Christmas in Bournemouth 2026: what is confirmed so far
Bournemouth's Christmas lights trail, Alpine market, ice rink and Pavilion panto for 2026: what is announced, what is expected and when dates are confirmed.
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Bournemouth's Christmas is one of the largest on the south coast, and 2026 is shaping up along familiar lines. Here is what has been announced, what is expected from previous years, and where the gaps are.
The lights trail
The Christmas Tree Wonderland that ran in the Lower Gardens for several years has been reimagined as Christmas in Bournemouth, a free-entry lights trail through the gardens that the organisers describe as more interactive than before, according to the town's tourism site. The attractions listed around it include animated light installations, a real Christmas tree walkway and maze, festive mini golf, an ice rink the organisers call the UK's longest, a Santa's workshop experience, a Christmas train and a helter skelter.
The market and the Alpine bar
The Christmas market and the Alpine Lodge bar return to the Square, with the usual gifts, food and mulled wine. Third-party listings currently expect the market to open on 12 November 2026 and run to 31 December, with the lights continuing to 4 January 2027, but those dates are projections from previous years rather than confirmed announcements. We will update this article when the organisers publish the calendar.
The ice rink
The outdoor rink in the Lower Gardens is run under a five-year contract awarded to SKATE Bournemouth and Seventa Events, who fund it privately, BCP Council said when the contract was awarded. Sessions are booked in advance, and the weekend slots in December go first.
The panto
The Pavilion's pantomime is Aladdin, running from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, BH Live confirmed in its autumn and winter guide. We have the rest of the season, from Katherine Jenkins to Westlife, in the BIC and Pavilion autumn guide.
Planning a Christmas visit
The Lower Gardens run from the Square down to the pier, so the trail, the market, the rink and the seafront are all within ten minutes' walk of each other and of the West Cliff hotels. Our 24-hour Christmas itinerary sets out a day in order, and winter in Bournemouth covers the rest of the season. December weekends are the busiest of the winter for hotels, so booking early is the one piece of advice that holds every year.
Frequently asked questions
Not yet confirmed. In recent years the lights trail and the Christmas market have opened in mid-November and run to the end of December, with the trail continuing into early January. The organisers confirm dates in the autumn; we will update this article when they do.
Yes. The reimagined Christmas in Bournemouth trail in the Lower Gardens has free entry, with paid attractions such as the ice rink, mini golf and the Santa's workshop experience alongside it.
