Christmas Markets in Preston 2026: What's On

Christmas in Preston city centre in 2026 centres on the Flag Market: the lights switch-on is there on Saturday 21 November, and from Friday 4 December a real ice rink returns with fairground rides, a Santa's grotto and food traders round it. Preston Markets has its Christmas season on too, and The Winter Lodge on Friargate brings the wooden huts and mulled wine of a German Christmas market, with a seat and a roof.

Dates and details can change, so check each organiser's own page before you go.

The lights switch-on: Saturday 21 November

The Christmas lights go on at the Flag Market on Saturday 21 November, from 5:30pm, free to attend. Details are on Visit Preston.

The ice rink on the Flag Market: from 4 December

From Friday 4 December to early January, the Flag Market has an ice rink, with fairground rides, a Santa's grotto and food traders around it. Blog Preston has the details, and tickets are booked ahead.

Preston Markets

The Market Hall has its Christmas season on, with local produce and gifts. Check Preston Markets for opening times and any makers markets through December.

Wooden Christmas market stalls under strings of lights — The German Christmas market look the Lodge is built on

A Christmas market you can sit down in

If you love a German Christmas market, The Winter Lodge is the nearest thing in Preston that stays open into the night and keeps the rain off. Wooden huts in garlands, ten thousand fairy lights, mulled wine with cinnamon, clove and orange, bratwurst hot dogs with proper mustard, and litre steins of Paulaner.