# Christmas Markets in Essex 2026

> 7 Christmas markets in Essex with their 2026 dates, the days they are closed, entry cost and a map, each checked against the organiser's own page.

Source: https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/essex/

7 Christmas markets in Essex, 6 with 2026 dates confirmed by their organisers. The first to open is Essex County Christmas Fair at Boreham House, on Friday 13 November; the last to close is 'Keep' Christmastide Market, on Sunday 20 December 2026.

**None open this weekend** (17 and 18 October 2026). Next to open: [Essex County Christmas Fair at Boreham House](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/boreham-house/), on Friday 13 November 2026.

## 2026 Dates, in the Order They Open

| Market | Dates | Days Closed | Entry |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Essex County Christmas Fair at Boreham House](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/boreham-house/) Boreham | 13 to 15 Nov 2026 | Open every day of its run | Ticket |
| [Saffron Walden Indoor Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/saffron-walden/) Saffron Walden | 20 Nov to 5 Dec 2026 | Open Fridays and Saturdays only. Closed on Fri 27 Nov, Sat 28 Nov | Free |
| [Light Up Maldon](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/maldon/) Maldon | 26 Nov 2026 | One day only | Free |
| [Billericay Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/billericay/) Billericay | 6 Dec 2026 | One day only |  |
| [Colchester Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/colchester/) Colchester | 6 Dec 2026 | One day only | Free |
| ['Keep' Christmastide Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/hedingham-castle/) Castle Hedingham, near Halstead | 18 to 20 Dec 2026 | Open every day of its run | Free |

## Dates Not Yet Announced

- [Chelmsford Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/chelmsford/)

## Questions About Christmas Markets in Essex

### Which is the biggest Christmas market in Essex?

Going by how many people in the UK search for each one, it is [Colchester Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/colchester/) (6 Dec 2026), followed by [Chelmsford Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/chelmsford/).

### When do Christmas markets in Essex start in 2026?

The first is [Essex County Christmas Fair at Boreham House](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/boreham-house/), which opens on Friday 13 November 2026. The last to close is ['Keep' Christmastide Market](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/hedingham-castle/), on Sunday 20 December 2026.

### Which Christmas markets in Essex charge for entry?

[Essex County Christmas Fair at Boreham House](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/boreham-house/) needs a ticket or paid entry. Each market's page gives the price where the organiser has published it.

## Just Outside Essex

[Bishop's Stortford Christmas Fayre  Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire  5 Dec 2026  11 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/bishops-stortford/) [Suffolk County Christmas Fair at Hintlesham Hall  Hintlesham, Suffolk  20 to 22 Nov 2026  13 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/hintlesham-hall/) [Mill Road Winter Fair  Cambridge, Cambridgeshire  5 Dec 2026  13 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/mill-road-winter-fair/) [Gravesend Christmas Market  Gravesend, Kent  12 to 13 Dec 2026  13 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/gravesend/) [Christmas in Cambridge  Cambridge, Cambridgeshire  13 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027  13 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/cambridge/) [Ipswich Town Hall Christmas Fayre  Ipswich, Suffolk  21 to 22 Nov 2026  16 miles from the nearest market here](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/markets/ipswich/)

More in [East of England](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/regions/east-of-england/): [Bedfordshire](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/bedfordshire/), [Cambridgeshire](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/cambridgeshire/), [Hertfordshire](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/hertfordshire/), [Norfolk](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/norfolk/), [Suffolk](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/areas/suffolk/). Or [find the markets nearest your postcode](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/#finder). [How we check dates](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/how-we-check/).