Westminster Abbey Christmas services for 2026 will be free to attend, but the most popular need a ticket, with bookings opening on Monday 16 November and Wednesday 18 November at 9.30am and 2.30pm through the Abbey's Advent and Christmas page. The season begins with An Advent Liturgy in the Abbey on Sunday 29 November at 4pm, followed by a second Advent Liturgy at St Margaret's Church on Sunday 13 December at 6pm, which does not require booking. The Service of Lessons and Carols takes place on 23 and 24 December at 6pm, the First Eucharist of Christmas, known as Midnight Mass, starts at 11pm on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day the Abbey holds Holy Communion at 8am, a Sung Eucharist at 10.30am and Evensong at 3pm. Each applicant may book up to two tickets, and tickets cannot be exchanged between services, as the Westminster newsroom of The WP Times reports.
The Abbey's Christmas season is one of the highlights of the year in Westminster, drawing worshippers, residents and visitors from around the world. Demand for carol services usually far exceeds the space available, so planning ahead is essential. Bookings are made through Eventbrite, where a waiting list holds up to ten people for each service and those notified have eight hours to reserve a ticket. A separate family day of Christmas crafts and carols on Saturday 5 December has its own tickets, released on Friday 13 November. Beyond the Abbey, Westminster's other churches, including Westminster Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields and St Margaret's Church, hold carol services and concerts throughout December, and the Abbey hosts a performance of Handel's Messiah on Friday 27 November, with tickets priced from £17.28 to £65.34. This guide sets out dates, times and how to book, as well as practical advice for visitors.
Contents
Westminster Abbey Christmas services: the dates
The table lists the Advent and Christmas services for 2026, with booking requirements.
Advent and Christmas 2026
| Service | Date and time | Location | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Advent Liturgy | Sunday 29 November, 4pm to 5pm | Westminster Abbey | required |
| An Advent Liturgy | Sunday 13 December, 6pm to 7pm | St Margaret's Church | not required |
| Service of Lessons and Carols | 23 and 24 December, 6pm to 7pm | Westminster Abbey | required |
| First Eucharist of Christmas | Thursday 24 December, 11pm to 12.30am | Westminster Abbey | required |
| Christmas Day Holy Communion | Friday 25 December, 8am to 8.40am | Westminster Abbey | not required |
| Christmas Day Sung Eucharist | Friday 25 December, 10.30am to 11.30am | Westminster Abbey | required |
| Christmas Day Evensong | Friday 25 December, 3pm to 4pm | Westminster Abbey | not required |
Concerts and family events
- Handel's Messiah: Friday 27 November, 7pm to 9.30pm, tickets £17.28 to £65.34.
- Family day with Christmas crafts and carols: Saturday 5 December, tickets released on Friday 13 November.
How to get tickets for Westminster Abbey Christmas services
Tickets are free but limited, and the Abbey uses Eventbrite to manage bookings.
"You may book up to two (2) tickets per booking application."
(Westminster Abbey, Advent and Christmas frequently asked questions)
Booking steps
- Check the Advent and Christmas page on the Westminster Abbey website before release dates.
- Tickets are released on Monday 16 November and Wednesday 18 November at 9.30am and 2.30pm.
- Each application can book up to two tickets, and large group applications may be cancelled.
- If a service is full, join the waiting list, which holds up to ten people.
- If notified, you have eight hours to reserve your ticket.
Cancelling
Tickets cannot be exchanged for another service. Anyone who can no longer attend should cancel through Eventbrite so the place can be offered to someone on the waiting list.
Services without tickets
Several Westminster Abbey Christmas services do not require booking, and the Abbey holds regular daily worship throughout Advent.
Walk-in services
- The Advent Liturgy at St Margaret's Church on 13 December.
- Holy Communion at 8am on Christmas Day.
- Evensong at 3pm on Christmas Day.
- Daily services such as Evensong, Morning Prayer and Holy Communion, listed on the Abbey's service calendar.
Access needs
Visitors with access needs are asked to contact the Abbey's Special Events team by email in advance to discuss arrangements.
Christmas in Westminster
The Abbey sits at the heart of a borough that becomes London's busiest destination in December.
Other festive events nearby
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Covent Garden lights and markets | from 12 November |
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | 19 November to 3 January |
| Bond Street lights | from 12 November |
Travel tips
Westminster and St James's Park are the nearest stations to the Abbey. On Christmas Day there is no Tube or bus service in London, so anyone attending services on 25 December needs to walk, cycle, drive or use a taxi. Our guide to London Christmas lights 2026 covers festive routes in the West End.
Westminster Abbey Christmas services: questions and answers
Are Westminster Abbey Christmas services free
Yes, all Advent and Christmas services are free, although some need a ticket.
When are tickets released
Monday 16 November and Wednesday 18 November 2026, at 9.30am and 2.30pm.
How many tickets can I book
Up to two tickets per booking application.
When is the carol service
The Service of Lessons and Carols is on 23 and 24 December at 6pm.
Can I attend on Christmas Day without a ticket
Yes, Holy Communion at 8am and Evensong at 3pm do not require booking.
Background: Christmas at the Abbey
Westminster Abbey has been a place of daily worship for more than a thousand years and is the coronation church of the monarchy. Its choir, made up of boy choristers and adult lay vicars, sings at the main Christmas services.
For more on events in Westminster, read our guides to Remembrance Sunday 2026 and Winter Wonderland 2026.
Sources used: Westminster Abbey, Eventbrite, Time Out London, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Transport for London
