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Glasgow Christmas markets 2026: dates, hours and getting there
Two sites this year, both run by Glasgow's Winter Wonderland: the city-centre market in St Enoch Square and the bigger funfair-and-ice-rink site on Glasgow Green. Both are free to get in; you pay for rides, the rink, the circus and Santa. George Square comes back later with a Christmas village, but its dates aren't out yet.
Dates and hours were checked on the organiser's official FAQ and site pages on 21 Oct 2026. The organiser says both sites open on "selected dates and times", so check before a special trip, especially in bad weather.
| Site | Dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| St Enoch Square | Fri 6 Nov – Sun 27 Dec 2026 | Free (pay per attraction) |
| Glasgow Green | Fri 20 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | Free (rink, circus, grotto and rides ticketed) |
| George Square | "Late November" (dates not yet published) | Not yet announced |
St Enoch Square: the city-centre market
Food and gift stalls, a covered festive bar with free entertainment, family rides and the solar-powered observation wheel. The main entrance is from Argyle Street.
| When | Hours |
|---|---|
| 6 Nov – 20 Dec, Mon–Thu | 12 noon – 9pm |
| 6 Nov – 20 Dec, Fridays | 12 noon – 10pm |
| 6 Nov – 20 Dec, Saturdays | 10am – 10pm |
| 6 Nov – 20 Dec, Sundays | 10am – 9pm |
| 21 – 27 Dec, every day | 10am – 10pm |
| Christmas Eve | Closes 8pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
Good to know: toilets and accessible toilets on site; the site, bar and wheel (one accessible capsule) are described as fully accessible; dogs allowed on a lead.
Getting there
- Subway: St Enoch station. Hours are Mon–Sat 6.30am–11.40pm and Sunday 10am–6.12pm (SPT). The market stays open until 9pm on Sundays, so plan another way home on a Sunday evening.
- Train: the organiser says Glasgow Central and Queen Street are a short walk away, and its St Enoch page has walking routes from Central, Queen Street and Buchanan Bus Station.
- Driving: not recommended in December; the city centre is busy and the organiser points people to public transport route planners.
Glasgow Green: rink, circus and rides
An open-air real-ice rink (sessions start on the hour and last about 45 minutes, skate hire included), the Very Merry Circus in a heated big top, Santa's Grotto, an observation wheel, rides and an 800-seat bar. Enter by the McLennan Arch, next to the wheel.
| When | Hours |
|---|---|
| 20 Nov – 20 Dec, Mon–Fri | 3pm – 10pm |
| 20 Nov – 20 Dec, Sat & Sun | 12 noon – 10pm |
| 21 Dec – 3 Jan, every day | 12 noon – 10pm |
| Christmas Eve | Closes 8pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| New Year's Day | 2pm – 10pm |
Prices the organiser has published
- Santa's Grotto: £16.75 per child plus transaction and booking fees; up to two adults (16+) per child free; open selected dates 20 Nov – 24 Dec. Includes a gift and a 6×9in photo.
- Circus: £12.50 adult or child plus booking fees; under-2s free on a knee. Shows last about an hour.
- Ice rink: peak (Fri–Sun and every day 18 Dec – 3 Jan) and off-peak prices on the organiser's booking pages; no concessions. Buy online up to 24 hours ahead. Skating aids from £5.
- Weather: the rink is checked every morning and only opens when safe. If it closes, bookers are emailed and refunded automatically. Grotto queues may be partly outdoors.
- Quiet sessions: ASN skating at 11am on Sun 29 Nov, Sun 6 Dec and Sun 12 Dec (as listed); ASN grotto slots Thu 17 Dec 4pm–7.30pm; ASN circus Sun 6 Dec 6pm.
Getting there
- The organiser's Glasgow Green page has walking routes from Central, Queen Street and Buchanan Bus Station, plus bus and train route planners.
- Glasgow Green is a park beside the Clyde: paths are dark on winter evenings, so bring a torch or stick to lit routes, and wear proper shoes when it's wet.
George Square
The city council says the rebuilt square will host a new Good Times Christmas Village from late November, with food and drink and light installations, and that there will be no single lights switch-on event this year. The full programme hasn't been published yet. We'll add dates here once they're official (BBC News, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce).
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Free at 7am every Thursday: what's on for the next 10 days, an honest forecast, a Rain Plan and a Dry Plan, and how to get home.
Rainy-day backups
When it's chucking it down, these free indoor spots are close by:
Near St Enoch
- Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) (free): Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm. Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Checked 21 Oct 2026 on the official page.
- The Mitchell Library (free): Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat 9am–5pm. Tue & Thu 9am–8pm. Closed Sundays. Checked 21 Oct 2026 on the official page.
Near Glasgow Green and the east end
- St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art (free): Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm. Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Checked 21 Oct 2026 on the official page.
- Provand's Lordship (free): Mon–Thu & Sat 10am–5pm. Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Checked 21 Oct 2026 on the official page.
More ideas in Rainy-day Glasgow: 15 indoor plans by Subway stop and our list of free things to do.
Want it planned for you? Compass Plus adds personalised picks, a Monday Week Ahead edition and rain-day alerts: £4/month, £40/year or an £8 Trip Pass for a visit. See what you get.
Sources, checked 21 Oct 2026: Glasgow's Winter Wonderland: FAQ · St Enoch · Glasgow Green · SPT Subway timetables · BBC News on the council's programme. This page has no paid placements or affiliate links.