Christmas in Cheltenham 2026
Cheltenham's getting its Christmas sparkle on, and this year there's something new to look forward to!
A giant festive film projection is coming to the Municipal Offices, the Christmas market is returning to the Promenade, and there are two evenings of late-night shopping with FREE parking thrown in.
That's a pretty good excuse to round up the family, dig out the winter coats and head into town. Especially if the outing involves hot chocolate.
Here's what's happening, when to go and how to make the most of it.
A giant Christmas light show is coming to the Municipal Offices!
This is the big new addition for Christmas 2026, and it's sounds pretty special...
From 3 to 16 December, the front of Cheltenham's Municipal Offices on the Promenade will be transformed by a specially created festive film projection.
We're talking lights, sound, moving images and a display celebrating Cheltenham's history and character, all projected onto one of the town's grandest buildings.
And the best bit? It's FREE!
The projection is being billed as family-friendly, so it could be a lovely way to add a bit of Christmas excitement to an otherwise ordinary evening.
The details:
Dates: Thursday 3 to Wednesday 16 December 2026
Time: 4pm to 10pm daily
Where: Municipal Offices, Promenade, Cheltenham
Cost: FREE
Top tip: Make an evening of it on Thursday 10 December. The Christmas market will be open, shops will be staying open later and there's free parking from 3pm in participating council car parks. That's quite a lot of Christmas for one trip into town.
Cheltenham Christmas Market is back, and it's staying longer
The Christmas market is returning to the Promenade from 10 to 23 December, with 40 wooden stalls to explore.
Expect Christmas gifts, crafts and seasonal treats, with plenty of opportunities to find something for the people on your list who are impossible to buy for.
Of course, browsing stalls with children can go one of two ways. Either everyone's feeling festive and enjoying themselves, or somebody wants a snack before you've reached stall number three.
Luckily, this is an easy one to combine with the new projection, especially if you're planning a family wander after school.
Christmas Market details:
Dates: Thursday 10 to Wednesday 23 December 2026
Where: The Promenade, Cheltenham
Cost: FREE entry
FREE parking and late-night shopping. Yes, really!
On Thursday 3 and Thursday 10 December, parking will be free from 3pm in participating Cheltenham Borough Council town-centre car parks.
That's two chances to tackle the Christmas shopping without keeping one eye on the pay-and-display machine.
Shops are also being encouraged to stay open later on those evenings, with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Søstrene Grene and HMV among the retailers confirmed as taking part.
And even if your Christmas shopping consists mainly of looking at pretty lights while the children campaign for snacks, at least the parking won't cost you anything.
Which car parks are included?
The council has confirmed these car parks are part of the free-from-3pm offer:
Chelt Walk
St James Street
Rodney Road
High Street
Town Centre East (closes at 8pm)
Royal Well
Sherborne Place
Bath Parade
Important: Regent Arcade car park is NOT included. The offer applies on 3 and 10 December only, from 3pm, at the specified council car parks.
When are Cheltenham's Christmas lights being switched on?
Cheltenham's Christmas lights are due to be switched on from Saturday 21 November 2026.
So even before the projection and markets get going, there'll be an excuse for an evening wander around town.
Sometimes that's all you need for a bit of Christmas atmosphere. A walk under the lights, a warm drink and a chance to admire the decorations before December turns into one long hunt for missing PE kits and Christmas jumper day outfits.
What about Cheltenham's ice rink?
There's one notable change this year.
Cheltenham's Christmas ice rink won't be returning for 2026.
The council says its three-year contract has ended and it's decided to explore different festive activities rather than commit to another long-term ice rink arrangement.
So if skating was part of your usual Christmas routine, you'll need a different plan this year.
The new projection is one of the alternatives being introduced, although it's a very different sort of outing. Less wobbling around on ice, more standing back and enjoying the show.
Christmas in Cheltenham 2026: Dates for your diary
Date | What's happening |
|---|---|
21 November | Cheltenham Christmas lights switched on |
3 to 16 December | FREE festive projection at the Municipal Offices, 4pm to 10pm |
3 December | Late-night shopping and FREE council car park parking from 3pm |
10 December | Late-night shopping and FREE council car park parking from 3pm |
10 to 23 December | Cheltenham Christmas Market on the Promenade |
Our pick for a festive family evening
If you're choosing just one evening to visit, Thursday 10 December looks like a particularly good bet.
The projection will be running, the Christmas market will have opened, shops will be staying open later and parking will be free from 3pm in participating council car parks.
That's a lot to squeeze into one evening, so there's no need to do everything. A wander around the market followed by the light show sounds like a good start.
And because the projection is free, you can enjoy a bit of Christmas magic without turning it into a big, expensive day out.
For further information and any changes to the programme, check Visit Cheltenham's Christmas events guide.
Now, where did we put those Christmas hats?
