Christmas Shows, Carols & Concerts in Kent 2026

From candlelit carols beneath the arches of Canterbury and Rochester cathedrals to family ballets, festive musicals and feel-good Christmas concerts, there’s a show for everyone in Kent this Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a first trip to the theatre for little ones, a traditional carol service or a big night out singing along to festive hits, our guide brings together the best Christmas shows, carols and concerts at major and local venues across the county.

We’ve highlighted six See Kent picks across the county. Below, we’ve listed everything in date order under Christmas Shows, Carols and also Christmas Concerts, to help you plan your festive season. Popular dates sell out fast, so book early, and click through to each listing → for full dates, times and prices.

Last updated: 28th October 2026

CHRISTMAS SHOWS IN KENT 2026

🎭 The Nutcracker | Assembly Hall Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: Saturday 14th Nov 2026, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Start the festive season early with Imperial Classical Ballet’s Nutcracker, danced to Tchaikovsky’s score played live by an orchestra of more than 30 musicians. Adults £49, under 16s £29.
👉 Full The Nutcracker at Assembly Hall Theatre details →

🎭 A Christmas Carol | Trinity Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: 24th to 28th Nov 2026
🎁 Highlights: The Three Inch Fools blend illusion, live music and spine-tingling storytelling in a ghostly new take on Dickens’ classic. Ages 8+. Adults £27, children £24.
👉 Full A Christmas Carol at Trinity Theatre details →

🎭 There’s a Monster in Your Christmas Show | Gulbenkian 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: 3rd to 12th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: Tom Fletcher’s Who’s in Your Book? series leaps from page to stage, as Little Monster and his friends bring comedy and chaos to a 55-minute festive musical for ages 3+. £17.50, under 16s £15.50, including booking fee.
👉 Full There’s a Monster in Your Christmas Show details →

🎭 The Reluctant Dragon | The Marlowe 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: 5th Dec 2026 to 3rd Jan 2027
🎁 Highlights: A brand-new one-hour family musical in the Marlowe Studio, about a fairytale-obsessed child who discovers a friendly, poetry-loving dragon in a nearby cave. A perfect first show for young children. £18.
👉 Full The Reluctant Dragon details →

🎭 Elf The Musical | Trinity Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: 11th to 27th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: Trinity Theatre Productions brings Buddy the Elf’s festive adventure from the North Pole to New York to the stage, with catchy songs and a full company of local performers. Ages 6+.
👉 Full Elf The Musical details →

🎭 Keepers of the Christmas Magic | St George’s Arts Centre 📍 Where: Gravesend
🗓️ When: 12th to 24th Dec 2026 (selected dates)
🎁 Highlights: Become a Very Important Elf on a VIP tour of the Old Tinsel Factory in this new immersive promenade show, and make your own Christmas Wish Bauble. Ages 4+, and adults need a ticket too.
👉 Full Keepers of the Christmas Magic details →

🎭 The Nutcracker | Gulbenkian 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Sunday 13th Dec 2026, 1pm and 3pm
🎁 Highlights: Let’s All Dance Ballet Company’s sparkling family Nutcracker, about an hour long, with a chance to have your photo taken with the dancers on stage after the show. From £16.50.
👉 Full The Nutcracker at Gulbenkian details →

🎭 The Ho Ho Ho Jolly Christmas Show | The Woodville 📍 Where: Gravesend
🗓️ When: 14th & 15th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: Help Jolly the Head Elf get Santa’s workshop ready for Christmas Eve in this festive show for ages 3 to 8, full of puppetry, magic and snow.
👉 Full The Ho Ho Ho Jolly Christmas Show details →

🎭 Baby Broadway Christmas | The Mick Jagger Centre 📍 Where: Dartford
🗓️ When: Saturday 19th Dec 2026, 11.15am
🎁 Highlights: Sing and dance along to festive show tunes from Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman and Frozen with West End singers, plus bubbles, bells and puppetry. 1 adult and 1 child £15.
👉 Full Baby Broadway Christmas in Dartford details →

🎭 A Christmas Carol | Quarterhouse 📍 Where: Folkestone
🗓️ When: 19th to 24th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: Folkestone’s own Smoking Apples bring Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the Christmas spirits to life with spellbinding puppetry. Recommended for ages 4+. Standard £16.50, child £15, family £54, plus booking fees.
👉 Full A Christmas Carol at Quarterhouse details →

🎭 Baby Broadway Christmas | Trinity Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: Monday 21st Dec 2026, 11.30am and 2pm
🎁 Highlights: A 45-minute interactive Christmas concert of seasonal show tunes for all ages, with festive fancy dress encouraged. Adults £14, children £6, and babies under 12 months go free on a lap.
👉 Full Baby Broadway Christmas at Trinity Theatre details →

🎭 The Nutcracker | Trinity Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: 2nd & 3rd Jan 2027
🎁 Highlights: Round off the festive season with Let’s All Dance Ballet Company’s family Nutcracker, with the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jumping Jack and photos with the dancers after every show. Adults £20, children £16.
👉 Full The Nutcracker at Trinity Theatre details →

CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN KENT 2026

🕯️ Christmas Carols & Concerts | Canterbury Cathedral 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: 21st Nov to 24th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: The Advent Carol Service, the family Festival of Carols and the Cathedral Carol Services on the 23rd and 24th of December, plus Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight and candlelit Christmas concerts. Carol services are free.
👉 Full Christmas at Canterbury Cathedral details →

🕯️ Carols at Candlelight | Canterbury Cathedral 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Monday 30th Nov 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Sing along to traditional carols with the Canterbury Cathedral Choir and violinist Matthew English, in aid of Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. Tickets £20 and £25.
👉 Full Carols at Candlelight details →

🕯️ Christmas Carol Concerts | Rochester Cathedral 📍 Where: Rochester
🗓️ When: 4th to 24th Dec 2026
🎁 Highlights: The Cathedral Choir’s Christmas Carol Concerts on the 12th and 13th of December (from £10), a KSS Air Ambulance carol concert on the 4th, and free Nine Lessons & Carols and Christmas Eve services.
👉 Full Christmas at Rochester Cathedral details →

🕯️ Dartford’s Carol Concert | Acacia Sports Hall car park 📍 Where: Dartford
🗓️ When: Wednesday 9th Dec 2026, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Sing along with Dartford Concert Band, Tilly Pantlin and Fleet2 Signing Choir, with hot chocolate handed out to get everyone in the festive spirit. Free.
👉 Full Dartford’s Carol Concert details →

🕯️ Carols by Candlelight | The Friars 📍 Where: Aylesford, Maidstone
🗓️ When: 10th to 12th Dec 2026, 7.15pm
🎁 Highlights: Traditional carols with a brass band in the candlelit Relic Chapel, with mince pies afterwards in the 13th-century Pilgrims’ Hall. £9, under 10s free. Currently sold out.
👉 Full Carols by Candlelight at The Friars details →

🕯️ Celebration of Christmas | Canterbury Cathedral 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Monday 14th Dec 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Demelza’s 22nd candlelit evening of carols and festive readings, with the Canterbury Cathedral Choir, guest choirs and celebrity readers. Tickets £11 to £26.
👉 Full Celebration of Christmas details →

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS IN KENT 2026

🎶 Rhythm of the Dance Christmas Special | Leas Cliff Hall 📍 Where: Folkestone
🗓️ When: Sunday 15th Nov 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Festive favourites with an Irish touch, performed live by world-class musicians, star vocalists and world-champion dancers. From £36.16.
👉 Full Rhythm of the Dance Christmas Special details →

🎶 Step Into Christmas | Assembly Hall Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: Monday 23rd Nov 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Kick off the season with a feel-good Christmas concert of festive classics, a sensational live band and dazzling festive visuals. From £36.25.
👉 Full Step Into Christmas in Tunbridge Wells details →

🎶 Christmas Memories | Leas Cliff Hall 📍 Where: Folkestone
🗓️ When: Tuesday 24th Nov 2026, 2.30pm
🎁 Highlights: An afternoon of more than 60 Christmas songs and carols to sing along to, with dazzling costumes and even falling snow. From £22.23.
👉 Full Christmas Memories details →

🎶 That’ll Be Christmas | Assembly Hall Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: Thursday 26th Nov 2026, 7pm
🎁 Highlights: The longest running touring theatre Christmas show returns with a brand-new version, full of singalong hits, comedy and heartwarming moments. From £29.
👉 Full That’ll Be Christmas details →

🎶 Step Into Christmas | The Woodville 📍 Where: Gravesend
🗓️ When: Thursday 26th Nov 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: The feel-good Christmas concert spectacular comes to Gravesend, with all your favourite Christmas classics and a sensational live band.
👉 Full Step Into Christmas in Gravesend details →

🎶 Philharmonia Brass at Christmas | The Marlowe 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Monday 7th Dec 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: A firm Canterbury tradition, as the brass players of the Philharmonia Orchestra play carols, Christmas No. 1s and seasonal classics. £19 to £63.
👉 Full Philharmonia Brass at Christmas details →

🎶 Step Into Christmas | Leas Cliff Hall 📍 Where: Folkestone
🗓️ When: Thursday 10th Dec 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Sing along to festive anthems and heartwarming ballads with a sensational live band at this Christmas concert spectacular. From £32.24.
👉 Full Step Into Christmas in Folkestone details →

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🎶 Dartford Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert | The Mick Jagger Centre 📍 Where: Dartford
🗓️ When: Saturday 12th Dec 2026, 7pm
🎁 Highlights: Sleigh Ride, White Christmas, The Skaters’ Waltz and a Toy Symphony, with the Sutton at Hone Primary School Choir. £5.42 to £18.43.
👉 Full Dartford Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert details →

🎶 The Unthanks In Winter | Colyer-Fergusson Hall 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Saturday 12th Dec 2026, 2.30pm and 8pm
🎁 Highlights: The folk favourites return after a sell-out 2025 with their heart-warming Christmas show of reimagined carols, wassails and winter stories. £36.50, students and under 25s £16.50.
👉 Full The Unthanks In Winter details →

🎶 Songs of the Solstice | Trinity Theatre 📍 Where: Tunbridge Wells
🗓️ When: Tuesday 15th Dec 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Richard Durrant and his band celebrate a British Isles Midwinter with early music, folk, classical and seasonal songs. £25.
👉 Full Songs of the Solstice details →

🎶 Albion Christmas Band | Gulbenkian 📍 Where: Canterbury
🗓️ When: Saturday 19th Dec 2026, 7.30pm
🎁 Highlights: Seasonal songs, carols and storytelling with warmth and humour, as the folk band marks its 27th year of touring. £27.50, students and under 25s £14.25.
👉 Full Albion Christmas Band details →

🎶 The Magic of Christmas | The Mick Jagger Centre 📍 Where: Dartford
🗓️ When: Saturday 19th Dec 2026, 7pm
🎁 Highlights: The Belvedere Concert Band returns after a sell-out 2025 with festive favourites, classical pieces and stage and screen hits, joined by vocalist Natasha Kissane. Adults £15, children £8.
👉 Full The Magic of Christmas details →

Picture Credit: © Wen Jian at unsplash.com

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