Skip to content

George Square returns for revamped Glasgow Christmas celebrations

SNS A view of Glasgow's Christmas celebrations at George Square. The city chambers are lit up in red and green colours, while white lit-up Christmas trees are down each side of the square. Thousands of people are gathered on the square.SNS
George Square has traditionally been the centrepiece for Glasgow's Christmas events

George Square is to return as the centrepiece of Glasgow's Christmas celebrations, the city council has announced.

The landmark was closed last year, meaning the city's festive events were shifted to Glasgow Green and St Enoch's Square instead.

The city centre location has now partially reopened, and should be fully in use by November, when Christmas events will kick off.

However the local authority said it will be "doing Christmas differently" this year, with events spread across the city. This includes returning to Glasgow Green, despite local residents complaining about the noise there last year.

The council say it will move away from having a popular "one-off" Christmas lights switch-on event in the Square, as it has done in the past.

Instead it will organise "a series of Christmas celebrations across the weeks building up to the big day", which it says will let more people take part.

In the past demand has often outstripped the number of tickets available for the lights switch-on.

Lochview Theme Park (Scotland) Ltd - which runs M&D's theme park at Strathclyde Park in North Lanarkshire - last year won the contract to run Glasgow's Christmas events in 2025 and 2026.

George Square will have a new "Good Times Christmas Village" open from late November, with food and drink offerings and festive light installations.

Other parts of the winter programme include Christmas markets in St Enoch Square, include international food offerings, the Big Wheel and free entertainment.

The Glasgow Green Winter Wonderland will include Santa's grotto, an ice rink, a festive Big Top and various rides.

Last year a total of 85 residents signed a petition saying they had felt "disregarded" by the local authority over the usage of the Green.

They said there was an "absolute cacophony" of noise coming from the area.

Glasgow's Winter Wonderland A fairground ride, lit up. Several people are strapped in and the ride is lifting them up into the air and swinging them about. Glasgow's Winter Wonderland
Glasgow Green hosted Christmas events for the first time last year

Ricky Bell, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said the revamped festive events would be "more accessible, more convenient and certainly a lot fairer" for Glaswegians.

He added: "Our Christmas programme is about creating more opportunities than ever.

"Whether you're visiting the markets, enjoying Winter Wonderland, heading to the panto, taking in festive lighting displays, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, there will be something for everyone.

"George Square has always been such a big part of what Glaswegians associate with Christmas and we're delighted to see it back in the mix of our festive celebrations."