Christmas 2026: Festive Fun for Families in Newcastle

Pantomimes & Festive Theatre

Pantos are as much a part of Christmas as mince pies and bad jumpers, and Tyne Theatre & Opera House has a firm favourite this year – Aladdin. This much-loved story is jam-packed with song and dance, boasting an incredibly talented cast with the likes of local panto legends Charlie Richmond and Lewis Denny. X Factor runner-up and West End star Marcus Collins will even be bringing some magic to the stage as the Genie of the Lamp! A signed and audio-described performance is on Sunday 13^th December at 4pm, and a relaxed and signed performance is on Saturday 2^nd January at 11am.

Next up, Theatre Royal is sprouting into life for Jack and the Beanstalk, playing right up until January! Seasoned panto pros Clive Webb, Chris Hayward and Joe McElderry will be taking to the stage this year for a glitzy production with plenty of excitement and old-school panto innuendo! There’s captioned and BSL performance on Thursday 10^th December, as well as relaxed performances on Sunday 6^th December and Wednesday 6^th January.

That’s not all! If pantomimes aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Down at Utilita Arena, catch Disney On Ice Presents Discover the Magic – a spectacular blend of theatre, ice skating and music with Mickey Mouse and all his pals.

Live Theatre also has a hilariously fun show Where Do All The Kittiwakes Go At Christmas? that families definitely won’t want to miss out on. Brought to life with some bright ideas from local schoolchildren, this festive tale is hosted by two kittiwakes and takes audiences around the world on an adventure to meet some feathery friends.

For shorter performances, there’s four different shows to catch at the Rockin’ Reindeer stage in the returning Christmas Village, but if you’re after a more traditional Christmas tale, then get those tickets booked for Dickens by Candlelight at Alderman Fenwick’s House – ideal for families with older kids aged around twelve and up.

And how could we forget the fact that not one, but two family-friendly festivities will be taking over Northern Stage this year?! The Christmas Sorting Office invites little ones on an adventure to help Remi organise letters to Santa, with music, silliness and plenty of chances to join in. Meanwhile, their retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson classic fable, The Snow Queen transports audiences to Stifle, where Gerda embarks on an epic adventure to rescue Kai!

Meet Santa

As usual, Santa is defying space, time and logic by appearing in several places at once… but we’ll let you explain that one to your kids!

Following the huge success of its debut in 2024, Santa Stories is returning to the Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square this festive season. This immersive storytelling experience promises to entertain the young – and the young at heart! – with regular sessions across weekends in November and December, so make sure you’ve got your space booked ASAP.

Of course, Santa will be paying plenty of other places a visit too – there’ll be Santa’s Good List Experience at the Royal Station Hotel, and a Santa Sunday Lunch at The Vermont Hotel too. For something a little different, families can even join Father Christmas in the skies with The Santa Experience at Life Science Centre! They’ll take to the sleigh inside the planetarium, before visiting the big guy’s home for a meet-and-greet too.

Wondering where else you can meet Saint Nick? Catch up on our article Where to Meet Santa in Newcastle this Christmas.

Festive Films

Tyneside Cinema always does something special for Christmas, and this year they’re screening a whole host of family-friendly Christmas classics – from Elf and The Nightmare Before Christmas, to double bills of The Snowman and The Gruffalo. There’ll also be special screenings of Arthur Christmas and The Polar Express, where little ones will receive a card or golden ticket before the screening, enjoying a delicious hot chocolate at the cinema, and a chance to meet Santa and receive a gift too.

Image: Popcorn and Coffee / Photo by Jill Wellington via Pixabay / Free to use under the Pixabay Content Licence

Returning for 2026, Festive Flix at Old Eldon Square’s Christmas Village will be making movie nights magical with screenings of Home Alone, The Grinch, and much more. Grab some sweet treats, settle in underneath the twinkling lights, and enjoy!

And of course, don’t forget to check out Everyman and Cineworld cinemas too for updates on their seasonal screenings.

Christmas Crafts

There’s plenty of opportunities to get crafty as a family this festive season, and Blackfriars has a pretty sweet one coming up! Their gingerbread house making workshops are sweet enough for everyone to enjoy, and offer aspiring chefs the chance to decorate their very own gingerbread house to take home.

Image: People Decorating Gingerbread / Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio via Pexels / Free to use under the Pexels Licence

Christmas 2026 also sees the return of Mrs Claus Bakery inside the Christmas Village at Old Eldon Square! Led by Santa’s friendly elves – and Mrs Claus, of course! – children will enjoy a hands-on decorating session that’s jam-packed with festive fun. There’ll even be the chance to make some magical fairy dust in Santa’s enchanted mixing bowl too!

After even more crafty classes? We’ve got you covered! Read up on our round up of fantastic Christmas craft and cookery classes happening in the city this festive season.

Outdoor Festive Fun

Skating at the ice rink at Life Science Centre is a Christmas institution, whether you’re a pirouetting wonder or a total klutz! The rink will be in place from Saturday 7^h November until Sunday 3^rd January and is open from 10am ‘til late. Booking is essential, and there’s relaxed skating sessions and opportunities to book as a group too. Putting a spin on skating, there’s also the chance to enjoy sessions set to just ABBA tunes and Olivia Dean favourites!

The Northern Lights trail in Leazes Park is set to be another festive treat - a state-of-the-art combination of lights, projections, music and more wending its way through one of Newcastle’s most popular green spaces. There will be refreshments and rides and a Christmas village so families can make a real evening of it. Running from Friday 20^th  November to Wednesday 31^st December, there’ll also be time slots to accommodate neurodivergent customers on Wednesday 2^nd and Wednesday 9^th December for the whole evening, with a lower level of noise and capacity reduced by 75%.

Of course, the festive season wouldn’t be complete without the Christmas Lights switch on, which takes place this year on Thursday 12^th November. The lights go hand-in-hand with Newcastle’s Christmas Market which will run from Thursday 19^th  November to Wednesday 23^rd December on Grey Street, Grey's Monument, Nelson Street, Grainger Street, and Old Eldon Square. Alpine pop-up bar Moosenwirt will also be back to keep your cockles warmed with cosy fire pits and hot chocolates - kids are allowed to enter up until 8pm too.

Need a break away from the crowds? This year, Grey’s Monument will once again be transformed into The North Pole! Book one of their luxurious heated igloos to enjoy a drink or two from The North Pole Festive Hütte, some grub from the nearby Christmas Markets and take in the twinkling lights and gorgeous views of the city - it's ideal for a unique festive family experience.

Geordies love Christmas and from the middle of November right through to the big day, there’s a non-stop stream of special events and activities for the whole family to enjoy – from Christmas craft workshops and festive films to skating and market shopping! So grab the kids and a mulled wine and make the most of what a Newcastle Christmas has to offer and if you're after even more festive fun, don’t forget to visit www.newcastleschristmas.com – your one stop shop to make this Christmas unforgettable!

Main Image: The ice rink at Life Science Centre