What's on in Cardiff: November and December 2026

November 2026

Ongoing until 4 April 2027: Ffasiwn

23 May 2026 to 4 April 2027 | Photography exhibition | National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park | Pay what you can, minimum £1; members free; check exhibition tickets and museum opening days.

Discover a long-running collaboration between photographers Clementine Schneidermann and Charlotte James and young people in the south Wales Valleys. Fashion, portraiture and performance become ways for participants to shape their own stories and challenge familiar representations of their communities.

11 November: Worn Stories creative writing workshop

Wednesday 11 November, 2pm to 4pm | Writing workshop, ages 16+ | National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park | Standard £10; concessions and members £7; students £5; booking required.

Writer Rosie Findlay explores how clothing connects with memory, identity and relationships. Bring or wear a meaningful garment, or a photograph of one, as a writing prompt. Materials can be provided and the session welcomes different levels of writing experience.

From 12 November: Cardiff Christmas Market

Thursday 12 November to Wednesday 23 December | Crafts, gifts and seasonal food | St John Street, Working Street, Trinity Street and Hills Street | Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm; Sundays 10am to 5pm; December Thursdays until 7pm.

Craft*folk brings independent makers into the city centre, with jewellery, ceramics, textiles, artwork and food. Exhibitors change across the run, so the organiser's trader list is useful if you want to catch a particular maker or browse something different on a return visit.

From 12 November: Cardiff's Winter Wonderland

Thursday 12 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 | Skating and festive attractions | Cardiff Castle grounds and City Hall Lawn | Free site entry; activities charged; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day; hours vary.

Skating, the Ice Walk and curling are centred at the castle, while City Hall Lawn hosts fairground rides and the Giant Wheel. Ice skating requires advance online booking; other attractions operate separately. Check the appropriate site's daily hours before choosing your visit.

From 19 November: Christmas at Bute Park

Thursday 19 November to Thursday 31 December | Outdoor light trail | Bute Park, Cardiff | Timed tickets required; peak and off-peak prices vary; entry slots from 4.15pm.

The Spirit of Christmas follows a mile-long route through illuminated installations and music, with a seasonal village for food and drink. The 2026 theme groups the experience into four worlds: Magic, Wonder, Hope and Joy. Select an actual operating date and entry time when booking.

28 November onwards: Festive Music at the Museum

28 November; 5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 19 and 20 December | Live seasonal music | Main Hall, National Museum Cardiff | Free; no advance ticket needed; performance times vary.

Local choirs, brass players and orchestral musicians perform in the decorated hall. Most dates offer sets at 11.30am and 1pm; the museum choir sings on 17 December from 1pm to 2pm and Capital Youth Music performs on 20 December from 2pm to 3pm. Seating is limited.

December 2026

From 5 December: Beauty and the Beast

Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 | Family pantomime | New Theatre Cardiff, Park Place | Select a performance for current times and ticket prices.

The New Theatre's festive production turns the familiar fairytale into a family pantomime, with comedy and audience participation. It offers a theatre outing alongside Cardiff's outdoor attractions; use the venue's booking page to choose seats and check any access requirements.

8 December: Behind the Scenes: Medieval Pottery in Wales

Tuesday 8 December, noon or 2pm | Curator-led collection tour, ages 12+ | National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park | £8 per person; around one hour; booking required.

Join curator Sian Iles to examine medieval pots and discover what they reveal about daily life. The tour follows the objects from their original manufacture to their place in the national collection. Meet at the Main Hall ticketing desk; the tour is in English.

13 December: Miracle on 34th Street at the Museum

Sunday 13 December, 2pm or 7pm; doors thirty minutes before | Film screening, certificate U | Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre, National Museum Cardiff | Standard £12; concessions £10; each person needs a ticket.

Watch the 1947 Christmas film in a vintage cinema setting, with Kitsch & Sync Collective's performing usherettes and a short film before the feature. The film is captioned in English; the whole experience lasts around two hours, including a fifteen-minute interval. Children attend with a ticket-holding adult.