Festival dates and location
Location: Cathedral Cloisters, Durham Cathedral
Festival dates: Friday 4 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027
The festival will be open during normal Cathedral opening hours and will form part of the Cathedral’s entry by donation offer.
We warmly invite businesses, schools, charities, social enterprises and community groups from across Durham and the North East to take part by decorating a tree and helping to create a joyful and welcoming festive experience for all who visit.
The festival will celebrate creativity, community and hope during the winter season. Each tree will offer something unique, telling the story of the organisation behind it and contributing to a shared display at the heart of Durham Cathedral.
Cost of taking part
Commercial organisations: £500 (inclusive of vat)
This fee covers the cost of your own tree and helps sponsor a second tree for a school, charity or community organisation.
Businesses are welcome to suggest a school or charity they would particularly like to support. Final participation remains subject to that organisation wishing to take part.
Schools, charities, social enterprises and community groups: free
Places in these categories will be funded through business sponsorship.
How to book a space
Booking a space for 2026 has now closed.
If you would like to register your interest for 2027, please complete this short online form.
What Durham Cathedral will provide
Each participating organisation will receive:
- a 6 to 7 foot Christmas tree in a secure stand
- LED lights
- an A3 poster stand for display information
Decorating your tree
We would love your tree to reflect the spirit, work or character of your organisation. This could be inspired by your values, your community, your history or a festive creative theme.
We will allocate you a 2 hour time slot.
As the festival takes place in a sacred setting, we ask that all decorations are appropriate and respectful. We also strongly encourage the use of recycled, natural or reusable materials wherever possible.
While every care will be taken, Durham Cathedral cannot accept responsibility for loss of or damage to decorations during the festival.
What we need from you
As part of your booking, we will ask for:
- your organisation’s contact details
- your logo
- a short description of your organisation and its work for display alongside your tree
Please email your logo to christmastreefestival@durhamcathedral.co.uk.
Decorating dates
Trees will be available to decorate for those participating between Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 3 December 2026, between 9am and 5pm.
The Christmas Tree Festival 2026, will be open to visitors at Durham Cathedral on 4 December 2026.
Once your place is confirmed, we will ask you to select a preferred decorating slot. Each organisation will be offered a two-hour slot for up to five team members.
Why take part?
Taking part in the first Durham Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival is about far more than decorating a tree.
It is an opportunity to share the heart of your organisation with the many people who visit the Cathedral during the Christmas season. In December alone last year, Durham Cathedral welcomed more than 25,000 visitors.
For charities, schools and community groups, the festival offers a valuable chance to raise awareness, connect with new audiences and celebrate the work you do throughout the year.
For businesses, it is an opportunity to support the city and region, demonstrate your values and take part in a memorable shared experience.
Above all, the festival is about coming together to bring light, colour and joy to Durham during the winter season. Each tree will help create a place of welcome, reflection and celebration for all who visit.
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