Diocese of Portsmouth
The Church of England
Advent & Christmas

Celebrating Christmas in 2026

The Gift of ChristmasThank you for joining us to celebrate the greatest news the world has ever known – the mind-blowing idea that God chose to share in the joys and sorrows of being human.

At Christmas 2026, we will gather at carol services, nativities, Christmas fayres, and parties to celebrate and hear the story of how Jesus became a vulnerable baby, born in a humble stable, so that he could ultimately become our Saviour. We’ll mark the occasion with Christmas tree festivals, Nativity re-enactments and drama performances.

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Christmas resources

The theme for this year’s Christmas campaign by the national Church of England is The Gift of Christmas. Find out more here and here, including the resources that are made available to help you promote your own parish's Christmas events and services.

Carol services

Find out more about the carol services that are happening around our diocese here and below. Many are by candlelight, and each uses traditional song and evocative readings from the Bible to tell the story of Jesus's birth:

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Christmas tree festivals

Among the amazing things happening this Christmas are festivals of Christmas trees, where different members of each community decorate festive trees. The church buildings are then opened to the public, who can be inspired by the illuminated trees, as well as music, refreshments and other special events:

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