Banbury BID has named 55 traders for its Winter Market, Saturday 28 November 10am to 7pm and Sunday 29 November 10am to 6pm, with fireworks on the Sunday.
Banbury’s Christmas market is the Banbury Winter Market, and this year it runs for two days: Saturday 28 November, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 29 November, 10am to 6pm. It fills the town centre on the same weekend as the Christmas lights switch-on, with fireworks at about 5pm on the Sunday.
The quick answer
- Saturday 28 November, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 29 November, 10am to 6pm, Banbury town centre.
- Free to walk round. The organiser expects more than 10,000 people over the weekend.
- Two days, not three. Last year’s market ran Friday to Sunday. There is no Friday this year.
- 55 traders are named on the BID’s 2026 list. The entertainment line-up is not out yet.
Updated 6 November: Banbury BID published its list of 55 traders for the 2026 Winter Market on 5 November. The entertainment line-up and stage times are still to come.
Dates and hours
The market is organised by Banbury BID, the town centre business group, not by the town council. The BID gave the dates and hours in its call for traders.
| Day | Winter Market | Also on |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 28 November | 10am to 7pm | Live music and entertainment |
| Sunday 29 November | 10am to 6pm | Town council's lights switch-on, 11am to 6pm, fireworks about 5pm |
The BID promises live music and entertainment across both days, 24-hour security and first aid on site.
How it fits with the lights switch-on
The switch-on is a separate event, run by Banbury Town Council in the Market Place with a stage in front of the Town Hall. The council’s event page says the Winter Market runs alongside it and is “organised entirely by the Banbury BID”.
That split explains one oddity. The town council says there are no plans for food and drink stalls at the switch-on itself. The food is at the Winter Market next door. The council also says it will provide no toilets, and that the Castle Quay toilets will be open until at least 4pm.
Full timings for the Sunday are on our Banbury Christmas lights switch-on page.
The 2026 traders
Banbury BID published its list of traders for the 2026 Winter Market on 5 November. It names 55 businesses. Going by their names, the food and drink includes:
- Brockleby’s Pies, Prosmoke BBQ, Gurkha Streetfood, Fantastic Falafel and Nimtoh Korean Fried Chicken
- Happy Herefords (the Raclette Sisters), La Lola, Appletons Catering and Greens Catering
- Divine Doughnuts, Bishops Bakes, Engineer’s Bakehouse and Wychbold Fudge
- Beer from Fingerprint Brewing Co and Fosse Way Brewing Company, and The Coffee Guys
Gift and craft stalls on the list include A Twist in Twine, Grace’s Crochet, Umbrella Crochet, Kalakaar Jewellery, Parkers Jewellery, The Jewellery Box, Popup Cards, Prints by Connor, Suemanda Softies and Creative Cavern Crystals. Tooley’s Boatyard is back, and Banbury United FC and a Guide Dogs charity stall are on the list too. The BID gives business names only, so check the stall on the day for what each one sells.
What last year’s market had
Last year’s market, from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 November 2025, had more than 80 stalls in the Market Place and town centre. The names below are from 2025 and are a guide to the style of market, not a 2026 list.
Food and drink on the BID’s 2025 trader list included:
- Brockleby’s Pies, The Giggly Pig Company hog roast and Appletons Catering’s German sausages
- Happy Herefords raclette, La Lola churros and Poppy’s Pancake Parlour
- Street food from Momo King, Nelly’s Delhi and Kookoo Food
- Mulled wine from Double Decker Bars, and beer from Fingerprint Brewing Co and Tap Social Movement
- Roast chestnuts, and mince pies from the Whately Hall Hotel
Gift stalls sold jewellery, leather goods, needle felted animals, handmade cards and hand-forged metalwork from Tooley’s Boatyard.
The BID’s 2025 entertainment list named Hook Norton Brass Band, the Warriner Choir, the NOA Drummers, Rosewood Highland Dance School, Radio Horton, a stilt walker, face painting and a Nutcracker ballet performance with The Mill.
For traders
The BID is still taking stallholders. Its notice says spaces are limited and offers a full refund of the pitch fee to the best festive dressed stall. It does not publish the pitch fee. Enquiries go to the BID on 01295 277788.
Getting there and parking
Neither event had a road closure order on the county council’s large public events register when we checked.
Council car parks charge on Sundays. Tariffs for every car park are on our parking in Banbury page, and current closures are on Banbury roadworks.
Still to be confirmed
- The 2026 entertainment line-up. The trader list came out on 5 November; last year the entertainment list followed it.
- Stage times for the Sunday.
If you are planning the rest of December, see Banbury pantomime and Christmas shows and where to see Santa in Banbury.
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