The Ritz Christmas Eve Dinner 2026: Date, Price and Dress Code

Some evenings in London are planned months ahead, and Christmas Eve at The Ritz is one of them. On December 24 the hotel's dining room on Piccadilly turns into a black-tie ballroom for one night, with a gala dinner, live music and dancing beneath the gilded ceiling. If you have been searching for the Ritz Christmas Eve dinner, here is what the evening includes, what it costs, how booking works and how to dress for it, based on the hotel's own published information as of October 27, 2026.

The Ritz Christmas Eve Gala Dinner 2026: Date and Venue

According to The Ritz London's official Christmas Eve page, the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner takes place on Thursday, December 24, 2026, in The Ritz Restaurant, the hotel's two-Michelin-starred dining room at 150 Piccadilly. The hotel describes it as a gala dinner and dance, with a four-course festive menu, live entertainment and dancing.

It is a single evening, not a season. If December 24 is the night you want, plan around it early, because the restaurant is one room and the hotel asks for full payment at the time of booking.

What the Evening Includes

The official page lists the key features of the night:

• A four-course Christmas Eve gala dinner in The Ritz Restaurant, with festive dishes. The hotel has not published the 2026 menu on that page as of October 27, 2026.
• Live entertainment through the evening.
• Dancing, which is what sets this night apart from an ordinary dinner reservation.

The room itself is the point. The Ritz Restaurant is one of the most ornate dining rooms in London, all marble, mirrors, painted ceilings and chandeliers, and on Christmas Eve the hotel dresses it for the season. It is also why the dress code is stricter than on any other night of the year.

Price and Booking

As of October 27, 2026, The Ritz lists the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner and Dance at £470 per adult and £260 per child (up to 15), according to the official page. Two details matter before you commit:

• Full, non-refundable pre-payment is required to confirm a reservation.
• Enquiries go to the hotel's festive team at festivities@theritzlondon.com, as listed on the same page.

The hotel does not publish availability on that page, so the only reliable way to know whether tables remain is to ask. Prices and terms can change; always confirm them with the hotel before booking.

The Dress Code: Black Tie

The official page is explicit: the dress code for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner is black tie. On ordinary evenings The Ritz Restaurant asks gentlemen for a jacket and tie and does not allow jeans or sportswear for anyone. On December 24 the bar rises to full evening dress.

What black tie means for women at The Ritz

For women, black tie in this room means a floor-length evening gown, or an exceptionally elegant cocktail-length dress if it is clearly formal in fabric and cut. Christmas Eve allows a little more warmth and shine than a charity dinner: deep velvet in claret, emerald or midnight blue, duchess satin, or a column of black with one serious piece of jewelry. Think about the dance floor as well as the photographs: a gown you can move in, and shoes you can wear for a full evening.

Our complete guide to the black-tie dress code for women covers length, fabrics and accessories, and our piece on festive black tie explains how to bring the season into a formal look without tipping into costume.

Is the Ritz Christmas Eve Dinner Worth It?

It depends on what you want from the night. If you want a quiet, intimate dinner, the formality and the music may feel like too much. If you want Christmas Eve to feel like an occasion, the kind of evening where you dress properly, dance and remember the room, it is one of the very few places in London that does exactly that on December 24.

It also works well for a particular kind of guest: a couple marking a milestone, a family with older children who enjoy a formal evening, or a woman visiting London for the holidays who wants one night of real ceremony. Children are welcome, as the separate child price shows, but this is a black-tie evening, and the rhythm of the night is adult.

Other Christmas Evenings at The Ritz

The Ritz's Christmas program does not end on December 24. Its festive pages also list celebrations on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, and the hotel holds its black-tie New Year's Eve Gala Dinner on December 31. We compare that night with The Savoy and the city's other formal parties in our guide to New Year's Eve balls in London. For Christmas Day itself, see our round-up of Christmas Day lunch in London.

How to Plan Your Christmas Eve in London

A few practical points make the evening easier:

• Book first, then plan the rest. With non-refundable pre-payment, the Christmas Eve table should be the fixed point of your London December.
• Arrange your journey home in advance. Christmas Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for cars in central London.
• Keep the days around it lighter. If you are in London for the season, the city's December calendar is full: the Royal Ballet's Nutcracker, charity Christmas balls and the run-up to New Year's Eve. Our guide to Christmas in London 2026 covers the dates.

Every black-tie night of the London season, from December to the summer, is in our Black-Tie Year · London calendar, month by month, with each event's status, venue and official website. You can also browse everything we publish on the city in our London collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Ritz Christmas Eve dinner in 2026?

Thursday, December 24, 2026, in The Ritz Restaurant at 150 Piccadilly, according to the hotel's official Christmas Eve page.

How much is Christmas Eve dinner at The Ritz?

As of October 27, 2026, the hotel lists the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner and Dance at £470 per adult and £260 per child (up to 15), with full, non-refundable pre-payment required.

What is the dress code for Christmas Eve at The Ritz?

Black tie, as stated on the official page. For women, that means a floor-length gown or a very formal cocktail dress.

Is there dancing at the Ritz Christmas Eve dinner?

Yes. The hotel describes the evening as a gala dinner and dance, with live entertainment and dancing after the four-course menu.

Can children attend?

Yes. The hotel publishes a child price for guests up to 15, but the evening keeps its black-tie dress code.

Cover photo: The Ritz on Piccadilly at Christmas, by traveljunction, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Dates, prices and terms checked on The Ritz London's official website on October 27, 2026. Femme Jet Set is an independent guide and is not affiliated with The Ritz London. Always confirm details with the hotel before booking.