Quick answer: Winter Wonderland at St Enoch Square runs from Friday 6 November to Sunday 27 December. Winter Wonderland at Glasgow Green runs from Friday 20 November to Sunday 3 January. Both are free to walk into. George Square is getting a new “Good Times Christmas Village” from late November, but the dates, hours and prices aren’t out yet. Last checked Friday 23 October 2026.
Glasgow Christmas markets 2026: dates at a glance
Only dates and times an organiser or the council has published are printed here. The rest say “to be announced”. Visit Glasgow’s Christmas markets page still says the markets are over for 2025, and Glasgow Life’s Christmas page says Christmas in Glasgow finished for 2025.
| Market | Where | Dates | Hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Wonderland at St Enoch | St Enoch Square, city centre | Fri 6 Nov to Sun 27 Dec | From noon (10am at weekends), see the full times below | Free. You pay for rides and extras |
| Winter Wonderland at Glasgow Green | Glasgow Green, enter at the McLennan Arch | Fri 20 Nov to Sun 3 Jan 2027 | From 3pm on weekdays, noon at weekends, see below | Free. Rink, circus, grotto and rides are paid |
| Good Times Christmas Village | George Square | “From late November” (council) | To be announced | To be announced |
| City centre Christmas lights | City centre | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
| Paisley lights switch-on | Paisley town centre | Sat 14 Nov | 1pm to 6pm, lights on at 6pm | Free |
| Clydeside Christmas Village | West End, Clydeside | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
| Glasgow Fort | Glasgow Fort | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
| The Barras | The Barras | No Christmas market announced. The usual market runs every Saturday and Sunday | 10am to 4pm on those days | Check the Barras website |
Opening hours in full
These come from the organiser’s FAQ. The rink, circus and grotto run on selected sessions inside these hours.
| Dates | St Enoch Square | Glasgow Green |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays until Sun 20 Dec | Mon to Thu noon to 9pm. Fri noon to 10pm | Mon to Fri 3pm to 10pm (from Fri 20 Nov) |
| Weekends until Sun 20 Dec | Sat 10am to 10pm. Sun 10am to 9pm | Sat and Sun noon to 10pm |
| Mon 21 Dec to Sun 27 Dec | Every day 10am to 10pm | Every day noon to 10pm |
| 28 Dec to Sun 3 Jan | Closed after 27 Dec | Every day noon to 10pm. Fri 1 Jan is 2pm to 10pm |
| Christmas Eve and Day | Closed on 25 Dec. Closes early on 24 Dec, check the FAQ for the time | Closes 8pm on 24 Dec. Closed on 25 Dec |
What’s happening with George Square?
George Square has been closed for its rebuild. The council’s Avenues update (updated 25 August) says the statues are back and the north road has reopened. It gives October 2026 as the estimated finish for the main square. STV reported in July that the last fences were expected to come down by the end of October.
On 9 October the council announced a new Good Times Christmas Village for the square, as STV reported, “from late November”. It will have food, drink and festive lights, and the full programme comes “closer to the time”. We’ll add them here when they’re out.
Lights and the switch-on
There’s no single switch-on night this year. The council says it’s moving away from the one-off event and will run “a series of Christmas celebrations across the weeks building up to the big day”, according to a BBC report carried by Yahoo News. No dates are out. Last year’s lighting trail ran from 20 November to 3 January, but that’s no promise for this year. Paisley is the exception, with a fixed date: Saturday 14 November.
Which Glasgow Christmas market is right for you?
Families with weans
Go to Glasgow Green. It has the open-air ice rink, the circus in a heated Big Top, Santa’s Grotto, the observation wheel and the rides. It’s a proper afternoon out. Our kids’ guide has more for the holidays.
Prices the organiser has published: circus tickets are £12.50 for adults and children, plus a booking fee (£3.00 on the ticket page), and under twos go free on a knee. The grotto is £16.75 per child, which includes a gift and a 6 by 9 inch photo. Up to two adults go free with each child, with a maximum of five in a group. Skating aids start at £5. Rink prices only show once you pick a session on the ticket page, so we won’t guess them.
Food, drink and a bit of shopping
St Enoch is the better pick. The organiser lists a festive bar with free entertainment, bratwurst from the Swing Grill, churros, Dutch pancakes and loaded doughnuts. There are also craft and gift stalls and a solar-powered observation wheel. It’s in the city centre, so you can do presents and a festive drink in one trip. Glasgow Green has an 800-seat festive bar with free entertainment.
A quieter browse
There’s no properly quiet option in December. Our advice is St Enoch on a weekday afternoon, when it’s open from noon Monday to Thursday and the weekend crowds aren’t there. For sensory-friendly visits, the organiser runs sensory-friendly sessions. Santa’s Grotto has one on Thursday 17 December from 4pm to 7.30pm, and the circus has one on Sunday 6 December. The organiser’s pages don’t agree on the circus time, so check the ticket page.
Glasgow residents
The organiser offers 10% off ice skating tickets for Glasgow residents. Use the code on the ice skating page when you book, and bring proof of your address.
Getting there and parking
Leave the car at home if you can. The subway stops at St Enoch, and Central and Queen Street stations are a short walk away, according to the organiser. See our train and bus guides too. SPT’s subway page currently gives Sunday hours of 10am to 6.12pm, well before the markets close, so check SPT’s Christmas timetable before a late Sunday trip. At Glasgow Green, the organiser says to come in at the McLennan Arch, next to the wheel.
If you do drive, read our guides to free parking in Glasgow and park and ride first. Check the Low Emission Zone rules too, and our driving guide. The organiser doesn’t publish parking details for either site, so don’t count on a space.
Where to eat nearby
Market food is fine for a snack, but it’s busy and you’ll queue. For a proper sit-down, start with our best restaurants, best pubs and cheap eats guides. Our city centre guide and Merchant City guide cover the streets around the markets. More markets are in our markets guide.
Tips for a good visit
- Book online. The organiser says you always save buying online. Grotto walk-up tickets cost more and aren’t guaranteed.
- Allow for the rink. Sessions start on the hour, last about 45 minutes and include skates. Only skaters need a ticket, so the rest of your group can watch for free.
- Peak times cost more. The organiser’s FAQ lists Friday to Sunday, and every day from 18 December to 3 January, as peak rink sessions.
- Wrap up. The rink is real ice, open to the weather.
- Dogs are allowed on a lead at both sites.
- Mind the police zone at St Enoch. STV reported on 9 October that a dispersal zone covering St Enoch Square stays in place until December. It was brought in over anti-social behaviour. It lets police order groups of two or more to leave, with a 24 hour ban on coming back, so move on if you’re asked.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Christmas market in George Square in 2026?
Not a market in the usual sense. The council has announced a Good Times Christmas Village from late November, with food, drink and festive lights. The dates and hours haven’t been published yet.
When does the St Enoch Christmas market open?
Friday 6 November, according to the organiser. It runs until Sunday 27 December and is closed on Christmas Day.
When does Winter Wonderland open at Glasgow Green?
Friday 20 November. It runs to Sunday 3 January 2027. It closes at 8pm on Christmas Eve and is shut on 25 December. On 1 January it opens from 2pm to 10pm.
Is it free to get into the Christmas markets?
Yes, at both Winter Wonderland sites. You pay for the rink, circus, grotto, rides and wheel, plus whatever you eat and drink.
When is the Glasgow Christmas lights switch-on?
There’s no date. The council is replacing the single switch-on with a series of celebrations, and hasn’t published the programme. Paisley’s switch-on is on Saturday 14 November.
How much is Santa’s Grotto at Glasgow Green?
£16.75 per child, which includes a gift and a photo. Up to two adults go with each child at no extra charge.
Are the Christmas markets accessible?
The organiser says the St Enoch site is fully accessible, including an accessible capsule on its wheel. At Glasgow Green it says the ice rink and Santa’s Grotto are wheelchair accessible. See the sensory-friendly sessions above for quieter visits.
Will there be a market on the Barras or at the Fort?
Nothing has been announced for 2026. The Barras market normally runs on weekends. We’ll update this page when dates appear. Planning ahead? See our Hogmanay guide.
Dates, hours and prices come from the organisers and the council, checked on 23 October 2026. They can change, so confirm on the official Winter Wonderland site before you travel. Spotted a mistake? Tell us through our contact page.
