29/10/2026
ICYMI: Christmas in Dundee 2026!☃️
Dundee is the place to be for festive fun this Christmas season! Events include...
🎅 Dundee Santa Dash 2026 (November 15, 10am) – A fun run (4K) around the city centre, with participants dressed in Santa outfits. A warm-up session led by Active Dundee coaches will take place before the run.
🎄Dundee Christmas Switch-On 2026 (November 15, 10am-7pm) – City Square will be filled with festive fun throughout the day, with funfair rides, activities and street performers, including the return of the Grinch, The Show Globe, Acrobatic Elves, The Candy Cane Fairy and Nutcracker Prince stiltwalkers and more.
The Giant Snowglobe will wow crowds with spectacular acrobatic performances, while a Snow Globe Photobooth will provide the perfect backdrop for festive photos. Street traders, market stalls and a Christmas craft tent will add to the seasonal atmosphere, offering plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Live music, hosted by Tay FM’s Gregor and Lynsey, will take centre stage during the second half of the day, with performances from Downfield Musical Society, Thomson-Leng Musical Society, Dundee Rep Theatre, Rock the Halls and more, building excitement ahead of the big switch-on moment.
Up-and-coming Scottish boy band Just The Brave Official will headline the celebrations, while a spectacular family-friendly drone display by FlightShows will light up the sky, adding an exciting new highlight to Dundee’s Christmas Switch-On celebrations.
🏴 Dundee Hooley 2026(November 29, 3-7:30pm) – Taking place at Meadowside, the fifth Dundee Hooley will return with a dragon theme. The main stage will feature performances from Ceol Dun Deagh, Dundee Gaelic Choir, Gleadhraich, Tayside Young Fiddlers, Cask Strength Ceilidh Band will lead traditional Scottish dancing to close the event.
The community stage will showcase Highland dancers, fire performers, local dance troupes, choirs and groups, filling Dundee’s evening with colour and song. Funfair rides, food and drink will also be available.
Street entertainment will include PyroCeltica and its fire-breathing dragon, Brimstone the Dragon, Skeleton Crew, a Dragon and Fairy walkabout, and giant Caribbean puppets by Bridgeman Arts.
The torchlit parade will take place at 5.30pm, starting and finishing at the High School of Dundee playground, with street theatre bringing the Legend of the Dundee Dragon to life as the finale to the parade. Details about taking part in the parade and lantern-making workshops will be shared soon.
🎡 Dundee Christmas In The Square (November 27-December 30) - Run by Hornes Pleasure Fairs, with Christmas market, festive food & drink and Family unfair. Open 11am-8pm Monday to Thursday, and Friday to Sunday, 10am-9pm
♻️ UNESCO City of Design Christmas Trees (from November 11) – Three new Christmas tree designs, created by artists Infinite Sky, Louise Kirby and Lauren Herd, will be on display alongside designs from previous years, next to Dundee’s living Christmas tree and the Dundee sign at the City Churches. With sustainability in mind, each design uses reused or recycled materials, incorporating multiples of a particular object or material.
Dundee’s Christmas offering also includes many different markets, community and traditional Christian faith events. Further information about Christmas in Dundee can be found on https://www.dundee.com/
Find out the full programme at: bit.ly/ChristmasinDundee2026
