CravnnBelfast Christmas Market and lights switch-on 2026: dates, tickets and a date plan
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What is happening in Belfast on 14 November
Saturday 14 November 2026 is the start of Belfast's Christmas season in the city centre. Two things happen on the same day: the Christmas lights are switched on outside City Hall in the evening, and the Belfast Christmas Market opens at City Hall at noon.
Both are run around City Hall, so you can plan one day around them. This page sets out what Belfast City Council says about each, so you can work out what to do and who to go with.
Details change, so before you travel, check the council's own pages linked below. We checked them on 11 November 2026.
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The two events at a glance
| Event | When | Where | Tickets and price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Lights Switch-on | Sat 14 Nov 2026, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, gates open 6pm | Outside Belfast City Hall, Donegall Square North and Donegall Place | Free, ticketed. Council says all tickets are now allocated |
| Belfast Christmas Market | Opens 12 noon on Sat 14 Nov 2026, runs to 22 Dec 2026 | City Hall. Entrance on Donegall Square West, exit on Donegall Square East | Council page does not state a price or ticket details |
Source: Belfast City Council event and Christmas lights pages, and Discover Northern Ireland, all read on 11 November 2026. Check the pages for updates.
Switch-on tickets are allocated. The council says all tickets for the lights switch-on are now allocated, including for young children. If you do not already have one, plan to enjoy the market instead. Accessible viewing platform tickets, two per booking, are available in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre or on 028 9024 6609.
Official pages to check
- Christmas Lights Switch-on City Hall, BelfastOfficial site
Belfast City Council event page
- Christmas lights and market opening City Hall, BelfastOfficial site
Belfast City Council page
- Christmas events in Northern Ireland Northern IrelandOfficial site
Discover Northern Ireland listing
How to make it a good night out with someone new
A Christmas market is a good setting for meeting new people. There is always something to look at, somewhere to hold a hot drink and a reason to move on if the chat dries up. That takes the pressure off a first meeting, whether it is a date or a friend-of-a-friend.
Go earlier in the day if you can. Evenings fill up fast, especially in the first days, and a crowded market is a hard place for a conversation. The market opens at noon on 14 November, and a weekday visit later in the season will be quieter.
Agree a meeting point outside the busiest area. City Hall is a landmark, but the gates will be busy. Pick a street corner or a shop nearby, and share your location with a friend or with the person you are meeting.
Plan the end before you start. A cafe or pub close to Donegall Square gives you somewhere to sit and warm up afterwards, so the evening has a natural second half.
A simple plan for a market date
- Check the council page for the latest opening details before you travel.
- Meet at a quiet spot near City Hall and agree roughly how long you will stay.
- Walk through the market once, pick one thing each to try and compare.
- Finish with a hot drink at a cafe or a pub close by.
Cafes in Belfast for a warm-up afterwards
Cafés and coffee
Place names come from map data contributors. Opening times and quality vary, so check before you go.
Go with someone who wants to be there
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Keep going
- Belfast City Council: Christmas Lights Switch-on (checked 11 November 2026)
- Belfast City Council: Christmas lights and market opening (checked 11 November 2026)
- Discover Northern Ireland: Christmas events in Northern Ireland (checked 11 November 2026)
- Wikimedia Commons (image credits shown on the page) (checked 11 November 2026)
- Map data contributors (ODbL)
Questions
When is the Belfast Christmas lights switch-on 2026?
Saturday 14 November 2026, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, outside Belfast City Hall. Gates open at 6pm. It is free but every attendee needs a ticket, and the council says all tickets are now allocated.
When does Belfast Christmas Market open in 2026?
The council says the market opens at noon on Saturday 14 November 2026. Discover Northern Ireland lists it as running from 14 November to 22 December 2026. Check the council page for opening hours and any changes.
Where is the Belfast Christmas Market?
At City Hall in Donegall Square. The council says the entrance gate is on Donegall Square West and the exit gate is on Donegall Square East.
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