The Spirit of Christmas Fair

Celebrating 25 Years of Festive Magic at Olympia London

Every November, as the days shorten and the first frost settles over the capital, London's Olympia exhibition centre transforms into what organisers proudly call "The Home of Christmas Shopping." The Spirit of Christmas Fair has, for a quarter of a century, marked the unofficial start of the festive season for tens of thousands of visitors — and in 2026, it celebrates its landmark 25th Anniversary, running from 2 to 8 November.

A Quarter-Century of Tradition

The Spirit of Christmas Fair first launched in 2001, created in partnership with House & Garden magazine to showcase the very best of Britain's independent brands and small businesses. What began as a celebration of craftsmanship and originality has, over the years, grown into one of London's most anticipated seasonal events without ever losing sight of its founding ethos: "Shop. Dine. Socialise."

That simple three-word mission has proven remarkably durable. Across 25 years, the Fair has weathered changing shopping habits, the rise of e-commerce, and shifting consumer tastes, yet it continues to draw crowds who value the tactile, sociable experience of browsing beautifully curated stalls in person, something no online marketplace can quite replicate. As one longtime visitor put it in a recent testimonial: "My two best friends and I have been attending for 25 years."

For 2026, the Fair finds a fitting new stage at the all-new Olympia London, recently transformed into one of the capital's most talked-about event destinations, giving this milestone anniversary a suitably grand backdrop.

Who Organises the Fair

The Spirit of Christmas Fair is produced by Clarion Events Ltd, one of the world's leading event organisers, in continued partnership with House & Garden magazine, whose readers have long treated the Fair as an essential fixture of the festive calendar. Clarion's portfolio also includes the co-located Condé Nast Traveller presents The Luxury Travel Fair, which runs alongside Spirit of Christmas from 5–8 November 2026 and is included with Fair ticket, giving visitors two events, and even more inspiration, in one trip.

Day-to-day, the Fair is steered by Fair Director Mary Claire Boyd, who has overseen its growth and its commitment to showcasing "exceptional British craftsmanship, featuring ethically made, sustainable brands, all handpicked for their quality, style and originality."

Who Attends

The numbers tell their own story. The Fair typically welcomes more than 55,000 visitors across its seven-day run, browsing stalls from over 600 independent brands and boutique artisans. The audience skews toward those planning ahead for Christmas -families, groups of friends, and dedicated shoppers looking for original gifts rather than mass-market fare.

Many attendees are repeat visitors who treat the day as an annual ritual with friends or family, rather than a one-off shopping trip. Groups often make a full day of it, moving between browsing, dining and the Fair's champagne bars, reflecting that original "Shop. Dine. Socialise." philosophy.

Exhibitors, too, form a key part of the Fair's community: independent designers, food producers and craftspeople who use the event as a launchpad, with the new Spirit Rising Stars section (launched in 2025) specifically created to showcase up-and-coming brands making their Fair debut.

Why You Should Attend

For anyone tired of predictable high-street Christmas shopping, the Fair offers a genuinely different proposition. Here's what makes it worth the trip:

An unmatched breadth of independent brands. With more than 600 handpicked exhibitors spanning fashion, jewellery, home styling, toys, Christmas decorations and artisan food and drink, it's possible to complete an entire gift list — including for the notoriously hard-to-buy-for — in a single visit, discovering names you won't find on the high street.

Genuine festive experiences, not just shopping.

The Fair's daily programme includes complimentary workshops covering everything from festive bouquet-making and tablescaping to gift-wrapping techniques, plus live music and talks from special guests. It's less a market and more a full day out.

Dining worth planning around. For the 25th anniversary, Great British Menu chef Kate Austen returns as Restaurant Partner, offering a bespoke all-day dining menu and a classic Afternoon Tea. Add in the Louis Roederer Champagne bars, and there's a proper sense of occasion built into the day.

Two fairs for the price of one. Tickets also grant free access to the co-located Luxury Travel Fair, extending the day's inspiration from gifts and gatherings to future travel plans.

A milestone year. Turning 25 is no small feat for any consumer event, and organisers have built an especially rich anniversary programme — meaning 2026 is arguably the best year yet to experience it, whether for the first time or the twenty-fifth.

Plan Your Visit

The Spirit of Christmas Fair runs from 2nd–8th November 2026 at Olympia London. With 55,000+ expected visitors, 600+ independent brands, seven days of festive programming, and a landmark anniversary to celebrate, it promises to be the biggest edition yet, a fitting way to mark 25 years of shopping, dining and socialising in the true spirit of Christmas.

Wentworth Lifestyle is delighted to be a Partner for the 25th Anniversary Fair.