If you’re someone who starts humming Christmas tunes as soon as the clocks change, then here’s your chance to turn up the volume. The Festive Gift Fair – the West Midlands’ biggest indoor Christmas shopping event – is back at the NEC Birmingham from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 November 2025, and it’s promising to deliver wall-to-wall Christmas cheer.
Now in its 29th year, this four-day extravaganza has become a bit of a seasonal tradition. Picture this: one massive hall filled with 325 stalls, each packed with unique stocking fillers, quirky crafts, foodie delights, homeware, decorations, and more twinkling inspiration than you can shake a candy cane at. Add live music, roaming festive characters (yes, including Santa and The Grinch), and the smell of mulled wine in the air – and you’ve got yourself a proper festive day out.
A feast for the senses
Foodies, you’ll want to come hungry. Expect to sample everything from artisan cheeses and cured meats to spiced rums, craft gins, and gourmet chocolates. There are plenty of old favourites back for another year (think Georgie Porgie’s award-winning puddings and Cheshire Cheese Company’s legendary truckles), plus exciting newcomers like Bray Cured’s British charcuterie and Vin Vineyards’ Malbec straight from Argentina.
Gifts galore (for everyone on your list)
Whether you’re shopping for your nan, your teenager, or even your dog, there’s something here for everyone. Kids will love The Book Bus (yes, it’s a real double-decker full of books) and crafty kits galore, while grown-ups can get stuck into handmade home décor, personalised gifts, and kitchen must-haves. And let’s not forget the Gonks, snowmen, and twinkling lights ready to make your home sparkle.
More than shopping
Sure, the stalls are the stars, but the atmosphere is what makes the Festive Gift Fair so special. Live bands bring everything from retro classics to smooth jazz, while festive entertainers pop up around every corner to keep spirits high. It’s a fair that feels like Christmas wrapped up in one joyful package.
The details
Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 November 2025
Hall 5, NEC Birmingham
⏰ Open 9.30am – 5pm daily
Tickets start from £8 in advance (no tickets on the door). There’s even a buy three, get one free offer on Thursday and Friday tickets – ideal for a festive day out with friends.
Book online at festivegiftfair.co.uk.
So, grab your Christmas list, dust off your jingle bells, and make a day of it. Because let’s face it – this isn’t just shopping. This is the start of Christmas.
