Christmas in Camden 2026: markets, gigs and dates
Camden Market goes festive from 26 November with night markets on Thursdays, Granary Square’s winter market runs to 3 January, Babyshambles play KOKO on 17 December and the Electric Ballroom has a Christmas ball. Every date we could confirm for Christmas 2026 in Camden.
By Only Camden Editorial
Camden Market switches into Christmas mode from Thursday 26 November 2026, with festive night markets every Thursday, and the King’s Cross Winter Market opens on Granary Square the same day and runs until 3 January 2027, according to Time Out’s round-up of this year’s dates. After that, it is gigs, puppets and a pub lunch before the 23 December shutters. Here is every Christmas 2026 date in Camden we could confirm, with the source for each.
The markets
Camden Market Christmas: from 26 November
The market’s festive season starts on Thursday 26 November, and the headline is the Thursday night markets, which give you the Lock and the Stables after dark with the shopping still open. Normal market hours are 10:00 to 19:00, so a Thursday evening is the time to see it lit up with the stalls still trading. Go early in the season for gifts, and late for atmosphere.
King’s Cross Winter Market: 26 November to 3 January
At the other end of the canal, Granary Square hosts the King’s Cross Winter Market from 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Walk there from Camden along the Regent’s Canal towpath, about 2.5km past the gasholders and Camley Street, and you arrive at the steps above the water. The Word on the Water bookbarge, open midday to 19:00 every day except Christmas Day, sells gift vouchers if you have run out of ideas.
Gigs and nights out
KOKO, December 2026
KOKO on Camden High Street has a packed December, per its listings:
- Friday 4 December: Chris Stassy, Electronic Nights
- Saturday 5 December: DJ Marky and Friends
- Sunday 6 December: Rhiannon Giddens
- Friday 11 December: Lapsley
- Saturday 12 December: Hot Since 82, Electronic Nights
- Thursday 17 December: An Evening with Babyshambles
- Sunday 20 December: Professor Green
- Monday 21 December: BIIRD
- Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 December: Marco Carola, two Boxing Day weekend Electronic Nights
Babyshambles at KOKO the week before Christmas is the Camden ticket of the season. Some December dates were already marked sold out when we checked, so do not wait.
Electric Ballroom: bingo and a Christmas ball
The Electric Ballroom at 184 Camden High Street lists two festive nights on its site: a daytime Bongo’s Bingo Christmas Special on Sunday 6 December, and the Bop-A-Lenas Christmas Ball 2026 on Sunday 20 December.
For families
The Puppet Barge: The Three Little Wolves
Take the canal boat or walk the towpath west to Little Venice, where the Puppet Barge’s Christmas run is The Three Little Wolves, from 28 November to 7 February, recommended for ages 4 to 10, according to puppetbarge.com. For grown-ups, Tina’s Christmas Shindig is on Friday 4 December at 19:30.
London Zoo
London Zoo had not announced a 2026 festive programme when we checked. In its winter season it is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry an hour before closing. Watch its own site; we will update this guide when the dates are confirmed.
Eat and drink
The Colonel Fawcett on Randolph Street dresses the whole pub in tinsel and fairy lights and gives crackers with every Christmas set menu booking, cooked by chef Andy Evans. From December it opens Tuesday to Sunday from midday, takes Monday bookings for groups of 20 or more, and closes on 23 December for a break. Book the Christmas lunch early; it is one of the best rooms in Camden for a group.
New Year’s Eve
When we checked, the big Camden venues had not yet published their 31 December 2026 line-ups. KOKO’s December listings run to its Boxing Day weekend shows, and the Jazz Cafe, the Underworld and the Dublin Castle have all run New Year’s Eve parties in past years. Watch their sites from November; we will add confirmed nights and prices here as they are announced.
A Camden Christmas day out
- Thursday, 15:00: walk the towpath from the Lock to Granary Square for the King’s Cross Winter Market.
- 17:00: back to Camden, on foot along the canal or on the Northern line from King’s Cross.
- 18:00: the Camden Market night market in the Lock and the Stables.
- 20:00: a gig at KOKO or the Electric Ballroom, or dinner and a pint at the Colonel Fawcett.
Primrose Hill is the free extra. The Royal Parks says that in winter you can see Hampstead from the summit, and the protected view over London is free, whatever the weather.
Know before you go
- Thursday is the night: go to Camden Market for the festive night markets.
- Book gigs now: several KOKO December dates were already sold out.
- Closures: the Colonel Fawcett closes from 23 December; the London Canal Museum takes a short break at Christmas; Word on the Water shuts on Christmas Day only.
- Getting home: Camden Town station is very busy on market evenings, so use Chalk Farm or Camden Road.
