Christmas and New Year 2026
There’s something for everyone at The Bridgewater Hall this Christmas, with festive films accompanied by live orchestra, traditional carols, family favourites and unforgettable seasonal nights out.
Christmas at the movies begins with Home Alone in Concert (2 and 3 December 2026), featuring John Williams’s much-loved score performed live alongside the complete film. The Muppets bring their unmistakable warmth and humour to Dickens’s classic tale in Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert (7 and 17 December 2026), while The Holiday in Concert returns for two performances with its enchanting score played by a full concert orchestra (9 and 11 December 2026). Love Actually in Concert completes the line-up of festive film favourites (15 December 2026).
The Hallé offers Christmas music for audiences of all ages. Its traditional performance of Handel’s Messiah returns on 5 December 2026, followed by Raymond Briggs’s timeless The Snowman on the big screen with live orchestral accompaniment (6 December 2026). Families can also embark on A Festive World Adventure at the Hallé’s Christmas Family Concert (13 December 2026).
Later in the month, the Hallé’s Christmas Cracker brings together seasonal favourites, orchestral showpieces and festive fun (18 December 2026). The orchestra’s much-loved Carol Concerts follow on 19 and 20 December, filling the Hall with traditional carols and the glorious sound of the Hallé Choir.
There are plenty of great festive nights out too. Kate Rusby returns with her acclaimed band and Brass Boys for an evening of traditional carols, original songs and Yorkshire Christmas cheer (8 December 2026). Rebecca Ferguson presents The Hits at Christmas (12 December 2026), while James B Partridge’s The Big Christmas Assembly promises a nostalgic singalong inspired by school assemblies, nativity plays and childhood Christmases (16 December 2026).
As Christmas Day draws closer, The Rat Pack at Christmas brings the glamour of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr to the Hall (21 December 2026). Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins follows with an uplifting afternoon of seasonal music (22 December 2026), before the Christmas Carol Singalong invites the whole audience to raise their voices in a joyful celebration led by Jonathan Cohen and West End star Louise Dearman (23 December 2026).
The music continues between Christmas and New Year with The Music of Zimmer vs Williams (27 December), The Glenn Miller Orchestra (28 December), the Hallé’s The Name’s Bond, James Bond (29 December) and How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert (30 December).
Finally, see out 2026 in spectacular style with New Year’s Eve: Simply The Best, celebrating the powerhouse hits of Tina Turner with a live orchestra, sensational singers and a midnight countdown.
We hope you can join us for a magical season of music, film and festive celebration.