Between Thursday 12 November and Monday 21 December 2026, Make it York will once again host York’s Christmas Market.
Bringing festive shopping, seasonal food and Christmas atmosphere to the heart of the city.
This year the Christmas Market stalls will be closed on Tuesdays for a rest day. City centre shops, attractions, cafes, restaurants and businesses, along with the Shambles Market will still be open and ready to welcome residents and visitors.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport, said: "This year, to make sure there is easier access to the city centre for everyone, we are trialling a Christmas Market rest day. This is to support people who live and work in our city."
To help keep people safe during one of York's busiest times of the year, the council is working in partnership with North Yorkshire Police, which has recommended temporary restrictions on vehicle access in the city centre foot streets.
This means only emergency vehicles and a small number of essential vehicles, such as for waste collection, will be allowed into the protected area between 10.30am and 7.30pm while the Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) is in force.
During the Tuesday Christmas Market rest days, usual footstreet hours will apply (10.30am to 5pm) and the Goodramgate, King’s Square, Colliergate loop will be open and in operation for Blue Badge holders (excluding Church Street).
Councillor Ravilious said:
"All of the important information people need about this year’s arrangements can be found online at www.york.gov.uk/ChristmasMarket. We’re writing to affected residents, businesses and Blue Badge holders so that they can plan ahead of the festive period.”
On Police advice, these rules on restricted vehicle access will apply every Christmas Market day from 10.30am until 7.30pm. As the Christmas market closes at 7pm, the Police has recommended that the footstreet hours be extended to 7.30pm to enable visitors to the market to disperse before vehicles are allowed back into the city centre. The restrictions will end on 22 December, when the city centre returns to business as usual.
For information on all the great things happening in the city over the festive period go to www.visityork.org/Christmas