York Minster's Christmas Tree Festival runs 28 November to 5 January, free for York residents. Carol service tickets, concert prices and Christmas Day times.
York Minster has published its whole Christmas 2026 programme. The Christmas Tree Festival fills the cathedral with 100 decorated trees from Saturday 28 November to Tuesday 5 January 2027, and entry is included in a sightseeing ticket, which is free for York residents with proof of address. The big carol services are free too, but most need a ticket, and each has its own booking day.
The quick answer
- Tree Festival: 28 November to 5 January, free with a sightseeing ticket (adults £20; York residents and under-18s with a paying adult free).
- Free carol tickets: Nine Lessons and Carols on 23 December opens for booking on Tuesday 8 December at 10am; the Christmas Eve service on Thursday 10 December.
- No ticket needed for the family Crib Service at 11.30am on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass at 11.30pm, or the Christmas Day services.
The Christmas Tree Festival
The festival opens on Saturday 28 November at 10am with a lights switch-on at Minster Mash-Up, the Minster’s free 45-minute service for children and families; no booking is needed and families can come and go. The 100 trees stand in the Nave, North Transept, Chapter House and Lady Chapel, each decorated to its own theme by local businesses, schools and charities, and visitors can write a message on the prayer trees. The trees may have flashing lights (York Minster, Christmas Tree Festival; lights switch-on).
It runs during sightseeing hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 4pm, Sunday 12.45pm to 2.30pm (York Minster, plan your visit).
| Sightseeing ticket | Minster only | Minster and Central Tower |
|---|---|---|
| Adult or senior | £20 | £26 |
| Student (not studying in York) | £16 | £22 |
| Child | Free with a paying adult (17 and under, up to four) | £6 (ages 8 to 17) |
| York resident or York student | Free with proof of address |
Tickets last a year. Proof of address can be a driving licence, a utility bill, a YorkCard or a student ID.
Carol services and worship
All free. Where tickets are needed, book online or on 01904 557200; a few seats are released to people queueing if ticket holders do not arrive (York Minster, Christmas events).
| Date | Service | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 28 Nov | Minster Mash-Up: lights switch-on | 10am | None needed |
| Sat 28 Nov | First Advent Procession | 5.30pm | Free, bookable from 10am Tue 10 Nov |
| Mon 14 Dec | Sankta Lucia: Festival of Light | 7pm | Free, bookable from 10am Tue 1 Dec |
| Wed 23 Dec | Nine Lessons and Carols, with BSL | 4pm | Free, bookable from 10am Tue 8 Dec |
| Thu 24 Dec | Crib Service for families | 11.30am, doors 10.30am | None needed |
| Thu 24 Dec | Nine Lessons and Carols, livestreamed | 4pm | Free, bookable from 10am Thu 10 Dec |
| Thu 24 Dec | Midnight Mass | 11.30pm, doors 10.30pm | None needed |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day services | 8am to 5.15pm | None needed |
On Christmas Day there is Choral Matins at 10am, the Sung Eucharist at 11am, at which the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, will preach, and Choral Evensong at 4pm (York Minster, Christmas Day). The Second Advent Procession is on Sunday 29 November.
What it means for you: the two Nine Lessons and Carols services are the only big ticketed ones in Christmas week. Put 10am on Tuesday 8 December (for 23 December) or Thursday 10 December (for Christmas Eve) in your diary.
Concerts
| Date | Concert | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 3 and Fri 4 Dec | Christmas Carol Concerts, Choir of York Minster, readings by Ian Kelsey | 7pm | £15 to £40 |
| Sat 5 Dec | The Nutcracker, on the Grand Organ with puppets, for families | 7pm | £6 to £12 |
| Sat 12 Dec | Grimethorpe Colliery Band Christmas Concert | 7.30pm | £15 to £35 |
| Wed 16 Dec | Christmas Hits by Candlelight, Alistair Griffin and the Ebor Quartet | 7.30pm | £30 to £55 |
| Sat 19 Dec | Carols by Candlelight, the Chapter House Choir | 7.30pm | £7.50 to £25 |
Sources: the Minster’s own listings for the carol concerts, Nutcracker, Grimethorpe, Christmas Hits by Candlelight and Carols by Candlelight.
Around the Minster
The York Christmas Market runs from 12 November to 21 December, closed on Tuesdays. The nearest car parks to the Minster are Monk Bar, Union Terrace and Bootham Row; prices are on our parking in York page. For trains and buses over the holiday, see York Christmas trains and travel, and for families, our Santa in York page.
Still to confirm
- Sightseeing hours on the days around Christmas, shown day by day on the Minster’s visit calendar nearer the time.
- Whether the Minster adds further Christmas events; we will add them here.
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