Chichester Christmas Markets 2026: Four Dates Now Set

Four Christmas markets around Chichester now have 2026 dates, and the city centre’s own street market does not yet. The biggest is the Weald and Downland Living Museum’s, on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, and it is ticketed. Chichester District Council ran its festive market on North Street and East Street over two December weekends last year; it has not announced this year’s.

The quick answer

• Weald and Downland Living Museum: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm, up to 100 stalls, £20 adults, advance booking essential.
• West Dean College: Friday 27 November, 2pm to 8pm, and Saturday 28 November, 9am to 6pm, £12.50, pre-booked time slots.
• Fishbourne Roman Palace: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am to 4pm, £5 adults, children free.
• The Novium Museum: indoor market Sunday 13 December, 10am to 2pm, free.

Checked on 25 September 2026; West Dean added and the switch-on date confirmed on 3 October.

Updated 3 October: West Dean has published its Christmas market for 27 and 28 November, and the city’s lights switch-on is confirmed for Saturday 21 November, the Weald and Downland market’s first day.

Christmas markets with 2026 dates

Weald and Downland Living Museum, 21 and 22 November

Up to 100 festive stalls, seasonal food and drink and entertainment across the open-air museum. It is ticketed and advance booking is essential: adults £20, children aged 5 to 17 £10, under-5s free, and disabled visitors £10 with one carer free. Museum members do not get in free but receive 10% off with a code.

Getting there matters here. The museum says parking will be at Goodwood Racecourse, with a free park-and-ride bus to the museum through the day, and only limited Blue Badge parking on site. It also names the Route 60 bus from Chichester or Midhurst. No dogs except assistance dogs, even though the museum is normally dog friendly.

Note the clash. Chichester BID has confirmed the city’s Christmas lights switch-on for 5pm on Saturday 21 November, the market’s first day. The market closes at 4pm and the lights go on an hour later, so it is possible to do both; see our switch-on page.

West Dean College, 27 and 28 November

West Dean’s market fills the house’s estate rooms and front lawn with makers, food stands, live music and carol singing. It runs on Friday 27 November, 2pm to 8pm, and Saturday 28 November, 9am to 6pm, and tickets are £12.50. Entry is by pre-booked time slot; West Dean says a limited number of tickets will be sold on the day, and Gardens members can buy on the day at £9.50. Two-hour craft taster sessions, with market entry included, are booked separately.

Enter through West Dean Gardens, not the main road. The market is a five to ten minute walk from the car park, and the number 60 bus stops outside the gardens entrance. Dogs on leads are welcome outside, assistance dogs only inside the house. Card is preferred, though some stalls take cash only.

One trap: the heading on West Dean’s own market page says “28 November to 29 November 2026”. The opening times on the same page, and the ticketed taster sessions in its box office, are Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November. There is no Sunday market.

Fishbourne Roman Palace, 5 and 6 December

Stalls from local makers, artists and community groups, a programme of local bands and choirs (act times “confirmed closer to the day”), and the Raven-Tor living history group showing winter celebrations from the Stone Age to a wartime Christmas. Adults £5, children free; members of the Sussex Archaeological Society free. Tickets are not refundable.

The Novium Museum, 13 December

An indoor market of local artists and craftspeople, free to enter along with the museum itself. The museum also runs a free festive “gonk trail” through December.

The city centre festive market: not announced yet

Chichester District Council organised last year’s street market. From its release of 17 November 2025:

• Where: North Street and East Street.
• When: Saturday 6, Sunday 7, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December 2025.
• Hours: Saturdays 9am to 5pm, Sundays 10am to 4pm.
• Stalls: homewares, cheeses, gin and liqueurs, honey mead, chocolate, jewellery, plants, artwork and handmade crafts.

Wind has disrupted the market two years running. The council cancelled the Saturday 6 December 2025 market the day before, because high winds would make the gazebos unstable; Sunday went ahead. In 2024, when an outside operator ran a longer market with around 50 stalls, its opening weekend of 7 and 8 December was postponed to Monday 9 December for forecast high winds. If a market day looks windy, check the council’s news page that morning.

The 2025 market sat alongside the council’s Priory Park programme, a panto at The Guildhall, and a lights installation on the Cathedral Bell Tower. The panto is now on sale for 12 to 22 December; the council says the rest of its programme follows in early November.

Late shopping by candlelight

The Weald and Downland Living Museum holds a Carols by Candlelight evening on Thursday 10 December, 5pm to 8pm, with the museum shop open late. Adults £10, children £5. Details on the event page.

Parking for the markets

Last December the council gave a third hour free on weekends through MiPermit in most of its car parks, and free Sunday parking at Avenue de Chartres. The 2026 offer is not announced. Details on our Christmas travel page and our parking in Chichester guide.

Still to be confirmed

• Chichester District Council’s 2026 festive market dates (announced 17 November last year).
• Stallholders and act times for Fishbourne.
• Any Chichester BID food and drink market alongside the switch-on on 21 November.