Canterbury Cathedral celebrates Advent and Christmas with carol services and candlelit concerts beneath its soaring medieval arches. From the Advent Carol Service and the family Festival of Carols to Handel's Messiah by Candlelight and the much-loved Cathedral Carol Services on the 23rd and 24th of December, there's festive music for everyone at the mother church of the Anglican Communion.

Carol Services
Advent Carol Service: Sunday 29th November 2026, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Festival of Carols (family service): Sunday 13th December 2026, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Festive Sing-Along (new for 2026): Saturday 19th December 2026, 12pm to 1pm
Cathedral Carol Services: Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th December 2026, 5.30pm to 7pm (doors open 4.30pm)

Concerts
Handel's Messiah by Candlelight: Saturday 21st November 2026, 7.30pm (booked through the Canterbury Festival)
Lumos Classical Candlelight Christmas Experience: Friday 18th December 2026, 7.30pm
Lumos Christmas Candlelight Classical Concert with Camilla Kerslake: Saturday 19th December 2026, 7.30pm
End times for the concerts are TBC - provisional on our calendar.

Price
Carol services: Free, with a retiring collection
Handel's Messiah by Candlelight: £25, plus a £2 booking fee
Lumos concerts: £40 to £90, plus booking fees

Good To Know
The Cathedral Carol Services on the 23rd and 24th of December are un-ticketed and first come, first served, so expect queues.

Additional Information
Many of the services are also livestreamed. Please check the Cathedral's website for booking details for each event, as these vary.

Canterbury Cathedral Visiting Details
See our Canterbury Cathedral listing for information including parking, accessibility and more.

⭐ Find out more: Click on the Website link above to go directly to Canterbury Cathedral's Christmas page. ⭐

🔗 More Like This
Looking for more festive shows, carols and concerts? Explore our Christmas Shows, Carols & Concerts in Kent guide and our Pantomimes in Kent guide, or our Seasonal category for more Christmas event listings, or visit our Christmas in Kent page for links to all our festive guides.

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