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Christmas markets in Scotland 2026 with your dog

Scotland’s Christmas markets run from early November to early January. The Night Market UK in Leith says dogs are welcome, and the castle markets are easy with a dog too: Blair Castle and Drumlanrig Castle both say dogs are welcome outside, and Hopetoun House welcomes dogs in its grounds. Most city markets do not publish a rule for pet dogs, so we say check with the organiser rather than guess.

Dates and dog rules last checked 7 Nov 2026

Dates and rules can change, so check with the organiser before you travel.

Quick summary

Market	Where	2026 dates	Dogs
Blair Castle Christmas Market	Blair Atholl, Perthshire	Fri 20 to Sun 22 Nov, 10am to 4pm	Dogs welcome outside
Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Market	Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway	Fri 4 to Sun 6 Dec (Friday is a launch evening)	Dogs welcome outside
Hopetoun House Christmas Shopping Fair	South Queensferry, near Edinburgh	Fri 27 to Sun 29 Nov, 10am to 4.30pm	Grounds only
The Night Market UK Edinburgh Christmas	Edinburgh (Leith)	Fri 27 Nov, 6pm to 11pm	Dogs welcome
Edinburgh’s Christmas	Edinburgh	Sat 14 Nov to Sun 3 Jan, 10am to 10pm (closed 25 Dec)	Check with organiser
Winter Wonderland, St Enoch Square	Glasgow	From Fri 6 Nov to Sun 27 Dec	Check with organiser
Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland	Glasgow	Fri 20 Nov to Sun 3 Jan	Check with organiser
Good Times Christmas Village	Glasgow	From Thu 19 Nov (end date not yet published)	Check with organiser
Aberdeen Christmas Village	Aberdeen	Thu 12 Nov to Sun 3 Jan (closed 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan)	Check with organiser
Curated in the Square	Aberdeen	Weekends from Fri 13 Nov to Wed 23 Dec	Check with organiser
Christmas in the Square	Dundee	Fri 27 Nov to Wed 30 Dec	Check with organiser
Perth Festive Market	Perth	Fri 20 to Sun 22 Nov	Check with organiser
Stirling Christmas Market	Stirling	Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov	Check with organiser
Indoor Christmas Market, Thistles	Stirling	Fri 4 to Sun 13 Dec	Check with organiser
In the City Christmas Markets	Inverness	21 and 22 Nov, 5 and 6 Dec, 19 and 20 Dec, 9am to 5pm	Check with organiser
Christmas Market: St Andrews Day	St Andrews	Sun 29 Nov, 10.30am to 4pm	Check with organiser
Oban Winter Festival markets	Oban	Sat 14, 21 and 28 Nov, 10am to 4pm	Check with organiser

Blair Castle Christmas Market, Blair Atholl, Perthshire

When: Fri 20 to Sun 22 Nov, 10am to 4pm
Where: Banvie Hall and a tented Christmas village outside
Dogs: Dogs are welcome in the gardens and around the outside stalls, but not inside the castle.
Adults £4, under 16s free. Pet snacks are among the stalls.

Source: atholl-estates.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Drumlanrig Castle Christmas Market, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway

When: Fri 4 to Sun 6 Dec (Friday is a launch evening)
Where: Heated marquee in the castle grounds
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome around the grounds, but not in the marquee this year, as it can get busy.
Times and prices for 2026 were not on the castle’s page when we checked.

Source: drumlanrigcastle.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Hopetoun House Christmas Shopping Fair, South Queensferry, near Edinburgh

When: Fri 27 to Sun 29 Nov, 10am to 4.30pm
Where: Inside the Main House, with an outdoor food village
Dogs: Hopetoun’s visitor FAQ says dogs are welcome in the grounds on a lead and in the Stables Kitchen, but not inside the House. The fair stalls are in the House, so one of you may need to stay outside with the dog.
Tickets from £11.50. Water bowls are put out for dogs.

Source: hopetoun.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

The Night Market UK Edinburgh Christmas, Edinburgh (Leith)

When: Fri 27 Nov, 6pm to 11pm
Where: The Biscuit Factory, 4-6 Anderson Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP (indoors, over 2 floors)
Dogs: Dogs are welcome, says the organiser.
70+ stalls over 2 floors, street food, festive brews and a special guest DJ. Kids welcome until 10pm, and 12 and under go free. It sells out, so book in advance with The Night Market UK.

Source: events.humanitix.com, checked 7 Nov 2026

Edinburgh’s Christmas, Edinburgh

When: Sat 14 Nov to Sun 3 Jan, 10am to 10pm (closed 25 Dec)
Where: East Princes Street Gardens, with rides in West Princes Street Gardens
Dogs: The organiser welcomes assistance dogs on all its outdoor sites. It does not say anything about pet dogs, so check with the organiser.
Free entry. Shorter hours on some dates around Christmas and New Year.

Source: edwinterfest.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Winter Wonderland, St Enoch Square, Glasgow

When: From Fri 6 Nov to Sun 27 Dec
Where: St Enoch Square, at the foot of Buchanan Street
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Some listings give the opening day as Sat 7 Nov.

Source: glasgowchamberofcommerce.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland, Glasgow

When: Fri 20 Nov to Sun 3 Jan
Where: Glasgow Green
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Ice rink, rides, big top and Santa’s grotto.

Source: glasgowchamberofcommerce.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Good Times Christmas Village, Glasgow

When: From Thu 19 Nov (end date not yet published)
Where: George Square
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
George Square reopens after its redevelopment.

Source: glasgowchamberofcommerce.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Aberdeen Christmas Village, Aberdeen

When: Thu 12 Nov to Sun 3 Jan (closed 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan)
Where: Broad Street, Upperkirkgate and Marischal Square
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Free entry. Rides and ice skating are paid.

Source: aberdeeninspired.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Curated in the Square, Aberdeen

When: Weekends from Fri 13 Nov to Wed 23 Dec
Where: Marischal Square
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Local makers, artists and independent businesses.

Source: aberdeeninspired.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

Christmas in the Square, Dundee

When: Fri 27 Nov to Wed 30 Dec
Where: City Square
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser (Hornes Pleasure Fairs).
Mon to Thu 11am to 8pm, Fri to Sun 10am to 9pm. Funfair rides on site.

Source: dundeecity.gov.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Perth Festive Market, Perth

When: Fri 20 to Sun 22 Nov
Where: King Edward Street and High Street
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 7pm, Sun 10am to 6pm. Outdoor marquees, over the lights switch-on weekend.

Source: perthcityandtowns.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Stirling Christmas Market, Stirling

When: Sat 28 and Sun 29 Nov
Where: The Albert Halls (indoors)
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
£5 on the door, under 12s free. Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm.

Source: stirlingevents.org, checked 5 Nov 2026

Indoor Christmas Market, Thistles, Stirling

When: Fri 4 to Sun 13 Dec
Where: Thistles Shopping Centre (indoors)
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the shopping centre.
Local makers and festive food.

Source: yourstirling.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

In the City Christmas Markets, Inverness

When: 21 and 22 Nov, 5 and 6 Dec, 19 and 20 Dec, 9am to 5pm
Where: Eastgate Shopping Centre (indoors)
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the shopping centre.
Local makers’ market.

Source: eastgateshopping.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Christmas Market: St Andrews Day, St Andrews

When: Sun 29 Nov, 10.30am to 4pm
Where: St Andrews Heritage Museum and Garden
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.

Source: whatsonfife.co.uk, checked 5 Nov 2026

Oban Winter Festival markets, Oban

When: Sat 14, 21 and 28 Nov, 10am to 4pm
Where: Corran Halls, the Rockfield Centre and the Perle Oban Hotel (indoors)
Dogs: No dog rules published. Check with the organiser.
Free entry. Part of the Oban Winter Festival.

Source: obanwinterfestival.com, checked 5 Nov 2026

FAQ

Are dogs allowed at Christmas markets in Scotland?

It depends on the market. The Night Market UK Edinburgh Christmas at the Biscuit Factory welcomes dogs, Blair Castle and Drumlanrig Castle say dogs are welcome outside, and Hopetoun House welcomes dogs in its grounds. Most city markets, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, do not publish a rule for pet dogs, so check with the organiser before you go.

Can I take my dog to the Edinburgh Christmas market?

The organiser says assistance dogs are welcome on all its outdoor sites. It does not publish a rule for pet dogs, so check with Edinburgh’s Christmas before you go. The Night Market UK at the Biscuit Factory in Leith on Fri 27 Nov says dogs are welcome.

Which Scottish Christmas markets are best with a dog?

Castle and estate markets with outdoor stalls and grounds, such as Blair Castle (20 to 22 Nov) and Drumlanrig Castle (4 to 6 Dec), where the organisers say dogs are welcome outside.

Any tips for a busy market with a dog?

Go at a quiet time, such as a weekday morning, keep your dog on a short lead, and watch for dropped food and hot drinks. Busy crowds and fairground noise can be a lot for some dogs.

How we check

We read each organiser’s own page and only include what it says, with the date we checked. Where an organiser says nothing about dogs, we say check with the organiser. If something has changed, tell us on the corrections page.

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