble pots (crumble)
  • La Grassa (Italian-American sandwiches)
  • Chocolate Circus (stacked hot chocolates)
  • Stuzzi (Italian street food)
  • Street Kings Bratwurst (traditional bratwurst)
  • Johnsons' Toffee (homemade toffee and fudge)
  • The Savvy Baker (sweet treats and hot cookie dough)
  • Irish spice bags
  • Churros

Drink

Closely following behind food, a good old tipple is what many of us venture to the markets for.

This year, alongside a few mulled wine stalls in city square, THOR's will be doing what they do best and opening two brand-new outdoor bars to really get you in the spirit.

Image: The Hoot Leeds

You can pick from a Scottish Highland Lodge and a Folie Ski Bar, both designed to welcome large groups with their own themed drinks and cosy interiors. You can read more about these bars here.

Not only that, but they'll be a specialist coffee trader as well as a matcha trader if you don't fancy anything alcoholic.

Shopping

The Leeds Christmas Markets isn't just about eating and drinking, it's also about browsing and shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts or gorgeous knick-knacks to decorate your home with over the festive season.

Here's your list of traders to buy gifts from at City Square:

  • Stump Cross (natural crystal jewellery, fossils and more)
  • House of the Trembling Madness (festive craft beer cans)
  • Real Markets Yorkshire (lots of goodies made in Yorkshire)
  • Yorkshire Print Company (Yorkshire-inspired artwork)
  • Paper Starlights (handmade paper lanterns)
  • Scents of Christmas (handcrafted decorations)
  • Kakuwi (homemade crafts sourced across India and Nepal)
  • Beauty Scents (handmade candles and wax melts)
  • Mervyn Tay Art (hand-painted sheep art)
  • Pop-up Print Co (personalised Christmas clothing)
  • O'Donnell Moonshine (homemade liqeurs)
  • Magees Bespoke Woodwork (handcrafted wooden homeware)
  • Storymaker Mead (homemade mead)
  • Fun Hats (winter accessories)
  • Artisanal Cheeses
  • Pure Pet Food
  • Mukta Ornaments (handcrafted silver ornaments)
  • Duckdown Gifts (handcrafted wooden gifts)
  • Solid Cologne
  • Tatova Hata (souvenirs made by Ukrainian artists)
  • Gab's Wonderland (independent jewellery)
  • The Yorkshire Candle Company
  • Forged Spirits (Yorkshire-brewed spirits)
  • Nordvek (sheepskin and leather goods)
  • Socktopus (socks)
  • Shea Alchemy (skincare)

Weekly Events

If you're after a bit of live entertainment, then you've got it at this year's markets in abundance.

Bibi's Takeover

Every Thursday from 5-7pm, Bibi's will be bringing live music to the lodge.

Green Room Takeover

On Fridays and Saturdays, from 7-9pm, Green Room will be heading to the Highland Lodge for live music.

Market-wide Live Performance

Every Sunday between 1-5pm, live music will be the soundtrack to your shopping, feasting and festivities.

You can find out even more information about the Leeds Christmas Markets 2026 here via their website.

Read more: Leeds Railway Station entrance FINALLY reopens after four-year delay

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

Christmas

The world’s cheapest Christmas Markets for a glass of mulled wine have been revealed

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The most affordable Christmas Markets for drinking mulled wine have been revealed – and Leeds does not make the cut.

With Christmas markets across Europe preparing to welcome millions of visitors, festive fans looking to enjoy a warming cup of glühwein without breaking the bank might want to take note of the latest findings.

Festive experts at Christmas Tree World have analysed mulled wine prices at Christmas markets around the world to discover where visitors can enjoy the seasonal favourite for less.

Topping the rankings is Brussels’ Winter Wonders, where mulled wine is available for as little as £2.14 – about a third of the price of a mulled wine at the Leeds Christmas Markets.

Cologne Cathedral Christmas Markets and Strasbourg’s Christkindelsmärik share second place, with starting prices of just £2.56.

Other European favourites also feature prominently in the rankings. Budapest’s Christmas Market at the Basilica takes fourth place, with mulled wine costing £3.19, while Prague’s Old Town Square Christmas Market comes in sixth at £3.55.

Germany makes another strong appearance, with Dresden’s Striezelmarkt and Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt (which handily just launched new direct flights from Manchester) both offering mulled wine for £3.85.

Meanwhile, Vienna’s Christmas World rounds off the European entries in ninth place, with prices starting at £4.28.

For those planning a festive adventure further afield, Tokyo’s Christmas Market also makes the top five, with mulled wine costing £3.22.

However, not every destination offers such a bargain. Across the Atlantic, New York City’s Winter Village takes the title of the most expensive market in the study, with mulled wine costing a rather less festive £11.74. Chicago’s Christkindlmarket isn’t far behind, charging £8.80.

Manchester Christmas Markets start on Thursday 19 November – we’ll see how our prices stack up then.

Read more: Leeds Christmas Market is getting two brand-new themed bars for 2026 – including a Scottish Highland Lodge

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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