Liverpool Christmas events 2026: dates, ticket prices and free things to do, from Pier Head and St George's Hall to Santa visits, light trails and pantos.
Christmas in Liverpool starts well before December. Liverpool ONE switches on its new decorations from 6 November, the Everyman's rock 'n' roll panto begins on 14 November, and two separate festive attractions open at the Pier Head and St George's Plateau on 20 and 21 November. The main winter sites continue until 3 January 2027.
Here are the confirmed Christmas events for 2026, including free activities, prices for the ticketed ones, family outings, pantomimes and nights out. We've checked the dates against organisers and ticket sellers, not recycled last year's programme. Details were checked on 25 October 2026; tickets and individual sessions may change.
For the full stall-by-stall picture, use our Liverpool Christmas markets guide. Our separate Merseyside Christmas lights guide follows switch-ons and light trails across the city region. This page concentrates on the events you can plan and book.
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From Friday 6 November. Liverpool ONE is unveiling a 30-metre walk-through Christmas tree at Paradise Place, with more lights at Peter's Lane, Keys Court and Peter's Square. You do not need a ticket to see the displays.
The Christmas Toy Parade is Saturday 14 November, with festive characters and a parade created with Walk the Plank. Wishmas is Saturday 5 December, with free entertainment and chances to win prizes. Free live entertainment is also planned for Festive Thursdays through December. The Liverpool ONE Christmas announcement has the programme. The parade route and event times should be checked near the date.
The Liverpool BID-funded street lights are due to be switched on on Thursday 12 November, separately from Liverpool ONE's 6 November decorations. The BID has not published an exact switch-on time. Church Street, Bold Street, Castle Street, Hope Street and Lime Street are among the areas covered. You can see the displays for free while walking through town; see our Christmas lights dates and trails for more locations.
The Liverpool Santa Dash starts on Canada Boulevard at 9.30am on Sunday 6 December. There is a main 5K and a separate Mini Dash of around 1K for children up to 12, starting at approximately 11am on Castle Street. Watching is free; runners need to register and pay the relevant entry fee. Under-threes can enter the main event free, but still need registration. Allow for busy pavements and event-day road restrictions near the waterfront.
For a low-cost afternoon, start at Liverpool ONE for the decorations, walk through Church Street towards St George's Hall, then visit the market stalls on the plateau. Both the St George's and Pier Head winter sites are free to enter, so there is no requirement to pay for rides or skating. Food, drinks and attractions cost extra.
21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Underbelly's new Skate St George's event includes an outdoor real-ice rink, Christmas stalls, a Big Wheel, a Christmas Tree Maze, a carousel and a rooftop bar at the plateau opposite Liverpool Lime Street.
Entry to the site is free. Advertised skating starts at £11.50 for adults and £10 for children, with prices dependent on the session. The published standard site hours are 10am to 10pm, with seasonal exceptions. If you only want the market, you do not need a skating ticket. See our market and rink comparison for detailed hours and the 2026 changes.
20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. A separate operator, Icebox Live, is bringing a covered ice rink and 36 attractions to the Pier Head, including an 85-metre Star Flyer, smaller children's rides, games and festive food units.
Entry is free, but skating and rides are paid. Off-peak ice-skating prices start at £15.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, with family skating tickets from £49 and skate hire included. The site is advertised as open 11am to 9pm and closed on Christmas Day. Find session prices on the official Christmas Wonderland booking site. The covered rink offers an option when the weather is poor, though the rest of the event is outdoors.
Two different sites: St George's Plateau is beside Lime Street station. Wonderland is on the Pier Head waterfront. Do not assume that buying a rink ticket for one gives admission to skating at the other.
Selected dates 5 to 24 December. Children can meet Father Christmas and Buddy the Elf in small storytelling sessions at Liverpool Town Hall. The organiser says each session lasts around 45 minutes to an hour, with up to 20 children, and one adult included with each child ticket. The event is aimed at ages 2 to 10.
The City Halls site advertises a broad price range of £5 to £27, covering different ticket categories, so do not treat £5 as the standard child's ticket price. Quiet sessions are listed for 5 December at 3pm, 12 December at 3pm, 19 December at 10am and 20 December at 4.30pm. Check Story Time With Santa sessions and tickets.
Affiliate disclosure: Some ticket links in this guide are affiliate links. L1Local may receive a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect editorial coverage.
21 November to 24 December, selected dates. This experience near Hightown combines an illuminated woodland trail, Santa experience and Merrywood Market. There are several ticket types, so check what each purchase actually includes.
For selected December sessions, full-experience tickets on Skiddle were advertised at £63.80 including booking fee for guests aged over 12 months, depending on the date. A separate light-trail-only ticket is listed at £18.15 including booking fee. The cheaper ticket is not the full Santa experience. Under-12-months are admitted free with conditions; check age rules, availability and booking charges before paying.
Full-experience dates are split into November sessions (21, 22, 28 and 29 November) and December sessions (weekends from 5 December, then every day from 19 to 24 December). Skiddle lists SEN sessions on Sunday 22 November and Sunday 6 December, with the November slot running from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
20 to 24 December, selected sessions. A separate Skiddle listing for BOXPARK's family brunch advertises Santa meet-and-greets, games and a meal at the Baltic Triangle venue. Skiddle's listings have displayed conflicting hours, so use the time on the actual chosen ticket rather than assuming every session starts at the same hour. The final ticket price also needs checking at checkout. If you are making a day of it, our Baltic Triangle food and drink guide covers what else is nearby.
Several smaller venues have family sessions on Skiddle. They sell in fixed time slots, so pick the exact session before paying.
20 November to 23 December, selected evenings. Enchanted takes visitors through Knowsley Safari's Foot Safari area after dark, past illuminated animals and seasonal displays. Tickets start at £9.95, with the ticketing system showing adult and child prices that rise to £25 on some dates. Santa's grotto, rides and refreshments cost extra.
Knowsley Safari also advertises a dedicated Enchanted SEN evening. The organiser is offering marshmallow toasting included with advance bookings made before 1 November. For an accurate family budget, add the optional grotto and ride costs before booking.
27 November to 5 December. This indoor light-and-sound show uses projections and music across Liverpool Cathedral. According to the official Ticket Quarter booking page, off-peak tickets are £10.50 adults, £8.50 children aged 3 to 15, and £29.50 for a family of four, plus an administration fee. Peak tickets rise to £12.50, £10.50 and £36 respectively. Under-threes and carers go free.
A quiet performance on Wednesday 2 December, 4.30pm to 5pm, is advertised with reduced capacity and lower music levels. This is an indoor alternative to outdoor light trails.
The city region's stages offer both traditional pantomime and non-panto Christmas shows. Here are some of the main confirmed options. Theatre ticket prices usually vary by seat and date, and a booking fee may apply.
14 November to 16 January 2027. The Everyman's Rock 'n' Roll Panto returns with actor-musicians playing live. Tickets £20 to £47 on the official Everyman event page. It is the earliest of the principal city-centre pantomime runs.
5 December to 3 January 2027. The Epstein's Snow White offers a traditional pantomime in Hanover Street. The venue's accessible public page does not expose a clear ticket-price table, so check the box office rather than relying on a quoted starting price.
5 December to 3 January 2027. Aladdin at the Floral Pavilion is one of Wirral's main family pantomimes. The venue advertises a limited number of £15 stalls seats at each performance; most seats cost more. The production also advertises a BSL-interpreted performance and a relaxed show. Check the chosen session before booking.
4 to 31 December. Adult seats for Cinderella at The Atkinson are listed at £28 to £30, concessions at £26 to £28 and family tickets for four at £98 to £110. The venue charges an additional £1.50 per ticket for online or phone purchases. There are also relaxed and captioned performances.
6 November to 16 January 2027. The Royal Court is staging The Scouse Nativity, its Liverpool take on the traditional Nativity story. This is a Christmas comedy production, not a conventional family pantomime. Check performance guidance and ticket conditions with the theatre.
Also on the city's Christmas theatre calendar are Mamma Mia! at the Liverpool Empire, from 8 December to 3 January, and A Christmas Carol at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Book through the respective venue's official page.
Saturday 5 December, 1.30pm and 7pm. St George's Hall's Great Hall hosts Carols by Lantern Light with the St George's Singers and the Willis organ. The official price range is £25 to £35. This is a seated seasonal concert rather than a market attraction.
19 and 20 December. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra accompanies screenings of The Snowman, followed by Christmas music and family participation. Tickets on the Philharmonic booking page are listed from £16.50 to £41.80, with a 10% administration fee on online and telephone orders. The venue says the event is most suitable for ages 5 to 10. Saturday 19 December at 2.30pm has BSL interpretation.
Monday 30 November, 7.30pm, Philharmonic Hall. A screening of The Holiday with live music is listed on Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster specifies over-12s only, and under-14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Check the final ticket total on the booking page.
Saturday 5 December, 3pm to 8pm. Camp and Furnace has an all-day 80s Christmas party, with the organiser listing last entry at 4.30pm. It is a standing event, 18+, with strobe and flashing lights advertised. A second date, Saturday 12 December, is also listed; each date is a separate ticket.
Saturday 28 November and Saturday 19 December, noon to 5pm. The Bentley's Naughty or Nice: Bottomless Brunch with Bad Santa is an 18+ afternoon event with DJs, live entertainment and a 90-minute bottomless drinks offer. Check the ticket inclusions and serving restrictions. This is not a children's Santa visit.
If you are organising a works do without booking a whole room, these shared nights sell individual tickets. All are listed as adult events. Times below are from the first listed date, so check the session you pick.
Looking for something else? Browse every Liverpool Christmas listing on Skiddle, or see our Liverpool what's on page and November 2026 guide for non-festive events.
For a free day out: Liverpool ONE's lights and parade, or the two free-entry winter market sites. Keep spending optional by skipping rides, food purchases and skating.
For young children meeting Santa: Liverpool Town Hall has small storytelling sessions with an accompanying adult included in the child booking. Santa's Secret Forest offers a longer experience but costs substantially more for the full package. Santa brunches at BOXPARK and Ten Streets Social combine a meal with the visit. For ideas outside Christmas, see our family days out guide.
For light displays: Enchanted at Knowsley Safari is outdoors; Noël at the Cathedral is indoors. Both have dedicated quieter or accessible sessions advertised.
For a panto: The Everyman is a live-music take on the form. The Epstein and Floral Pavilion provide more traditional fairytale choices. Compare travel and seat prices before choosing.
For adults: The Holiday with orchestra is a seated film-and-music evening, while the Camp and Furnace party and Bentley brunch have explicit 18+ entry rules.
For a works do: shared party nights at The Bentley or BOXPARK sell individual tickets, so you do not need to fill a private room.
| Event | Dates | Price or entry | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool ONE lights | From 6 Nov | Free | Details |
| Liverpool ONE Toy Parade | 14 Nov | Free | Details |
| Skate St George's | 21 Nov–3 Jan | Free entry; skating from £10 child / £11.50 adult | Official |
| Christmas Wonderland, Pier Head | 20 Nov–3 Jan | Free entry; skating from £12.50 child / £15.50 adult | Official |
| Enchanted, Knowsley Safari | 20 Nov–23 Dec, selected dates | From £9.95; extras cost more | Official |
| Santa's Secret Forest | 21 Nov–24 Dec, selected dates | Light trail £18.15; full experience varies | Skiddle |
| Noël, Liverpool Cathedral | 27 Nov–5 Dec | From £8.50 child / £10.50 adult, plus fee | Official |
| Story Time With Santa | 5–24 Dec, selected dates | Ticket categories £5–£27 | Official |
| Santa Brunch, Ten Streets Social | 21–23 Dec | Check at booking | Skiddle |
| Liverpool Santa Dash | 6 Dec | Free to watch; register to run | Register |
| Beauty and the Beast, Everyman | 14 Nov–16 Jan | £20–£47 | Official |
| Aladdin, Floral Pavilion | 5 Dec–3 Jan | Limited £15 seats; other prices vary | Official |
| Cinderella, Atkinson | 4–31 Dec | Adult £28–£30 plus booking fee | Official |
| The Snowman, Philharmonic | 19–20 Dec | £16.50–£41.80 plus admin fee | Official |
| Shared party nights, The Bentley | 4, 11, 18 Dec | Check at booking; 18+ | Skiddle |
Dates shown in January refer to 2027. Listed prices are published ticket bands, not live availability. Last checked 25 October 2026.
For St George's Plateau: Liverpool Lime Street and Queen Square bus station are nearby. For the Pier Head: James Street station and city-centre buses are useful alternatives to parking on the waterfront. For Liverpool ONE: Liverpool Central and James Street are convenient, depending on where you start.
Christmas-season engineering works, special-event closures and reduced holiday services can change journey times. Check Merseytravel and your train or bus operator before leaving. Do not assume the ferry or normal Christmas Day public transport will be available.
Yes. You can enter the St George's Plateau and Pier Head winter sites for free. Ice-skating sessions, most rides, food and other ticketed experiences cost extra.
Liverpool ONE's new displays begin on 6 November, followed by the Everyman's panto on 14 November and the two big winter sites opening on 20 and 21 November.
See the Liverpool ONE decorations and Christmas Toy Parade, walk around the two free-entry markets, and watch the Liverpool Santa Dash. Some other festive shows and activities require advance booking.
Liverpool Town Hall lists quiet Story Time With Santa sessions, the Cathedral advertises a Noël quiet show on 2 December, Knowsley Safari has an Enchanted SEN event and Santa's Secret Forest lists SEN sessions on 22 November and 6 December. Always check the organiser's full access details before booking.
The Bentley on Brunswick Street has shared party nights on 4, 11 and 18 December, and BOXPARK runs The Big Office Party on five dates from 27 November. Both sell individual tickets through Skiddle.
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