Excitement is building for the return of Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, with the design of this year’s limited-edition festive mugs revealed ahead of the opening.
The new mugs celebrate the much-loved giant Santa, who is returning to Albert Square this Christmas for the first time in almost a decade, adding an extra touch of festive magic to the city’s celebrations.
The Mug Design
The retro-style design shows Manchester's favourite giant Santa surrounded by gift-wrapped presents and fir trees, all set against a night sky as the snow falls gently down on a cityscape of Manchester, with the Town Hall and its unmistakable clock tower to one side.
Designed by the city council's in-house design studio, the mugs are the latest in a series of collectable Christmas mugs designed by them each year for Manchester's world-beating Christmas Markets.
There are two different souvenir mugs to collect. Both mugs share the same retro design, but each one is a different colour and shape: a taller, narrower mug with the unique design against a white backdrop for hot chocolate, and a shorter, rounder mug with a green colourway for Glühwein.
How to Get a Mug
Anyone wanting a mug is advised to get down to the markets sooner rather than later and not leave their visit to the last minute. The mugs have been a sell-out sensation since the return of the Christmas Markets post Covid, with record sales of each year's edition flying off the seasonal shelves. Once they're gone, they're gone.
As always, Manchester's special edition Christmas mugs can either be bought outright by Christmas shoppers when they purchase a hot drink at one of the Christmas market stalls, or 'rented' and returned to the stall once they've finished their drink.
The price of the mugs is the same as last year, with customers asked to pay a deposit of £3.50 for their mug when they buy a hot chocolate or Glühwein. They can then either choose to return their mug to the stall afterwards and get their deposit back, or keep the mug and take it home with them as a reminder of their visit to Manchester and the Christmas Markets.
The souvenir mugs will be available, while stocks last, at each of the ten market locations in the city from the opening day of the markets on Friday 6th November.
Councillor Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
Our top team of talented in-house designers have done it again! They've come up with yet another brilliant design this year for our iconic Christmas mugs that really catches the mood of the moment as Manchester counts down to Christmas.
With their fun retro design the mugs are sure to be a massive hit with everyone who visits our fantastic Christmas markets this year and we can't wait to welcome everyone to Manchester over the next couple of months to help us celebrate the festive season in style.
Christmas in Manchester
Manchester's Christmas Markets will open at ten locations across the city on Friday 6th November and close on Tuesday 22nd December, except at Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, which will remain open throughout the festive season until Sunday 3rd January 2027.
Christmas in Manchester will also see the Skate Manchester Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens, which opens for Christmas skaters from Friday 6th November until Sunday 3rd January, and the Giant Ferris Wheel in Albert Square, which will open and close on the same dates.
Families with young children will also want to put a date in their diary for the Manchester Christmas Parade, which this year will take place on Sunday 6th December.
More information about Christmas in Manchester can be found on the council website.
