2026 details not all confirmed yet. Churches usually publish Christmas service times in late November. Times below are from recent years. We’ll update this page as 2026 details are announced.
Many of Victoria’s churches welcome visitors at Christmas, from candlelit midnight services to family-friendly carol services and broadcasts on CHEK. Here are the highlights.
Christ Church Cathedral
The Anglican cathedral at 930 Burdett Avenue is the centre of Victoria’s Christmas music. Recent services have included:
- Christmas Lessons and Carols: the Sunday before Christmas (December 21 in 2025), a beloved tradition also livestreamed and broadcast on CHEK.
- Carols around the Crib: a family-friendly Christmas Eve service at 4:30 PM.
- Procession and Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity: a late-evening Christmas Eve service.
- Christmas Day Sung Eucharist: on the morning of December 25.
The cathedral livestreams many services. Check christchurchcathedral.bc.ca for 2026 times.
Messiah by Candlelight
The Victoria Symphony performs Handel’s Messiah by candlelight in Christ Church Cathedral on December 11, 12 and 13, 2026. It’s a concert rather than a service, but for many people it’s the start of Christmas. See Christmas concerts.
Other Christmas Services
St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Roman Catholic) downtown, St. John the Divine, First Metropolitan United and parishes across the region hold Christmas Eve masses, candlelight services and Christmas Day services. Check each church’s website in December.
Carol Sing-Alongs
- Community light-ups often include carols. At the Oak Bay Light Up, the crowd sings The Twelve Days of Christmas.
- Carollers perform in the evenings at Butchart Gardens.
- The Sooke Santa Parade has ended with community carols.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lessons and Carols at Christ Church Cathedral?
Usually on the Sunday before Christmas. In 2025 it was December 21. Check the cathedral’s website for 2026.
Can I watch a Victoria Christmas service online?
Yes. Christ Church Cathedral livestreams many services, and its Lessons and Carols has also aired on CHEK.
Part of: Victoria Christmas Guide 2026
