Ripon Cathedral's Nine Lessons and Carols is 23 and 24 December at 5.30pm; the first tickets have gone. Royal Hall Christmas concerts 12 and 19 Dec, from £15.

The biggest carol service in the Harrogate district is Ripon Cathedral’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, and two months out the first release of tickets has already sold out. It runs twice, on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December at 5.30pm. In Harrogate itself, the two big Christmas concerts are at the Royal Hall on Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 December. Harrogate’s parish churches have not yet published their 2026 Christmas services. Everything below comes from the organisers’ own pages, read on 20 October 2026.

The quick answer

  • Ripon Cathedral Nine Lessons and Carols: Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December, 5.30pm. The first tickets have gone; the cathedral says more will be released soon, and there will be a limited number of walk-in places each day.
  • Christmas Eve is live-streamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel, if you cannot get in.
  • For children: Journey to Bethlehem, a family service, Christmas Eve at 11am at Ripon Cathedral. Come dressed as a Nativity character.
  • Royal Hall, Harrogate: The Harrogate Christmas Concert on Saturday 12 December at 6pm (from £15, children 11 and under free) and Fanfare for Christmas on Saturday 19 December at 6pm (from £20, under-16s £5).
  • Harrogate churches: no 2026 Christmas service times yet. This page will be updated when they are published.
Date Event Where Tickets
Fri 4 Dec, 7.30pm Rat Pack: A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight Ripon Cathedral Via the cathedral
Sat 5 Dec, 7.30pm G4 Christmas Ripon Cathedral Via the cathedral
Mon 7 Dec, 7.30pm Macmillan Carol Concert by Candlelight Ripon Cathedral Via the cathedral
Sat 12 Dec, 6pm The Harrogate Christmas Concert Royal Hall £15 to £60
Sat 19 Dec, 6pm Fanfare for Christmas Royal Hall £20 to £60
Sun 20 Dec, 5.30pm Christmas Carol Concert, cathedral choir and St Cecilia Orchestra Ripon Cathedral Via the cathedral
Wed 23 Dec, 5.30pm Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Ripon Cathedral First release sold out
Thu 24 Dec, 11am Journey to Bethlehem family service Ripon Cathedral No booking listed
Thu 24 Dec, 5.30pm Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve Ripon Cathedral First release sold out; live-streamed

Nine Lessons and Carols, 23 and 24 December

Ripon Cathedral tells the Christmas story in readings and music from its choir at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, held on Wednesday 23 December and again on Christmas Eve. Both start at 5.30pm and run to about 7pm.

The cathedral’s own wording on tickets, on both pages: “The first release of tickets has now sold out. More tickets will be released soon, so keep an eye on our website and social media. There will also be a limited number of walk-in places available each day.”

  • Doors open at 4pm, and everyone needs to be seated by 5.10pm. If you are hoping for a walk-in place, those times are the ones that matter.
  • Christmas Eve is streamed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel.
  • Parking: the nearest is the St Marygate and Cathedral car park, by Sainsbury’s. Disabled parking on site is limited and must be booked by ringing the Chapter House on 01765 602072.
  • Access needs: contact the Cathedral Office on 01765 603462.

Christmas Eve at Ripon Cathedral

Journey to Bethlehem is a family service at 11am to 12pm on Thursday 24 December. The cathedral describes it as “fun and interactive”, with much-loved carols and the Nativity story acted out. Children can come dressed as a Nativity character, “or anything else that takes your fancy”, and there are refreshments afterwards.

The cathedral has not yet listed its 2026 Midnight Mass or Christmas Day services. We will add them when it does.

Christmas Carol Concert, Sunday 20 December

The Christmas Carol Concert pairs Ripon Cathedral Choir with the St Cecilia Orchestra, led by the cathedral’s Director of Music, Dr Ronny Krippner. The cathedral says it sold out in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

  • When: Sunday 20 December, 5.30pm, finishing by 7.30pm. Doors usually open at 4.45pm, and there is no access before then because of rehearsals.
  • What: movements from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio first, then lighter seasonal pieces and carols for the audience to sing (“have your Christmas hat ready”).
  • Tickets: booked online or at the cathedral shop; no phone reservations. Your confirmation email is your ticket. Child tickets (under 16) are bought with adult tickets. Tickets cannot be refunded, but you can pass them on.
  • Parking: several public car parks are a walk away, including St Marygate and Victoria Grove, according to the cathedral.

Christmas concerts at Ripon Cathedral

Three touring and charity concerts come to the cathedral in early December. Prices are set by each promoter’s booking page, not the cathedral’s listing.

  • Rat Pack: A Swingin’ Christmas by Candlelight, Friday 4 December, 7.30pm to 10pm. Christmas standards and Sinatra-era showstoppers by candlelight.
  • G4 Christmas, Saturday 5 December, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The vocal group’s Christmas tour of carols, classical pieces and festive hits. Meet and greet tickets, with a drink and photographs, are at 6pm.
  • Macmillan Carol Concert by Candlelight, Monday 7 December, 7.30pm to 10pm. All proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support. Queries go to macmillanconcert@gmail.com.

The Royal Hall, Harrogate

Both of Harrogate’s big Christmas concerts are at the Royal Hall on Ripon Road, HG1 2SY, booked through Harrogate Theatre (01423 502116). The Royal Hall takes card and contactless payments only.

The Harrogate Christmas Concert, Saturday 12 December, 6pm, about two hours 15 minutes. Harrogate Symphony Orchestra with more than 235 children from local primary schools, “plus a special guest appearance”, in aid of Saint Michael’s Hospice. Tickets £15 to £60; students half price, and children aged 11 and under go free with an adult.

Fanfare for Christmas, Saturday 19 December, 6pm, about two and a half hours. The Brighouse and Rastrick Band with singers from Harrogate Gilbert and Sullivan Society, playing Christmas music “including carols for all to sing”. Tickets £20 to £60, with under-16s and students £5. The top price is for a two-seat box, which may have a restricted view.

For parking near the Royal Hall and the Convention Centre, see our Harrogate parking page, and check our roadworks page before you set off.

Harrogate church carol services

None of Harrogate’s main parish churches had published its 2026 Christmas services when we checked on 20 October. St Peter’s, in the town centre, has no 2026 Christmas page yet. We will add them here, with times, as they appear.

Ripon’s outdoor carols in the Market Square are listed in our Ripon Christmas market story. For everything else on in December, see our Christmas markets page, the pantomime and the monthly What’s On listings.

Sources