Manchester’s best Christmas yet: Festive fun returns to Albert Square

As restoration of the Grade 1 Listed Town Hall continues, work to transform Albert Square into a prominent civic square has been progressing as part of the Our Town Hall project, the UK’s largest and most complex heritage initiative.

The completed work on Albert Square means it will host seasonal celebrations again for the first time since 2019.

A Taste of Christmas will run from Friday 7 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, bringing festive cheer to the city.

The square will feature a 50-metre Ferris wheel with views of the Town Hall restoration, a vintage carousel, and a mini-market with wooden chalets offering crafts. With food options, festive lights, and photo spots, Albert Square enhances Manchester’s Christmas magic this year.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “We’re going all out this year to make sure that Manchester is the world’s number one city for Christmas, not just in the UK, but in the world. 

“It’s going to be brilliant to be able to celebrate the season in Albert Square once again and I personally can’t wait to get on the big wheel and eyeball the town hall clock as we countdown to Christmas in Santa’s favourite city. 

“We all know that Manchester does Christmas best and we’ve got a few more Santa surprises up our sleeves still to come that we’re just putting the finishing touches to and will be sharing with you in the coming weeks. Until then, my lips are sealed..

“In the meantime, dust off your baubles, un-twirl your tinsel and get ready – Albert’s back!” 

Now in their 27th year, Manchester’s Christmas markets attract millions, providing a significant economic boost. For over a quarter-century, they have delighted visitors with festive treats and a glühwein and bratwurst-filled atmosphere.

With confirmed market locations like St Ann’s Square, King Street, and Albert Square’s A Taste of Christmas, the city expects a bustling Christmas season with more visitors adding Manchester and its markets to their festive wish lists.

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The return of Christmas festivities for the first time since 2019 is a fantastic milestone moment for Albert Square and we can’t wait to welcome people back.

“Seeing the square once again at the heart of Manchester’s Christmas programme this year is going to be brilliant, with the big wheel providing the perfect vantage point for visitors to see from on high all the painstaking and intricate work being done to repair and restore our magnificent Grade 1 Listed Town hall .

“A Taste of Christmas is just the first in a whole series of events and activities leading up to the full re-opening of the Town Hall and Albert Square that will reflect the important part that our amazing, iconic and unmatched civic spaces have played in the life of the city for well over a century now, whilst also looking ahead to the next hundred years and the part our newly restored Town Hall and Albert Square will continue to play in the future, alongside all the new opportunities they will bring.”

Manchester’s Christmas Markets will open on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December, with A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens remaining open until 4 January 2026.

The festive fun returns to Albert Square as part of the ongoing restoration of the Grade 1 Listed Town Hall. This year, two-thirds of Albert Square will be opened for seasonal celebrations for the first time since 2019.

A Taste of Christmas will run from 7 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, offering family-friendly attractions and festive cheer. Highlights will include a 50-metre-high Ferris wheel, a vintage carousel, and a mini-market with crafts and food options.

With festive lights and selfie spots, Albert Square aims to enhance Manchester’s Christmas magic this year.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “We’re going all out this year to make sure that Manchester is the world’s number one city for Christmas, not just in the UK, but in the world. 

“It’s going to be brilliant to be able to celebrate the season in Albert Square once again and I personally can’t wait to get on the big wheel and eyeball the town hall clock as we countdown to Christmas in Santa’s favourite city. 

“We all know that Manchester does Christmas best and we’ve got a few more Santa surprises up our sleeves still to come that we’re just putting the finishing touches to and will be sharing with you in the coming weeks. Until then, my lips are sealed..

“In the meantime, dust off your baubles, un-twirl your tinsel and get ready – Albert’s back!” 

Now in their 27th year, Manchester’s world-famous Christmas markets with their iconic wooden chalets attract millions of visitors each year to the city, bringing with them a huge boost to the city’s economy. 

For over a quarter of a century the markets have continued to delight shoppers and visitors alike who visit them to fill up on the fantastic festive treats on offer and to soak up the glühwein and bratwurst-filled atmosphere of Christmas in the city.  

With confirmed market locations for this year including St Ann’s Square, King Street, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange and Cathedral Gardens, Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens, as well as A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square, the city is expecting a bumper Christmas season with even more visitors putting Manchester and the markets on their Christmas wish list of places to go and things to do during the festive season.

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The return of Christmas festivities for the first time since 2019 is a fantastic milestone moment for Albert Square and we can’t wait to welcome people back.

“Seeing the square once again at the heart of Manchester’s Christmas programme this year is going to be brilliant, with the big wheel providing the perfect vantage point for visitors to see from on high all the painstaking and intricate work being done to repair and restore our magnificent Grade 1 Listed Town hall .

“A Taste of Christmas is just the first in a whole series of events and activities leading up to the full re-opening of the Town Hall and Albert Square that will reflect the important part that our amazing, iconic and unmatched civic spaces have played in the life of the city for well over a century now, whilst also looking ahead to the next hundred years and the part our newly restored Town Hall and Albert Square will continue to play in the future, alongside all the new opportunities they will bring.”

Manchester’s Christmas Markets will open across the city on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December, except for A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will remain open throughout the Christmas period until 4 January 2026