Rochester Cathedral Carols 2026: 13 Free Services and Times

Rochester Cathedral’s Christmas runs from the Advent procession on Sunday 29 November to two services on Christmas morning, and almost all of it is free and unticketed. The one event you have to book and pay for is the Cathedral Choir’s Christmas Carol Concert on 12 and 13 December, which has sold out the last five times it was held.

The quick answer

• Free, no tickets: 13 services between 29 November and Christmas Day. The cathedral says to “arrive in good time to get a good seat and view”.
• Nine Lessons and Carols: Friday 18 December at 7.30pm and Saturday 19 December at 5.30pm.
• Christmas Eve: carol service at 3.15pm, Midnight Eucharist at 11.30pm.
• The paid one: the Carol Concert, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December at 5pm, £10 to £30 plus a booking fee, seats allocated. It sold out the last five times.

Every date and time below is from the cathedral’s own events listings, checked on 16 October 2026 (Rochester Cathedral: what’s on).

Every Christmas service, in order

The Carol Concert: book early

This is the one that sells out. The concert stars the Cathedral Choir, with carols for everyone to join in, and the cathedral says tickets “have sold out for the past five Carol Concerts” (Rochester Cathedral: Christmas Carol Concert).

• When: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December at 5pm; doors open at 4.15pm. The cathedral says this year’s concert starts at 5pm and that it has two performances “due to popular demand”. Both nights have the same programme.
• Price: £10 to £30, plus a booking fee, on the cathedral’s Little Box Office page.
• Seats are allocated, so book the right night: the cathedral warns transfers may not be possible.
• Refunds only if you buy the ticket insurance.

Carols during the Dickens festival

The Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival is on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, and the cathedral holds four free carol services during it: at 12.30pm and 3pm on both days. They are sing-alongs, “your favourite carols in true festive spirit”, and the cathedral adds that services are subject to change, so check before you go (Rochester Cathedral: Dickens Festival carol services). The Rochester Christmas Market is open in the castle gardens next door that weekend, so expect a busy High Street.

For families

• Christingle, Saturday 12 December, 12.30pm. Every child is given a Christingle, an orange with a lit candle and a red ribbon, and the lights are dimmed while they are handed out (Rochester Cathedral: Christingle).
• Children’s Nativity Service, Sunday 20 December, 2.30pm. A play and plenty of singing with the Sunday Club and Choir, billed as the service “for children aged 0 to 100”. Children are invited to come dressed as a character from the Christmas story (Rochester Cathedral: Nativity).

Nine Lessons and Carols, and Christmas Eve

The traditional carol service is held twice: Friday 18 December at 7.30pm and Saturday 19 December at 5.30pm, each about an hour and a quarter. Both are free and unticketed (Rochester Cathedral: Nine Lessons and Carols).

On Christmas Eve the carol service at 3.15pm is sung by the Lay Clerks and the Youth Choir, and the cathedral calls it one of its most popular: “please arrive early to guarantee a seat” (Rochester Cathedral: Christmas Eve). The Eucharist of Christmas Night starts at 11.30pm, with carols and music from the Cathedral Choirs (Midnight Eucharist).

On Christmas Day there is a Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion at 8am and the main service, the Eucharist of Christmas Morning with carols, at 10.30am (Rochester Cathedral: Christmas morning).

Other Christmas concerts in the cathedral

The cathedral also hosts concerts run by outside promoters, booked through them rather than the cathedral. One is already listed: G4 Christmas on Wednesday 25 November at 7.30pm, part of the vocal group’s cathedral tour, with tickets through Ticketbooth (Rochester Cathedral: G4 Christmas).

Getting there

The cathedral is just off Rochester High Street, beside the castle; the chapter office address is Garth House, The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX. Parking near the High Street fills quickly on the Christmas market and Dickens weekends, so see our parking in Medway page for the council car parks, and check Medway roadworks and travel before you set off. For trains over the holiday, see Medway Christmas trains.

What we will update

The cathedral says services are subject to change. We will recheck this page against the cathedral’s listings in late November and note any change or a sold-out concert night. For everything else on in the towns this season, see what’s on in Medway.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need tickets for carol services at Rochester Cathedral?

No. The cathedral says all its Christmas services are unticketed and open to everybody. Only the Christmas Carol Concert on 12 and 13 December needs a ticket.

When is Nine Lessons and Carols at Rochester Cathedral in 2026?

Friday 18 December at 7.30pm and Saturday 19 December at 5.30pm. Both are free.

How much is the Rochester Cathedral carol concert?

£10 to £30 plus a booking fee, for Saturday 12 or Sunday 13 December at 5pm. Seats are allocated, and the last five concerts sold out.

What time is midnight mass at Rochester Cathedral?

The Eucharist of Christmas Night starts at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve and finishes around 12.30am.

Sources

• Rochester Cathedral: what’s on and the individual service pages linked above
• Rochester Cathedral Carol Concert on Little Box Office