Planning a festive trip to City Hall? Belfast City Council has confirmed the dates: the Belfast Christmas Market 2026 runs at City Hall from Saturday 14 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Here are the official opening times, where to park, and what’s happening with Custom House Square expansion talks.
Updated 7 October 2026: official dates and opening hours added.
Belfast’s Christmas Market is the city’s big November–December ritual — wooden chalets on the lawns of Belfast City Hall, free entry, and that familiar mix of mulled wine, artisan gifts, and queues that somehow still feel worth it. If you’re booking hotels, trains, or a family day out for Christmas 2026, this guide has the official dates and opening hours from Belfast City Council, plus parking tips and the latest on plans for a second site at Custom House Square.
For the wider festive vibe last season, see our round-up Christmas in Belfast 2025: The Magic Returns. For how the market grew from a short trial into a city landmark, read how Belfast’s Christmas Market changed over the years.
Belfast Christmas Market 2026 dates
Confirmed by Belfast City Council (checked 7 October 2026): the market runs in the gardens at Belfast City Hall from Saturday 14 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. It opens at 12 noon on Saturday 14 November, the same day as the Christmas lights switch-on, and closes at 6pm on Tuesday 22 December. Entry is free.
LoveBelfast tip: The Christmas lights switch-on is the same evening (Saturday 14 November, 6.30pm to 7.30pm) and it’s ticketed, so watch Belfast City Council’s switch-on page for the ticket release. Visit Belfast’s Christmas hub has more festive ideas around the city.
Opening times
- Monday to Wednesday: 10am to 8pm (bars close at 9pm)
- Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 10pm (bars close at 11pm)
- Sunday: 12 noon to 6pm
Opening day (Saturday 14 November) starts at 12 noon, and the final day (Tuesday 22 December) closes at 6pm.
Location: City Hall (and what’s next)
Main site: Belfast City Hall grounds, Donegall Square, Belfast city centre. Entry is free; you pay at individual stalls for food, drink and gifts.
The market has sat inside the City Hall gates for more than two decades and remains the centrepiece of a Belfast Christmas — typically 100+ chalets, rides, Santa offerings in many years, and the city’s busiest festive footfall magnet.
Custom House Square expansion — talks, not a done deal
This is the big 2026 story beyond the chalets themselves.
- The Irish News (21 August 2026) reported that the Department for Communities has received a formal application from a private operator to use Custom House Square over the Christmas period, with final plans being drawn up. That operator is understood to be separate from Market Place Europe.
- Crucially, DfC stated: the operator is preparing final plans and “The Department has not issued a licence for use at this time.” So Custom House Square is in talks / applied for — not confirmed open.
- Belfast Live (26 August 2026) covered calls for any second market to “feel like Belfast”, with the NI Food to Go Association pushing for local producers at the heart of any Custom House Square offering.
- Belfast Live (27 August 2026) also reported Belfast City Council commissioning a report on ways to extend the City Hall market beyond a “cramped” front lawn, after a City Growth and Regeneration Committee proposal. That council work is separate from the DfC / Custom House Square application.
Bottom line for visitors: Plan for City Hall as the known Christmas Market experience. Treat Custom House Square as a possible extra if a licence is granted and dates are announced — we will update when that happens. A wider multi-site festive trail is being talked about more strongly for 2027 in the same Irish News reporting.
From @love_belfast:
Parking near Belfast Christmas Market
There is no dedicated parking on the City Hall grounds for market visitors.
City-centre multi-storeys within a short walk are the usual option. For the 2025 season, Belfast Live listed a string of 24-hour car parks close to the market, including:
- Q-Park Victoria Square
- Q-Park Saint Anne’s Square
- Corporation Square / Corporation Street
- Cromac Street
- Exchange Street, Frederick Street, Kent Street, Dunbar Street (spellings vary on local listings)
Other handy options often named by visitors include NCP Montgomery Street (a few minutes’ walk from City Hall) and on-street paid bays around Donegall Square — both get busy on peak weekends and switch-on nights.
Practical tips:
- Pre-book where you can on busy Saturdays and opening weekend.
- Consider Translink Metro / Glider or Grand Central rail/bus links if you’re coming in from outside the centre — City Hall is walkable from the core stations.
- Evening visits can be easier for parking; some city-centre facilities advertise evening rates (always check the operator on the day).
What to expect on site
Belfast City Council says local traders make up more than half of the stalls this year. Expect:
- Free entry to the market village
- Food and drink from continental and local traders (bratwurst, waffles, chocolates, mulled wine — plus local makers in the mix)
- Gift chalets: crafts, jewellery, decorations, winter knitwear
- Family extras: the council lists a vintage carousel, a giant helter-skelter with views over the city, and an outdoor festive food court
- Peak crowds at weekends and around the Christmas lights switch-on — go midweek or earlier in the day if you want more elbow room
Pair City Hall with St George’s Market for a more local produce hit — we’ve covered festive evenings there before, including the Christmas Twilight Market. A few minutes north, the Cathedral Quarter Christmas Sunday Art Market on Hill Street is another December Sunday habit when it returns — local makers, not chalets on the lawn.
Quick fact block
- What: Belfast Christmas Market 2026
- 2026 dates: Saturday 14 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026 (Belfast City Council)
- Hours: Mon–Wed 10am–8pm; Thu–Sat 10am–10pm; Sun 12–6pm
- Where: Belfast City Hall grounds, Donegall Square
- Entry: Free (stalls charge for goods/food)
- Custom House Square: Application with DfC; no licence issued yet (Irish News / Belfast Live, Aug 2026)
- Parking: No on-site parking — use nearby city-centre car parks / Translink
- Watch for: Christmas lights switch-on ticket release (Belfast City Council)
Belfast does Christmas with proper city-centre sparkle — and City Hall remains the heart of it. Plan parking or Translink before opening weekend. Making a weekend of it? The lights switch-on and the market’s opening day are both on Saturday 14 November, so that’s the date to book early.
Driving into the city? Our guide to parking in Belfast covers car parks, on-street parking and Park & Ride.
Read more: Magical Christmas at Glenarm Castle 2026 · What’s On in Belfast
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