Swords Castle Christmas Market 2026: Dates + What to Expect
The Swords Castle Christmas Market is officially returning in 2026, bringing a small but very picturesque festive market to one of Dublin’s most impressive castle grounds.
Organised by Fingal County Council, the market takes place over two weekends between November 27th and December 6th and, unlike many Christmas events, entry is completely free.
It doesn’t have the scale of the likes of TwinkleTown in Smithfield, but the setting inside Swords Castle gives this one plenty of festive charm.
Swords Castle Christmas Market 2026
The Swords Castle Christmas Market is one of several Christmas Markets in Dublin confirmed for 2026. Here’s the need-to-knows:
1. Dates
The Swords Christmas Market will run across two weekends in 2026:
- Friday, November 27th: 3pm – 7pm
- Saturday, November 28th: 12pm – 6pm
- Sunday, November 29th: 12pm – 6pm
- Saturday, December 5th: 12pm – 6pm
- Sunday, December 6th: 12pm – 6pm
2. Location
The market takes place within the grounds of Swords Castle, right in the centre of Swords in North County Dublin. The castle dates back to the early 13th century and its stone walls and historic courtyard provide a suitably atmospheric backdrop for the festivities.
3. Admission
Entry to the Swords Castle Christmas Market is free. This makes it a handy option if you’re looking for a festive day out without having to book tickets in advance.
4. What to expect
The focus here is very much on the market itself, with Swords Castle decorated for Christmas and traders setting up within the historic surroundings. It’s as a place for festive shopping, and applications are currently being taken from traders offering products that fit with the overall Christmas theme.
Is the Swords Christmas Market worth visiting?
If you’re expecting one of the enormous European-style markets you’ll find in places like Germany or Austria, this isn’t it. However, Swords Castle is arguably one of the more unique settings for a Christmas market in Dublin, and free admission makes it easy to drop into if you’re nearby.
It’s also a more market-focused alternative to some of Dublin’s larger Christmas events, which tend to revolve around ice skating, fairground rides and other paid attractions.
Other Christmas markets nearby
If you’re looking to visit several markets, there are plenty of other Dublin Christmas Markets worth keeping an eye on.
The biggest confirmed event for 2026 is TwinkleTown at Smithfield, which runs from November 20th to December 31st, along with its new second location at St Patrick’s Park.
The Dublin Castle Christmas Market, however, has been postponed until 2027.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
