Christmas in Leith 2026
Bringing our community together for a magical Christmas filled with sparkling lights, festive cheer and unforgettable memories.
Bringing our community together for a magical Christmas filled with sparkling lights, festive cheer and unforgettable memories.
Join us as Leith lights up for Christmas 2026! Bring your family and friends for an evening of festive entertainment, community spirit and the big Christmas moment.
Help us make this year's Christmas celebration one to remember.
Various business in and around Leith Walk will be opening late to celebrate the festive season and the Christmas Tree light switch-on.
Great Junction Street - Edinburgh Community Book Shop, Leith Bottle Shop.
New Kirkgate Shopping Centre - Superdrug, Boots, Poundshop, CEX, Peacocks (until 6).
Constitution Street - Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store & Studios.
Foot of Leith Walk - PekoeTea; Logan & Malloch; Argonaut Books, Ancient Robot Games; All Together Edinburgh.
Further up the Walk - Sebs Urban Jungle café; Leith Makers (also open late on Friday 4th); Lounge 33 café & vinyl; Weigh to Go; Leith Polis Box; Emma Hall Hair.
There is a lot going on – if you know where to look! This list is just a first draft, it will be updated. Please let us know if you would like your Christmas event included in the list as it grows. Email:Christmas@leithfestival.com
1 November onwards – Winter Coat Exchange– Leith Collective at Ocean Terminal – Donate any warm and waterproof coats and jackets and the Leith Collective will distribute these free of charge to anyone in need.
Sunday 15 November - Light Up Leith Window Design Workshop - free workshop to give you ideas and practical tips, so you can join the Light Up Leith Advent windows project and illuminate your window. No previous experience or skills necessary, materials provided. 2pm - 4:00pm Leith Community Centre (café area). Please let Light Up Leith organiser Hannah Paylor know if you are planning to come
Email: LeithLightUp@gmail.com
27th November - 7th December – Leith Creative Trail 2026 - an opportunity to discover the vibrant creative spaces of Leith. This is a week-long event including 20 Leith venues, and covering an exciting range of: makers markets, open studios, workshops, popup shops, talks, exhibitions, showcasing the work of local creatives. Find out more at this link.
1st December – 24 December - Light Up Leith Advent Windows – new decorated, illuminated windows will open up each day of Advent, all around Leith. These are created by the community itself - local home-owners in flats and houses, and by schools and centres and businesses, all around Leith. Very uplifting. You can get a ‘map’ and walk around to view participating windows, night by night. Would you like to take part?
Email: LeithLightUp@gmail.com to register and get ‘your’ date, and hints and tips for how to decorate.
Thursday 3rd December – Santa Claus will be at the Utilita Hub in the Kirkgate 11am-2pm – all kids welcome, a FREE visit to Santa’s grotto. Find out more at this link.
Thursday 3rd December -The Great Leith Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On at the Kirkgate, foot of Leith Walk. Come along to be part of Leith’s community Christmas, newly resuscitated after dark years of no tree, no lights, tramworks, Covid etc.! It will be fun! Famous kilted comedian Craig Hill will switch on the Lights and provide some comedy Christmas chat, Hibs legend John Yogi Hughes will and be available for autographs, selfies etc. There will be a lovely Christmas carol singalong led by pupils of Hermitage Park Primary School. You will be excited by the rhythms of Pulse of the Place samba band, and stirring tunes from Port of Leith Pipe Band (not both at once…) The wearing of a Santa hat is not compulsory!
You can volunteer as a steward if you’d like to help? Email:Christmas@leithfestival.com
Thursday 3rd December - Late Night Shopping from 5:30pm. A number of independent businesses near the Kirkgate and up Leith Walk will open late, for your pleasure and convenience. Pop in and stock up on Christmas gifts or whatever Christmas cheer is on offer. Most participating businesses plan to open until about 7:30 or 8pm. So far – Logan & Malloch; Pekoe Tea; Good Vibes Neighbourhood Store & Studios; All Together; Sebs Urban Jungle café; Leith Makers (also open late on Friday 4th); Weigh to Go; Leith Polis Box; Lounge 33 café & vinyl; Emma Hall Hair – maybe more to come. Do you run a business nearby? Will you join in, and open late too on 3rd December?
Email:Christmas@leithfestival.com
1 – 8th December – BigGive Christmas Challenge – every charitable donation made to Home-Start Edinburgh during this period will be doubled by match funding - so twice the impact for local families needing support. Find out more at this link.
Friday-Sunday 4-6th December – Leith Makers (105 Leith Walk) Open Studio Weekend - a creative celebration, part of Leith Creative trail. Find out more at this link.
4-24 December – Santa’s Grotto at Ocean Terminal (£6.50)
Saturday 5th December, 10am-4pm – Winter Craft Market at Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street. Find out more at this link.
Tuesday 8th December and 15th December - Watch out for the Aye Notes walking band who will play at the Leith Polis Box at 5pm
Friday, 11 December 12pm- 4pm - Traditional Christmas at Trinity House, 99 Kirkgate - A free festive drop-in event - holiday activities for all ages, including drop-in crafts and the chance to handle real and replica maritime objects. Find out more at this link
Saturday 5th, 12th and 19th December 2-4pm - Music (and more) at the Kirkgate Christmas tree. Various local artistes will play short sets to pep up your Christmas shopping trip – these are mostly still to be arranged. Are you a performer? This could be your big chance!
19th December 2:30pm – Woodwind and brass players from the No Strings Attached band will perform Christmas tunes. Other Saturday ‘performance slots’ (approx. 30 minutes) are free so far. Do you want to volunteer? You will need to bring your own equipment.
Email:Christmas@leithfestival.com
Other Events will be added as we receive more details
For example -
Cables Wynd House Residents Group are organising a free clothing and toys giveaway for people who may need warm clothes or presents for loved ones that they just can’t afford.
Hibs Community Foundation will be putting on their usual community meals throughout December and a special Christmas Day Lunch for 500 (free, but you have to register to attend)