Mulled wine season is upon us, East Midlanders. Marvellous!

Across the East Midlands, town squares, stately homes and city centres are preparing to fill up with wooden chalets, fairy lights, questionable quantities of festive cheese and enough hot chocolate to see us comfortably through until January.

And you don’t have to head off to Birmingham, Manchester or one of those suspiciously picturesque German cities to get your Christmas market fix.

From the huge festive takeover of Nottingham’s Old Market Square to Christmas shopping inside Lincoln Cathedral, here are some of the East Midlands Christmas markets worth sticking in the diary for 2026.

🎄 Nottingham Winter Wonderland

Where: Old Market Square, Nottingham
When: November 12 to December 24

Nottingham Winter Wonderland returns to Old Market Square on Thursday, November 12, with its Christmas market running until Christmas Eve.

This is less “small festive market” and more “Nottingham has temporarily turned its city centre into Christmas”.

Alongside independent market stalls, visitors can expect the Sky Skate ice rink, observation wheel, toboggan slide, Ice Bar and alpine-style Sur La Piste and Altitude bars. Entry to wander around the market is free, although several of the attractions are ticketed.

The stalls finish on December 24, while some of the wider Winter Wonderland attractions continue until New Year’s Eve, with the site closed on Christmas Day.

Best for: Making an entire evening of it.

🏰 Chatsworth Christmas Market

Where: Chatsworth, near Bakewell, Derbyshire
When: November 7 to December 13

If your idea of Christmas requires somewhere that looks as though it belongs on an enormous tin of posh biscuits, Chatsworth Christmas Market is difficult to beat.

The 2026 market is already under way, running from November 7 until December 13, with makers, food and drink alongside the Derbyshire estate. Parking needs to be pre-booked.

With the house and surrounding Peak District scenery thrown into the equation, this is probably one of the region’s strongest options for turning Christmas shopping into a full day out.

Best for: Peak Christmas-card scenery.

🎁 Bakewell Christmas Market Weekend

Where: Bakewell, Derbyshire
When: November 14 and 15

Bakewell gets in on the action too, with its Christmas Market Weekend taking place over November 14 and 15.

More than 100 stalls are expected alongside festive food and drink, street performers and music from brass and silver bands and choirs.

And, obviously, you’ll be in Bakewell.

This feels like an entirely reasonable excuse to add a tart to the Christmas shopping budget.

Best for: A proper Peak District festive day out.

✨ Leicester Christmas Market

Where: Gallowtree Gate and High Street, Leicester
When: November 12 to December 27

Leicester Christmas Market is set to bring wooden chalets back to the city centre, with the published 2026 dates running from November 12 until December 27.

Expect gifts, artisan crafts, chocolate, fudge, winter clothing and food as stalls stretch through the central shopping streets.

There’s plenty going on beyond the market too, with Christmas attractions planned across High Street and Gallowgate, including a big wheel and funfair.

Best for: Combining Christmas shopping with a full city-centre day out.

⛪ Lincoln Cathedral Christmas Market

Where: Lincoln Cathedral
When: December 3 to 5

Here’s one that’s particularly interesting this year.

Lincoln’s huge traditional city Christmas market is not back for 2026, but the city hasn’t abandoned Christmas markets altogether.

Instead, Lincoln Cathedral Christmas Market will take place from December 3 to 5, with a traditional market set inside the cathedral and its historic grounds.

There’ll be festive gifts, food and seasonal treats, with special twilight-shopping sessions on the Thursday and Friday evenings.

Unlike many of the markets on this list, you’ll need a ticket, with timed sessions in operation and advance booking strongly advised. Some Saturday sessions have already sold out.

Frankly, Christmas shopping beneath one of Europe’s great medieval cathedrals is going to take some beating for atmosphere.

Best for: The wow factor.

🥂 Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market

Where: Haddon Hall, near Bakewell
When: November 11 to December 20, Wednesdays to Sundays

Derbyshire is frankly being greedy with the picturesque Christmas markets.

The Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market runs on Wednesdays to Sundays from November 11 through to December 20, with timed sessions at the historic estate.

The emphasis here is on makers, food and drink rather than fairground attractions, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for presents that don’t involve panic-buying a gift set three days before Christmas.

Best for: Independent gifts and a more atmospheric market.

🎅 Chesterfield Christmas Market

Where: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
When: November 20 to 22

Chesterfield Christmas Market is scheduled for a three-day run from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22.

The market will feature independent traders, artisan makers, craft producers, festive food and live entertainment. Sunday’s programme will run alongside the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, which is also expected to include traditional fairground rides.

Best for: Combining the market with the lights switch-on.

🎄 Boston Christmas Festival

Where: Boston, Lincolnshire
When: November 27 to 29

Lincolnshire’s festive offering isn’t confined to the cathedral city.

Boston Christmas Festival takes place from November 27 to 29, bringing local craft, food and gift stalls to the town centre and Market Place. Plans also include a children’s funfair, live music, festive lighting, the Illuminate Parade and Boston’s Got Christmas Talent

Best for: A Lincolnshire Christmas trip beyond Lincoln itself.

🛍️ Melton Mowbray Christmas Market

Where: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
When: November 27 to 29

Melton Mowbray Christmas Market is also scheduled for the final weekend of November, running from November 27 to 29.

That gives Leicestershire another option outside the big city market and makes Melton an appealing festive day trip, particularly if food features heavily in your definition of Christmas. Which, frankly, it should.

Best for: Foodies looking for a festive day trip.

🏛️ Burghley Christmas Fair

Where: Burghley House, Stamford
When: November 26 to 29

Another ridiculously handsome backdrop comes courtesy of Burghley Christmas Fair, scheduled for November 26 to 29.

The event takes place at Burghley House and features makers alongside food and drink. Entry operates through pre-booked timed-arrival tickets.

Best for: Stately-home Christmas vibes.

🎁 A few more to stick in the diary

There are plenty of smaller markets happening around the region too.

Around Nottinghamshire and the surrounding area, there’s a Yuletide Night Market at Sneinton Market on November 28 and December 12, Newstead Abbey Christmas Craft and Gift Fairs at weekends from November 28 to December 20, and Thoresby Park Winterfest from November 27 to 29.

Derby also has The West Mill Christmas Market at Darley Abbey which is planned for December 13.

Matlock Victorian Christmas Market also returns to Hall Leys Park from December 4 to 6.

So, which one?

If you want the big Christmas night out, Nottingham looks like the obvious choice.

For scenery, we’d be heading for Chatsworth, Bakewell or Burghley.

For something a little different this year, Lincoln Cathedral is probably the most intriguing.

And for anyone who wants to spend December wandering around pretty East Midlands towns while eating things covered in cinnamon and/or melted cheese, frankly, do the lot.

Dates and arrangements can change, so check with the individual organiser before travelling.