Big Christmas Lists: North East Christmas Concerts and Shows
Performances from across the region to make the season extra special
From soaring classical performances to pop, rock and full-tilt festive fun, Christmas concerts are lighting up venues across the North East. Whatever your taste, there’s a seasonal soundtrack waiting for you - and we’ve pulled together a load of merry musical celebrations to help you get your wall planners full.
BIG note: This isn’t an exhaustive list (though we’re certain we’ll feel exhausted from all the tuneful joy by the end of the season). If your favourite concert or venue isn’t featured, send it our way - we’ll gladly get it added.
Nov 26: Step into Christmas, Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle
Nov 28: The Crooners Christmas Special, Darlington Hippodrome
Nov 29: The Wandering Hearts - It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Sage Two, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Nov 29: O Holy Night with Newcastle University Chamber Choir, St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough
Nov 30: Royal Northern Sinfonia - Christmas By Candlelight, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Nov 30: Christmas - The Candlelight Concert, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Throughout December: Andre Rieu’s Christmas Concert, Various cinemas and venues across the North East
Dec 1: Joe McElderry’s Festive Party, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Dec 2: Family Big Gig: Rockin Christmas, Middlesbrough Town Hall
Dec 2: Rock Choir Christmas Show, Hexham Abbey
Dec 3: The Rat Pack - A Swingin Christmas at The Sands, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 3: Buble by Candlelight, Hexham Abbey
Dec 4: Rob Brydon and His Fabulous Band - A Festive Night of Songs and Laughter, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 4: Christmas by Candlelight, Middlesbrough Town Hall
Dec 4: Christmas Cabaret, Arts Centre Washington
Dec 5: Midwinter Revels, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 5: Buble by Candlelight, Middlesbrough Town Hall
Dec 6: Nadia Eide - Winter Light Tour, Hexham Abbey
Dec 6: Total Rex - Christmas Bop, The Cluny
Dec 6: Funk Collective - The Funk Before Christmas, ARC Stockton
Dec 7: The Story We Made Together, Georgian Theatre, Stockton
Dec 7: Christmas with Anton Du Beke, Stockton Globe
Dec 8: The Albion Christmas Band, Sage Two, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 8: Winter Concert with MTH Community Choir and North East Opera, Middlesbrough Town Hall
Dec 9: Melrose Quartet Christmas Show, Alnwick Playhouse
Dec 10: A Christmas Gaiety - A Queer Holiday Extravaganza, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 10: There Will be Tinsel, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 11: Holly at Christmas, Alnwick Playhouse
Dec 12: The Jive Aces Swingin’ Christmas Show, The Witham, Barnard Castle
Dec 12: Tony Hadley - The Christmas Big Band Tour 2025, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 13: The Snowman in Concert with The EverReady Band, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Dec 13: ABBA Merry Christmas, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Dec 14: A Fairytale for Christmas, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Dec 14: A Very Merry Cast.Mas, Alnwick Playhouse
Dec 14: Handel’s Messiah, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 15: Cara Dillon - Upon a Winter’s Night, Sage Two, The Glasshouse, Gateshead
Dec 17: Christmas at The Glasshouse with Matt Baker, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 18: Sinfonia of London - A Christmas Songbook, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 18: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Christmas, Hexham Abbey
Dec 18: Spilt Milk Christmas Special, The Cluny
Dec 19: Christmas at the Musicals, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 20: The Baytones Ska Christmas Party, Cluny 2
Dec 20: A Dark Dark Christmas, Georgian Theatre, Stockton
Dec 20: The Magic of Christmas, Alnwick Playhouse
Dec 21: Strictly Smokin’ Big Band’s Christmas, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Dec 21: The Snowman in Concert with The EverReady Band, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 22 to 23: Carols by Candlelight, Hexham Abbey
Dec 22: Jumpin Hot Club Christmas Party 2025, Cluny 2
Dec 27: G4 at Christmas, Hexham Abbey
Dec 31: Patti-Boo Rae and Friends in The Little Miss Christmas New Year’s Eve Gala, Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
Dec 12 to 17: A Jazzy Christmas - Paul Edis and Friends, Various North East venues
Dec 13 and 14: Big Family Festive Gigs, Northern Rock Foundation Hall, The Glasshouse
Dec 13 and 14: Kate Rusby - Christmas is Merry, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 13 to 21: Jez Lowe’s Winter Wanderings, Various North East venues
Dec 17 to 20: A Queermas Carol (The Gayest Ghost Story Ever Told), Alphabetti Theatre
Dec 19 and 20: The Futureheads at Christmas, The Fire Station, Sunderland
Dec 22 to 24: Royal Northern Sinfonia - The Snowman in Concert , Sage One, The Glasshouse
Dec 27 to 30: Christmas Rocks, Newcastle 02 City Hall
Dec 6 and 7: Home Alone in Concert, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Nov 27 to Dec 4: Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour, Various venues across the North East
Nov 28 and 29: Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol, Middlesbrough Theatre and Darlington Hippodrome, respectively
Jan 1: Royal Northern Sinfonia - Viennese New Year’s Day Concert, Sage One, The Glasshouse
Jan 2: Royal Northern Sinfonia - Viennese New Year’s Concert, Middlesbrough Town Hall
… to be added to