Christmas Events for Kids in Portsmouth (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth. The season opens on 18 November with Cosham Carols and Christmas Lights Switch On Party and runs until 3 January with Portsmouth on Ice. One of these is free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in the UK.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Portsmouth and Cosham: 7
  • First: Cosham Carols and Christmas Lights Switch On Party, Cosham, 18 November
  • Free events: Family fun at the museum

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by area, with the date, time, price and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth

Kids’ Christmas events
7 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Portsmouth and Cosham
Season
18 November to 3 January
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth

Listed soonest first: 6 confirmed events in Portsmouth.

Christmas lights switch-on

Southsea Christmas Lights Switch On Party

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Southsea switches on its Christmas lights with a party on Palmerston Road on Thursday 19 November 2026, from 5pm to 7pm. The shopping street is the same one that hosts weekend Love Southsea markets in December.

Check the Rediscover Portsmouth page nearer the date for the programme and stage details.

Parent tip: Plan a short visit, since the party lasts two hours.

Host
Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Palmerston Road, Palmerston Road, Southsea, Portsmouth (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 6 more Portsmouth events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Portsmouth.
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  • Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
  • Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
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Coming up on this page

  • 4 Lights
  • 2 Story time
  • 2 Zoos and museums
  • 1 Shows
  • 1 Free

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Christmas lights switch-on

Portsmouth City Centre Christmas Lights Switch On Party

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Portsmouth's city centre Christmas lights are switched on at a party on Commercial Road on Friday 20 November 2026, from 5pm to 7pm. It is the main switch-on in the city and comes the day after the Southsea one.

The city centre calendar gives the time and place but no price, ages or programme, so check with Rediscover Portsmouth for the line-up. The same calendar lists the Portsmouth Christmas Market on Commercial Road from 20 November to 24 December, 10am to 6pm, which makes this a convenient evening to start the season.

Parent tip: It is an evening event in November, so bring warm layers for children.

Host
Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Commercial Road, Portsmouth (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

Portsmouth on Ice

  • When: 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, daily except Christmas Day
  • Where: Guildhall Square, Portsmouth (opens in maps)
  • Cost: Child (5 to 15) £13.50, adult £15.50, adult plus preschooler £16
  • Ages: Child ticket ages 5 to 15, preschooler tickets available
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Portsmouth on Ice sets up in Guildhall Square from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is closed on Christmas Day. Each skate session lasts one hour. The rink has a clear canopy, so sessions go ahead in any weather.

First session is at 9am daily. The last session starts at 8pm Sunday to Wednesday and 9.15pm Thursday to Saturday. The city centre calendar gives child tickets (ages 5 to 15) at £13.50, adults at £15.50 and an adult with a preschooler at £16. Skate aids cost £6 per item. Family tickets, concessions and season passes are also offered.

Parent tip: Book a session in advance on the rink's own site. A 9am start suits families who want an early slot.

Host
Portsmouth on Ice (opens in a new tab)
Where
Guildhall Square, Portsmouth (opens in maps)
Booking
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Portsmouth on Ice (opens in a new tab)

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Carol concert

A Christmas Carol trail

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The Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum runs an A Christmas Carol trail throughout December 2026. The trail costs £2 per person, or £1 for Leisure Card holders. Museum admission is separate: it is free for residents of postcodes PO1 to PO6 with proof of address, and other visitors pay the normal admission.

Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812. Check the museum's website for opening times first.

Parent tip: Bring proof of address if you live in PO1 to PO6 and want the free admission.

Host
Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (opens in a new tab)
Where
Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, Portsmouth (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas craftsFree

Family fun at the museum

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Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery has free family fun throughout December 2026.

Check the museum's own website for the schedule and ages before you travel, as days and times may differ from week to week.

Parent tip: Check the museum site for the weekly activity times.

Host
Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery (opens in a new tab)
Where
Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery (opens in a new tab)

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Panto or Christmas show

Jack and the Beanstalk (Family Panto)

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The family version of Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Kings Theatre in Southsea from Saturday 5 to Thursday 31 December 2026. There are more than twenty show days, with 10.30am, 2pm and 6.30pm performances on the Saturdays and shorter weekday runs. There are also morning shows around Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Tickets start at £10, and under 16s get £2 off. Family tickets and Babes in Arms places are available through the box office. A BSL performance is on 5 December at 2pm and a relaxed performance is on 12 December at 10.30am. The run time is still to be confirmed, so ask the box office before bringing a very young child.

Parent tip: Weekend morning shows suit younger children best. Ring the box office on 023 9282 8282 about Babes in Arms places.

Host
Kings Theatre Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kings Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 2QJ (opens in maps)
Booking
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kings Theatre Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)

New events in Portsmouth every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Portsmouth every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Christmas events for kids in Cosham

Listed soonest first: 1 confirmed event in Cosham.

Carol concert

Cosham Carols and Christmas Lights Switch On Party

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Cosham, at the northern edge of Portsmouth, holds a carols and lights switch-on party on its High Street on Wednesday 18 November 2026, from 5pm to 7pm. It is the first of the city's three switch-on parties that week.

Expect carols as well as the lights coming on. Check Rediscover Portsmouth before you go for the full programme.

Parent tip: A school-night start at 5pm suits families who come straight from school.

Host
Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Cosham High Street, High Street, Cosham (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Rediscover Portsmouth (opens in a new tab)

New events in Portsmouth every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Portsmouth every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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More Christmas events for kids in the UK

A story for the trip home

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Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth?

For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth, each on its host’s own page: Jack and the Beanstalk (Family Panto), Portsmouth on Ice, Portsmouth City Centre Christmas Lights Switch On Party and 4 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Portsmouth?

Yes. One of the 7 events here is free: Family fun at the museum. Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Portsmouth?

Christmas story times on this page: A Christmas Carol trail and Cosham Carols and Christmas Lights Switch On Party (Cosham).

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 5 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Portsmouth

Portsmouth's Christmas story runs through two theatres and a city centre square. The Kings Theatre in Southsea opened on 30 September 1907, and its family panto is back for December 2026.

A Matcham theatre saved by a local campaign

Portsmouth's panto tradition sits mostly with its two theatres. The Kings Theatre in Southsea opened on 30 September 1907 with Charles the First, starring H. B. Irving. Frank Matcham designed it, and J W Boughton commissioned it in 1904.

Portsmouth City Council bought it in 2001 after a campaign by AKTER. The Kings Theatre Trust has run it since 2003 and has put over £2.25 million into restoring it. The Portsmouth Society named it Best Restored Building in 2008.

Snow White, 22 November and an ice rink with a canopy

The Theatre Royal staged Snow White from Friday 12 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, with tickets from £10. Local children chosen at auditions held earlier in the year played the Magnificent Seven. A signed performance was on Sunday 14 December.

The city's lights went on at a Saturday 22 November switch-on on Commercial Road, 4pm to 6pm, with guests from the Theatre Royal and Kings Theatre pantos. An indoor market ran in the Historic Dockyard boathouses on 29 and 30 November, free to enter. Portsmouth on Ice again filled Guildhall Square, where a clear canopy keeps the rink open in any weather.

A Southsea panto stopped in 2020 and Dickens, born in 1812

The Kings Theatre staged Cinderella in 2015/16 with Anita Harris as the Wicked Stepmother. Its Dick Whittington in 2020 was cut short by lockdown rules. The theatre was shut again from 1 November to 2 December that year.

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, and his birthplace is now a museum. At the Guildhall Square rink, a 2023 Golden Tickets hunt ran from 26 November to 14 December. Santa's Toy Maker Workshop at Spinnaker Tower in 2024 ran 30 November to 24 December, and each child made a cuddly toy with the elves.

Traditions today

  • Jack and the Beanstalk at the Kings: The family panto runs from 5 to 31 December 2026 in Southsea, with tickets from £10 and £2 off for under 16s.
  • Portsmouth on Ice: The Guildhall Square rink opens on 21 November 2026 and closes on 3 January 2027. Sessions last an hour and the rink is covered.
  • Three lights switch-ons in a week: Cosham on 18 November, Southsea on 19 November and the city centre on 20 November 2026, each from 5pm to 7pm.
  • Free family fun at the museum: Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery lists free family activities throughout December 2026.
  • A Christmas Carol trail: The Charles Dickens Birthplace runs a trail through December 2026 for £2 per person.
  • Love Southsea weekend markets: The Palmerston Road markets run each weekend from 5 December until Christmas Day.

A fact for kids

Charles Dickens, who wrote A Christmas Carol, was born in Portsmouth in 1812, and his birthplace is a museum today.

Questions about Christmas in Portsmouth

When does the Jack and the Beanstalk panto run at the Kings Theatre in 2026?

Jack and the Beanstalk plays the Kings Theatre in Southsea from Saturday 5 to Thursday 31 December 2026. Saturdays have 10.30am, 2pm and 6.30pm shows, and Sundays have 12.30pm and 4.30pm shows. Tickets start at £10, and the theatre lists school shows separately on weekday mornings.

How much are tickets for the family panto at the Kings Theatre?

Family panto tickets start at £10. Under 16s get £2 off, members get £3 off, and groups of 20 or more pay from £27 each. Family tickets and Babes in Arms places are available from the box office. The theatre lists a separate adult panto at £37 and over, for 18s and over.

Is there a relaxed or signed panto performance in Southsea in 2026?

Yes. The Kings Theatre lists a BSL performance of Jack and the Beanstalk on 5 December 2026 at 2pm and a relaxed performance on 12 December at 10.30am. Both are part of the family panto run, which has tickets from £10. Ring the box office on 023 9282 8282 to book.

Is the Kings Theatre panto suitable for toddlers?

The run time for the family version of Jack and the Beanstalk is still to be confirmed. Babes in Arms places are available through the box office. Saturday 10.30am shows and Sunday 12.30pm shows are the earlier slots, so ask the box office about very young children.

When does Portsmouth on Ice open for Christmas 2026?

Portsmouth on Ice opens on Saturday 21 November 2026 in Guildhall Square and runs to Sunday 3 January 2027. It is open daily except Christmas Day. Sessions last an hour, and the first session is at 9am. The rink has a clear canopy, so it runs in any weather.

How much does it cost to skate at Portsmouth on Ice?

The 2026 city centre calendar gives child tickets (ages 5 to 15) at £13.50, adults at £15.50 and an adult with a preschooler at £16. Skate aids cost £6 per item. Family tickets, concessions and season passes are also offered, and each session lasts one hour.

What time can children first skate at Portsmouth on Ice?

The first Portsmouth on Ice session each day starts at 9am, and each session lasts one hour. The last session starts at 8pm Sunday to Wednesday and 9.15pm Thursday to Saturday. The rink is covered by a clear canopy and shuts on Christmas Day. Book through the rink's own website.

When are the Christmas lights switched on in Portsmouth in 2026?

Three switch-on parties are listed for 2026, all from 5pm to 7pm. Cosham is on Wednesday 18 November, Southsea on Thursday 19 November on Palmerston Road, and the city centre on Friday 20 November on Commercial Road.

Where can I find a Christmas market in Portsmouth city centre?

The city centre calendar lists the Portsmouth Christmas Market on Commercial Road from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, 10am to 6pm. It also lists a Small Business Saturday taster market on 5 December and Love Southsea markets on Palmerston Road at weekends from 5 December until Christmas Day.

Is there anything free for children at Christmas in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery has free family fun throughout December 2026. For the three lights switch-on parties, check prices with Rediscover Portsmouth. The Small Business Saturday taster market on Commercial Road on 5 December is free to enter.

Which museum has a Christmas trail for families in Portsmouth?

The Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum runs an A Christmas Carol trail throughout December 2026 for £2 per person, or £1 with a Leisure Card. Museum admission is separate and is free for residents of postcodes PO1 to PO6 with proof of address. Dickens was born there on 7 February 1812.

Where was Charles Dickens born, and why does it matter at Christmas?

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, and his birthplace is now a museum. A Christmas Carol was published in 1843, and the museum runs a trail themed on it in December 2026. The trail costs £2 per person and museum admission is extra for most visitors.

What panto did the Theatre Royal Portsmouth put on in 2025?

The Theatre Royal staged Snow White from 12 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, with tickets from £10. Local young performers chosen at auditions played the Magnificent Seven. There was a signed performance on Sunday 14 December 2025 and a relaxed performance in the New Year.

When did the Kings Theatre in Southsea open?

The Kings Theatre opened on 30 September 1907 with Charles the First, starring H. B. Irving. Frank Matcham designed it, and J W Boughton commissioned it in 1904. Portsmouth City Council bought it in 2001.

Who restored the Kings Theatre?

After a campaign by AKTER, Portsmouth City Council bought the Kings Theatre in 2001. The Kings Theatre Trust restored it, has run it since 2003 and has invested over £2.25 million. The Portsmouth Society named it Best Restored Building in 2008. In 2024 the gallery seating was improved and extra toilets were added.

What happened to the Kings Theatre panto in 2020?

The Kings Theatre's Dick Whittington in 2020 was cut short by lockdown restrictions. The theatre was shut again from 1 November to 2 December that year. Its earlier panto Cinderella in 2015/16 starred Anita Harris as the Wicked Stepmother. The theatre is back with Jack and the Beanstalk in December 2026.

When was the Portsmouth Christmas lights switch-on in 2025?

The 2025 city centre switch-on was on Saturday 22 November, 4pm to 6pm, on Commercial Road. It was free to enter and had live music and guests from the Theatre Royal and Kings Theatre pantos. A Christmas market sold gifts, decorations and German sausages, and the Guildhall Square rink was a short walk away.

Where can I spend Christmas Day with kids in Portsmouth?

No family event has been announced for 25 December 2026. Portsmouth on Ice is closed on Christmas Day, and the Kings Theatre panto has no show that day, with performances on 24 December and 27 December. The Love Southsea weekend markets run until Christmas Day, so check the market first.

Besides Jack and the Beanstalk, what else can Portsmouth families do this Christmas?

Besides the Kings Theatre panto, families can skate at Portsmouth on Ice, catch a lights switch-on in Cosham, Southsea or the city centre, or visit free family fun at the museum. The Charles Dickens Birthplace trail costs £2.

What did Spinnaker Tower's Santa workshop offer in 2024?

In 2024 the Santa's Toy Maker Workshop at Spinnaker Tower ran daily from 30 November to 24 December, 9.30am to 4.30pm, at £25 per child. Children made a cuddly toy with Santa's elves, played festive games and visited Santa's grotto, with a hot chocolate and tower admission included. Its 2026 dates have not been announced.

Sources

  1. Kings Theatre Portsmouth: history, Kings Theatre
  2. Charles Dickens' Birthplace, Wightlink
  3. Snow White at Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Visit Portsmouth
  4. Snow White 2025, New Theatre Royal
  5. Portsmouth Christmas Market and Light Switch On, Visit South East England
  6. Jack and the Beanstalk (family panto), Kings Theatre
  7. Portsmouth on Ice, Visit Portsmouth
  8. Christmas in Portsmouth 2026, Rediscover Portsmouth
  9. Portsmouth ice rink returns to Guildhall Square, Portsmouth News
  10. Love Southsea Christmas Market, Visit South East England
  11. Santa's Toy Maker Workshop, Visit South East England
  12. Step Into Christmas, Portsmouth Guildhall
Kelsey Cecil
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