Castle Howard has revealed the theme for its much-anticipated Christmas experience this year, and it promises to be the most atmospheric yet.
The North Yorkshire stately home, which draws visitors from across the country for its annual festive spectacular, has announced that Christmas 2026 will take the form of A Dickens of a Christmas, running from 12 November to 3 January. The event promises an immersive Victorian extravaganza drawing on the works of Charles Dickens, bringing his most beloved characters to life through projections, soundscapes and theatrical surprises across the grand rooms and corridors of one of England’s finest baroque houses.
Visitors can expect to encounter familiar faces from Dickens’ most treasured novels, including Ebenezer Scrooge and a ghost or two, amid an atmosphere described by Castle Howard as “rich in nostalgia, storytelling and Christmas spirit.” The event invites visitors to warm their hands and hearts by a grand roaring fire as they are taken on what the estate promises will be an immersive journey celebrating Christmas magic.
The experience has been created by CLW Event Design in partnership with Imitating the Dog, the award-winning theatre company that also produced Castle Howard’s previous Christmas spectaculars including the Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Christmas Wonderland. Both were critically acclaimed events that sold out well in advance.
The choice of Dickens is a natural fit for a house of this vintage and grandeur. Castle Howard, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and constructed from 1699, carries the same theatrical confidence and romantic scale that runs through Dickens’ novels. The collision of baroque architecture and Victorian storytelling, brought to life through contemporary theatrical technology, is an intriguing prospect.
The estate has confirmed that more information about tickets will be announced very soon. Those eager to secure their visit are advised to sign up to the Castle Howard newsletter for the earliest updates, as previous years’ events have sold out quickly once tickets go on general release.
Castle Howard is located near York and is open year-round, with the Christmas experience running across the house and grounds from mid-November. Illustrations for this year’s event are by the acclaimed artist Emily Sutton, whose distinctive style blends the nostalgic with the contemporary in a manner that suits the Dickensian theme perfectly.
Tickets and further details will be available at castlehoward.co.uk.
