Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Times, Road Closures & Parking

Stratford-upon-Avon’s Christmas Markets return for 2026 over two weekends: Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 November and Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 December. More than 200 stalls fill the town centre, entry is free, and the town gets very busy, especially on Saturday afternoons. This guide covers the dates, opening times, road closures, parking and Park & Ride, plus locals’ tips for avoiding the worst of the crowds. We update it every year.

Stratford Christmas Markets 2026 at a glance

• Weekend 1: Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 November 2026
• Weekend 2: Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 December 2026
• Opening times: Saturdays 10am–8pm, Sundays 10am–5pm
• Reserve weekend: 12–13 December 2026, used only if a main weekend is cancelled because of the weather
• Where: Bridge Street, Waterside and Henley Street, with more than 200 stalls
• Entry: Free
• Christmas lights switch-on: Saturday 14 November 2026

Is it still the “Victorian” Christmas Market?

Many people still call it the Stratford Victorian Christmas Market, and that’s what plenty of visitors search for. The district council now runs it as the Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Markets. It’s the same event in the same streets, with stalls selling gifts, crafts, decorations, street food and mulled wine.

Where the stalls are, and the 2026 stall list

The market fills Bridge Street, Waterside and Henley Street, so it runs from Shakespeare’s Birthplace down to the river and along to the theatres. The council expects more than 200 stallholders selling gifts, crafts, decorations, street food and mulled wine. Stalls are a mix of pop-up gazebos and traditional steel-framed stalls with counters at table height.

The organisers haven’t published a 2026 stall list yet: the market operator’s Christmas Markets website says to check back for updates. We’ll add the list and a map here as soon as they’re out.

Is the Christmas market still on? Weather and cancellations

The council keeps 12–13 December as a reserve weekend in case bad weather forces it to cancel one of the main weekends. If the forecast is poor, check the council’s Facebook or X pages on the morning before you set off, and we’ll update this page too.

Christmas lights switch-on: Saturday 14 November

Two weeks before the markets, the town centre’s Christmas lights go on on Saturday 14 November 2026, organised by the Stratford-upon-Avon BID. See our lights switch-on guide for times and getting home. Expect a Christmas market during the day, entertainment on a main stage, street food, stilt walkers and Father Christmas. The Stratford Herald reports the lights will be switched on at 5.30pm. Roads will close for this event too, so allow extra time.

Road closures for the Christmas Markets

Closures start at 6pm on the Friday before each market weekend, so traders can set up:

• Waterside: fully closed
• Bridge Street: fully closed in both directions
• High Street: one-way system
• Sheep Street: open, but no access onto Waterside

Town centre public car parks aren’t affected by the closures, but the roads into town are slow on market Saturdays. The approach over Clopton Bridge is the worst pinch point.

Parking and Park & Ride

The council recommends the Stratford-upon-Avon Park & Ride at Bishopton, and it’s genuinely the stress-free option. Normal charges apply. On market weekends:

• Saturday: buses run until 8.30pm
• Sunday: buses run until 6.40pm, with a final bus at 7.30pm
• The Park & Ride waiting room and toilets stay open until 8pm both days.
• With Bridge Street closed, the Park & Ride and Town Service 19 leave from Windsor Street Coach Park. Other buses leave from Guild Street, behind M&S.

If you’d rather drive in, use our Stratford parking calculator to compare car parks, and see our Stratford parking guide. Windsor Street car park is due to be demolished, so check our Windsor Street closure guide before relying on it. Locals’ advice: on a market Saturday, the riverside car parks fill first. Arrive before 10am or park on the west side of town and walk in.

Coming by train

Stratford-upon-Avon station is about 10 minutes’ walk from the market, on a route with dropped kerbs and tactile paving at the main junctions. The taxi rank on Bridge Street is suspended while the market is on; the other ranks work as normal.

Coming by coach

Coaches must use the Riverside Coach & Lorry Park on Bridgeway (CV37 6YY). It has 70 spaces, available first come, first served, and it’s the only drop-off and pick-up point. Overspill coach parking is at the Bishopton Park & Ride.

Accessibility, toilets and Blue Badge parking

From the council’s accessibility statement for the 2025 markets (the 2026 version isn’t out yet):

• Getting round: the market is on level ground, and portable dropped kerbs are put in where needed.
• Toilets: Avonbank, Bridgefoot car park, Waterside and Windsor Street car park (Ely Street is a urinal only), all with baby changing and Radar-key accessible toilets. Changing Places toilets are in Bell Court and at the leisure centre on Bridgeway.
• Blue Badge parking: free with no time limit in council car parks, including Arden Street, Bridgeway multi-storey, Guild Street, the Leisure Centre and the Recreation Ground (Church Street after 4pm and all weekend). Blue Badge holders also park free at the Park & Ride, whose buses have wheelchair and buggy spaces.
• Shopmobility: level 2 of Bridgeway multi-storey car park, 01789 414534.
• Visitor Information Centre: Bridgefoot, open 7 days a week, 01789 264293.

Questions about access go to the council’s events and markets team at info-markets@stratford-dc.gov.uk.

Locals’ tips: when to go

• Busiest: Saturday from about midday to mid-afternoon, when the coach parties arrive. Henley Street and Bridge Street can be shoulder-to-shoulder.
• Best atmosphere: Saturday from about 4pm. Day-trippers start heading home, the lights come into their own and the mulled wine queues shorten.
• Calmest: Sunday morning at 10am, when stalls are freshly stocked and there’s room to browse.

Escaping the crowds

The pubs closest to the market get packed. For a calmer break, head west towards Rother Street and Greenhill Street, where independent cafés and pubs usually have more space than Sheep Street and the riverside. Our guide to the best pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon has more ideas.

Stratford Christmas Market: quick answers

When is the Stratford Christmas Market 2026?

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, and Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026. The reserve weekend is 12–13 December.

What time does Stratford Christmas Market open?

10am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

Is the Stratford Christmas Market free?

Yes, entry is free. You only pay for what you buy, plus parking or the Park & Ride.

Which roads are closed for the Christmas Market?

From 6pm on each Friday before a market weekend, Waterside and Bridge Street are fully closed, High Street becomes one-way, and Sheep Street stays open but with no access onto Waterside.

Where is the Stratford Christmas Market?

On Bridge Street, Waterside and Henley Street in the town centre.

Is there a list of stalls for the 2026 Christmas Market?

Not yet. The organisers haven’t published one; we’ll add it here when they do.

What happens if the Christmas Market is cancelled?

If bad weather cancels one of the main weekends, the council uses 12–13 December as a reserve weekend. Check its Facebook or X pages on the day.

Where are the toilets at the Christmas Market?

Public toilets are at Avonbank, Bridgefoot car park, Waterside and Windsor Street car park, with Changing Places toilets in Bell Court and at the leisure centre.

More Christmas in Stratford

• Everything on at Christmas in Stratford
• Christmas at Charlecote Park
• Cotswolds day tours from Stratford
• Before Christmas: Halloween in Stratford-upon-Avon 2026

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.