Between Thursday 12th November and Monday 21st 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.
Tuesday Rest Day
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.
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.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport, said:
Police Advice on Vehicle Access
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 10.30 am and 7.30 pm while the Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) is in force.
During the Tuesday Christmas Market rest days, usual footstreet hours will apply (10.30 am to 5 pm) and the Goodramgate, King's Square, Colliergate loop will be open and in operation for Blue Badge holders (excluding Church Street).
All of the important information people need about this year's arrangements can be found online at the council website. We're writing to affected residents, businesses and Blue Badge holders so that they can plan ahead of the festive period.
Councillor Ravilious said:
On Police advice, these rules on restricted vehicle access will apply every Christmas Market day from 10.30 am until 7.30 pm. As the Christmas market closes at 7 pm, the Police has recommended that the footstreet hours be extended to 7.30 pm to enable visitors to the market to disperse before vehicles are allowed back into the city centre. The restrictions will end on 22nd 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
