With the winter holidays approaching, The Peninsula is preparing a slate of festivities, concerts, culinary offerings and family pursuits across its luxury properties worldwide. The brand said the hotels will collectively transform themselves into “The Home of Christmas,” inviting guests to celebrate the season while discovering the distinctive traditions of each hotel's home city.

The programme spans dazzling tree-lighting ceremonies, festive music performances, seasonal confections, Afternoon Teas and family activities. The Peninsula describes the experiences as reflecting its blend of gracious service, enduring tradition and festive magic.

A Festive Film: The Magic Waits for You

The Peninsula's 2026 festive film, The Magic Waits for You, follows a woman returning to The Peninsula for Christmas. As snow settles around the hotel, a drift of golden light rises through it, carrying her back to the wonder of childhood and into a story where past and present gently intertwine.

According to the brand, the film reveals that her most enchanting memories do not simply appear: they are brought to life by white-gloved hands, skilled chefs, fleet-footed pages and countless thoughtful gestures. The Peninsula frames this human touch as what turns the grand hotel into a holiday home, where magic is made by hand, with care, generation after generation. The film can be viewed on The Peninsula website and YouTube.

Spirited Holiday Concerts

Live performances of holiday music are a treasured part of the festive season at The Peninsula Hotels. At many properties, the annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony — in which the hotel's decorated Christmas tree is illuminated — is accompanied by a choral concert.

Other musical offerings this year include:

  • The 41st annual iteration of The Peninsula Manila's Christmas Concert at The Pen, featuring the Manila Symphony Orchestra and some of the city's most acclaimed soloists.
  • Lively renditions of traditional holiday tunes from a celebrated orchestra each Saturday in December leading up to Christmas at The Peninsula Istanbul.
  • Ethereal festive melodies from a live harpist at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Delectable Feasts and Treats

Across the portfolio, hotel culinary teams will present holiday specialties, desserts and libations at their respective restaurants, many of them Michelin-starred. This year's epicurean offerings include lavish Christmas Eve dinners, such as a seven-course culinary experience served against sweeping city views at The Peninsula Shanghai's Sir Elly's.

Bountiful Christmas Day brunches and traditional Festive Afternoon Teas will also be offered at each hotel's Lobby, with tiered towers of savouries and sweets, warming holiday beverages and celebratory Champagne. Holiday sweets from the chef teams will include decadent chocolates, Peninsula Sweet Shoppe confections and, at The Peninsula Paris, gourmet bûches de Noël from award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Anne Coruble.

For her creation this year, “L'Épi de Blé,” Chef Coruble partnered with Parisian jewellery maison Chaumet to craft a Yule log in the shape of an ear of wheat — an enduring symbol of harvest and bounty.

Enchanting Family Pursuits

For guests with children, Peninsula hotels offer family-friendly activities that embody the magic of the holidays, many of them traditions guests return to year after year. These include:

  • Rooftop ice skating at The Peninsula Chicago's Sky Rink.
  • The Peninsula Tokyo's Toy Hospital, where a team of volunteer toy doctors brings children's worn or damaged toys back to life.
  • Gingerbread- and cookie-decorating workshops at The Peninsula Beijing.
  • A Festive Brilliance Walking Tour of holiday window displays, Christmas trees and holiday markets along Fifth Avenue at The Peninsula New York.
  • Screenings of Christmas films at the private Cinema at The Peninsula London, along with visits with Santa between 23 December and Christmas Day.

Fabulous Fêtes

Guests can celebrate the holidays at a variety of festive gatherings, ranging from Ugly Christmas Sweater parties and firepit Glühwein toasts to extravagant New Year's Eve Galas. At The Peninsula Hong Kong, fine dining, music, Champagne toasts and an exuberant countdown to the arrival of 2027 will take place overlooking the Victoria Harbour fireworks display.

At The Peninsula Bangkok, visitors can also take part in a late-November Loy Krathong Festival celebration, with Thai classical dance performances, cultural pageants and traditional floating of krathongs — candlelit woven-leaf boats — on the Chao Phraya River.

Special Stay Offers and Festive Gifts

Festive-season travellers at every Peninsula property can book holiday stays with Luxury in Advance. The brand-wide offer lets guests receive up to 25 percent off the Best Available Rates for rooms and suites at their preferred Peninsula destination when they book in advance. Guests can also use Peninsula Time, a global benefit allowing check-in as early as 6am and check-out as late as 10pm.

For festive gifting, The Peninsula x Anya Hindmarch Collection returns with limited-edition, destination-inspired tote bags and leather charms. Building on the collaboration first introduced in Hong Kong in 2025, the collection will be available at The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula Istanbul and The Peninsula London. Each tote comes in The Peninsula's signature green canvas with a city-inspired accent strap — from Hong Kong's Harbour Red to London's Royal Purple — while the charms include a “PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB” design inspired by a classic hotel doorhanger.

The Season of Giving

Since its founding, The Peninsula has extended support to underserved members of its home communities through outreach programmes and charitable donations, with special efforts during the holidays. Several Peninsula hotels will participate in Acts of Kindness this year by inviting passersby to enjoy complimentary treats such as mince pie, hot chocolate and mulled wine.

Other hotels will host their own charitable initiatives. At The Peninsula Chicago's Sky Rink, all admission and skate rental costs are donated to two Chicago children's charities: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Hephzibah Children's Association.

Every Peninsula property also offers guests the chance to give during the holiday season. With each purchase of a Festive Afternoon Tea, a portion of proceeds will be donated to a local organisation supporting the welfare of children — for example, Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps grant the wishes of children facing life-threatening illnesses.

About the Brand

The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula London, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Istanbul, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula Bangkok and The Peninsula Manila. The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, incorporated in 1866 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is the holding company of the group.