Christmas markets in Hampshire 2026
Christmas markets are one of the easiest festive days out: most are free to visit, they pair well with lunch out, and many sit in a historic setting. These are the Hampshire markets with confirmed 2026 dates.
17 events we have checked
- Christmas marketsChristmas lights
Southampton Christmas Market
Above Bar Street, Bargate and Guildhall Square, Southampton · 12 November to 27 December 2026
Wooden chalets, bars and fairground rides fill Above Bar Street and Guildhall Square for six weeks, with a laser show projected on the Bargate every 30 minutes from 5pm. The opening event brings local choirs, live music and the switch-on of the Bargate light show.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Thursday 12 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. Monday to Wednesday 11am to 10pm at Bargate and Above Bar (Guildhall Square until 9pm), Thursday to Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm, Christmas Eve 10am to 7pm. Closed Christmas Day.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Aldershot Christmas Cracker and lights switch-on
Aldershot town centre, Aldershot · 14 November 2026
Rushmoor Borough Council's afternoon of festive stalls, street food and family activities across Aldershot town centre, ending with the Christmas lights switch-on and fireworks in Princes Gardens. Father Christmas has a new grotto this year.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 14 November 2026, 12pm to 5.30pm. Lights switch-on countdown and fireworks from 5.10pm in Princes Gardens.
- Christmas marketsShopping
Christmas Fair at The Spring, Havant
The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, Havant · 15 November 2026
The Spring's yearly Christmas fair brings local makers selling ceramics, textiles, glass, jewellery and photography. The café and bar are open, and the day ends with a carol singalong led by local singer-songwriter Archie McKeown.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Sunday 15 November 2026, from 10am, ending with Christmas songs and carols.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Andover Christmas Festival and lights switch-on
Andover town centre, Andover · 20 November 2026
Andover's evening to start Christmas, run by Test Valley Borough Council, Andover BID, the town council and the Chantry Centre. There is music on two stages, a market on Bridge Street, a fairground in Town Mills car park and the lights switch-on at 6.30pm.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Friday 20 November 2026, 4pm to 8pm. Christmas lights switched on at 6.30pm.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasChristmas lights
Christmas at Marwell: Fire and Ice and Santa
Marwell Zoo, Winchester · 20 November to 30 December 2026
Marwell runs a festive day at the zoo, a new after-dark trail called Fire and Ice, and a 45 minute Santa's Grotto journey in historic Marwell Hall. The evening trail is themed on how animals survive winter, with illuminations, fire performers and an ice maze.
- Price:
- From £21.95
- Dates:
- Selected dates from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026. Zoo 10am to 4pm; Fire and Ice evening 4pm to 7.30pm (last entry 6pm). Santa runs on Fridays to Sundays, 10 and 17 December, and 18 to 24 December. Some weekdays are daytime zoo only.
- Christmas marketsChristmas lights
Festive Friday in Basingstoke
Top of the Town, Basingstoke, Basingstoke · 20 November 2026
Love Basingstoke's free evening to start the festive season across the Top of the Town, with a Christmas market of small local traders, music in Market Square and crafts for children. Pantomime characters from Pumpkin Pantos join the line-up.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Friday 20 November 2026, 5pm to 8pm. Performances in Market Square at 5.15pm, 5.30pm and 6pm.
- Christmas marketsFood and drink
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Winchester Cathedral Close, Winchester · 20 November to 22 December 2026
Wooden chalets in the style of a German Christmas market fill the historic Close around Winchester Cathedral for just over a month, selling handmade gifts, local food and festive drinks. The cathedral itself runs Christmas services, music and tours alongside the market.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Daily from Friday 20 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 8pm, Sunday to Thursday 10am to 6pm.
- Christmas lightsFireworks and bonfires
Eastleigh Christmas Lights Switch-On
Eastleigh town centre, Eastleigh · 21 November 2026
Eastleigh's switch-on fills the town centre with a day of festive entertainment, ending with the lights and a firework display. The Point runs its Christmas Grotto and a makers market the same weekend.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 November 2026. Timings to be announced by Eastleigh Town Council.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Fareham Christmas Lights Switch On
West Street and Fareham Shopping Centre, Fareham · 21 November 2026
Fareham Borough Council's switch-on fills West Street with a festive market, funfair rides, community performers and free children's activities through the day. The finale at the bandstand ends with the lights going on at 5.30pm.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 7pm. Lights switch on at 5.30pm at the bandstand. The funfair rides also run on Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm.
- Christmas marketsMeet Father Christmas
Farnborough Frost Fair
Queensmead and The Landing, Farnborough · 21 November 2026
Rushmoor Borough Council's free festive day in Farnborough town centre, with a market of over 50 stalls along Queensmead and family activities from a Father Christmas grotto to donkeys and birds of prey. More than 100 performers play across two stages.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 3.30pm.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Fleet Christmas Festival
Fleet Road, Gurkha Square and The Harlington, Fleet · 25 November 2026
Fleet's Christmas festival takes over Fleet Road from the Oatsheaf to Church Road, with stalls, a kids zone, a walk-through nativity and the Christmas tree lights switch-on. Santa's grotto is in The Harlington and Santa's Post Office opens in the Hart Shopping Centre.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Wednesday 25 November 2026, 2pm to 9pm.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Alton Christmas Lights Switch-On and Market
Alton town centre, Alton · 27 November 2026
Alton Town Council's evening switch-on lights the Assembly Rooms and Market Square, with a Christmas market spread across the town and a family fun fair on the High Street. Father Christmas sees children for free at Wild House Play Cafe.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Friday 27 November 2026, 3pm to 7pm. Lights on at the Assembly Rooms at 5pm and in Market Square at 5.45pm.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasChristmas markets
Christmas at Exbury: Christmas Fair, Father Christmas and the Festive Express
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway, Exbury · 28 November to 6 December 2026
Exbury's fundraising Christmas weekends bring a fair of local producers to the gardens, with Father Christmas in a railway carriage in the engine shed and an elf-themed ride on the steam railway. Fair tickets include the woodland gardens, a family trail and crafts.
- Price:
- From £7
- Ages:
- The Festive Express has some flashing lights.
- Dates:
- Weekends of 28 and 29 November and 5 and 6 December 2026. Christmas Fair 10am to 4.30pm.
- Christmas marketsShopping
Hotwalls Studios Festive Creative Market
Hotwalls Studios, Portsmouth · 28 November to 6 December 2026
A selective Christmas market of artists and designer-makers in wooden chalets around the Hotwalls Studios in Old Portsmouth. Different traders take part each weekend, with food and drink stalls and live music.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Two weekends: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, and Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 4pm each day.
- Christmas marketsChristmas lights
Waterlooville Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On
Waterlooville town centre, Waterlooville · 28 November 2026
This year Waterlooville holds its Christmas market and lights switch-on on the same day, with local traders through the day and the switch-on in the early evening. Choirs, a brass band and a visit from Santa are planned.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 28 November 2026, a daytime market followed by the lights switch-on in the early evening. Times had not been published when checked.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Ringwood Winter Wanderland and lights switch-on
Ringwood town centre, Ringwood · 29 November 2026
Ringwood Town Council's day of Christmas events in the town centre, ending with the Christmas lights switch-on in the Market Place. Last year it included a market of over 80 stalls, Santa's grotto and a festive parade led by Santa.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Sunday 29 November 2026. The town council says further details will follow.
- BookChristmas marketsMuseums
Milestones Christmas Market
Milestones Museum, Basingstoke · 5 December to 6 December 2026
A weekend Christmas market of more than 40 stalls set in the indoor Victorian streets of Milestones, Hampshire's museum of everyday life. Expect local makers, seasonal food and music, and a later finish on the Saturday.
- Price:
- Ticketed. Check the price when booking on the official site.
- Dates:
- Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026 from 10am, with late opening on the Saturday.
See them on the map
17 of these events, plotted. Tap a pin for dates, prices and directions.
Questions people ask
Are Christmas markets free to enter?
Town and city markets are usually free. Markets inside historic houses or gardens may require normal admission or a ticket, which each listing notes where published.