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Advent and Christmas

Advent and Christmas is a special time of year and continues into the new year here at Durham Cathedral. 

During this special time of year, we welcome all to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

There are many special services and events throughout the season, beginning with Advent and continuing through Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas, including the new Christmas Tree Festival.

We hope you will join us for a traditional service, hear choral music sung by the Choirs of Durham Cathedral or bring the family for a winter day out in the atmospheric cathedral.

Special Services

Experience an atmospheric service with glowing candlelight, incense smoke and choral singing as we celebrate the Christmas story.

Join a service

Festive Concerts

Music fills the cathedral this November and December with events, carols and choir services.

Find an event

Family Favourites

Bring the whole family to Durham Cathedral in this festive period, with family-friendly services and activities.

See what's on

Popular Advent and Christmas Services

Advent Procession

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, 6pm

Mark the start of Advent with Advent Procession which takes place twice over one weekend. Join us for this beautiful candlelit service sung by the Cathedral Choir, including Bible readings anticipating the Christmas story.

Find out more

Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols

Saturday 12 December, 6pm

Be transported back to the medieval monastery here at Durham Cathedral with Britten's Ceremony of Carols.

Hear the sound of the Vespers for Christmas sung in half-light by the Cathedral's Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars, before the Choristers process through the cathedral singing plainsong. Richard Allen will be on the harp playing the sounds of Benjamin Britten, as the Ceremony of Carols are sung by the Choristers.

Book your free ticket here
Choir and Audience Photograph taken from West End

Lighting of Christmas Tree and Blessing of the Crib

Sunday 13 December, 3.30pm

Come and enjoy a family favourite service in which we light the tree, sing traditional carols and bless the unique nativity scene which was carved by a Durham miner.

Find out more

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Tuesday 22 December, 6pm & Thursday 24 December, 3pm

Starting in darkness as a lone Chorister sings Once In Royal David’s City, it continues with carols old and new and readings recounting the Christmas story.

Find out more

Christmas Day Services

Midnight Eucharist

Thursday 24 December 2026 & Friday 25 December 2026 11:00pm

Join us to celebrate the first Eucharist of Christmas as midnight strikes.

More info

Holy Communion on Christmas Day

Friday 25 December 2026 8:00am

A service of prayers and Bible readings, in which we offer bread and wine to God in thanksgiving for his goodness to us, which we receive back as the body and blood of Christ.

More info

Sung Eucharist on Christmas Day

Friday 25 December 2026 10:00am

A service of prayers, Bible readings, hymns, and Choral music, in which we offer bread and wine to God in thanksgiving for his goodness to us, which we receive back as the body and blood of Christ. The service lasts around 1 hour.

More info

Matins on Christmas Day

Friday 25 December 2026 11:30am

We celebrate Christmas in the traditional service of Matins (Morning Prayer) sung by the Cathedral Choir and preached by The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, the Dean of Durham.

More info

Evensong on Christmas Day

Friday 25 December 2026 3:30pm

Evensong is a service of bible readings, psalms and prayers. The choir sing for us accompanied by organ music.

More info

Continuing the season: Epiphany and Candlemas

Here at Durham Cathedral, the Christmas celebrations don't end in December.

In January, we celebrate Epiphany with a Procession and Sung Eucharist to mark the end of the 12 days of Christmas and the arrival of the three wise men at the stable where Jesus was born.

We then light the cathedral in beautiful candlelight to celebrate Candlemas, the anniversary of Jesus being presented to God at the temple.

What is Epiphany?

Epiphany lands on the 12th day of Christmas, bringing the Christmas season to an end. We celebrate this day with a Sung Eucharist for Epiphany on Wednesday 6 January at 5.30pm, where we mark the visit of the Magi to the Christ-child, the moment when God’s glory was revealed to the nations of the world. The service took place on the 6 January. 

We celebrate Epiphany with a procession which encapsulates the significant milestones in the epiphany season - the wise men coming, the baptism of Jesus and his first miracle, the wedding of Cana, where he changes water into wine. This service takes place on Sunday 17 January at 3.30pm.

Find out about Sung Eucharist for the Epiphany here Find out about Epiphany Procession here

What is Candlemas?

On the sixth Sunday after Epiphany and this season it lands on Tuesday 2 February, the Eucharist on the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple is celebrated. This is referred to as ‘Candlemas’ where hundreds of candles light up Durham Cathedral. 

Forty days after we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, we mark Candlemas. The Candlemas service recalled the day that our Lord Jesus was presented in the Temple, where he was offered to the Father and shown to his people. His mother was purified, as a sign of Jesus coming among us, and we now come to him for cleansing. 

Join us for Sung Eucharist on Tuesday 2 February at 5.30pm.

Find out more here

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Christmas Gift Guide

Searching for a present for the person in your life who’s difficult to buy for? Here are some ideas...

Stone Carving Workshop

Under expert tuition, try your hand at stone carving and learn more about this centuries old heritage skill.

You will spend a full day from 9.15am until 4pm working with our stonemasons who will guide you through how to carve either a St Cuthbert's cross or a leaf, teaching you the skills that have been used for over one thousand years at the cathedral.

At lunchtime take a well-earned break to enjoy a lunch featuring a variety of freshly made sandwiches and selection of cakes along with tea and coffee.  Lunch will be served in either the historic Prior's Hall or Solarium, areas of the Cathedral not normally open to the public.

Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Favourites Illuminated

Step into the tranquil glow of candlelight and enjoy a spellbinding evening of classical music.

Queen By Candlelight

Experience an evening of Queen’s greatest anthems, performed live by candlelight at Durham Cathedral.

Durham's unique nativity scene

The nativity display here in Durham is a little different and features some unexpected characters.

Find out why

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