Visit Bournemouth has confirmed that the Bournemouth Christmas Market and the Christmas Tree Wonderland will return for the 2026 festive season, with organisers announcing the plans on 6 February 2026 to give local businesses and hotels long-term certainty ahead of the holiday period.
The event will be managed by Seventa Events and SKATE Bournemouth under a five‑year contract with BCP Council; the partnership will operate as the Bournemouth Christmas Company. Residents and visitors can expect to see the Alpine Lodge bar, an ice rink and festive stalls centred on Bournemouth Square and in the Lower Gardens, with additional illuminations and trail elements across the town.
Trader applications were opened in 2025 and organisers say they are prioritising Dorset-based suppliers, with final selections due to begin in early 2026 to ensure strong local representation.
BCP Council data underline the economic importance of the attractions: a January 2025 council update reported 5.68 million visits to Bournemouth town centre and the Christmas Tree Wonderland during the seven-week festive period (part of nearly 13 million visits across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole), a year-on-year increase organisers say provides a vital boost to the winter economy and to local shops, hotels and hospitality businesses.
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