Christmas Markets 2026: Opening Dates for the Best Markets in Europe and the UK

Some of Europe’s biggest Christmas markets open early, with Vienna, Budapest and Copenhagen’s Tivoli starting on 13 November. Nuremberg’s famous Christkindlesmarkt opens on 27 November and runs until Christmas Eve. Prague, Brussels, Tallinn and Zagreb keep their markets open into January 2027. In the UK, Birmingham opens on 5 November, Manchester on 6 November and Edinburgh on 14 November. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, and booking flights and hotels early saves money.

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There is something special about walking through a Christmas market on a cold evening, with twinkling lights, wooden stalls, the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, and carols in the air.

Every year, millions of visitors from the US, the UK and around the world travel to Europe’s Christmas markets, and many of the best ones open in the next few weeks.

Here is your guide to Christmas markets 2026, with opening and closing dates for the most popular markets in Europe and the UK, plus tips to help you plan the perfect festive trip.

When Do Christmas Markets Open in 2026?

Most Christmas markets 2026 in Europe open in the second half of November and run until Christmas Eve. Some open as early as mid November, and a few stay open until early January.

As a rough guide:

• Early openers: mid November
• Most markets: last week of November
• Closing: 23 or 24 December for many German markets
• Late closers: into the first week of January 2027

Many German markets traditionally start just before the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on 29 November 2026.

Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2026: Dates

City	Market	Opens	Closes
Vienna, Austria	Rathausplatz	13 November	26 December
Budapest, Hungary	Advent Feast at the Basilica	13 November	1 January 2027
Copenhagen, Denmark	Christmas in Tivoli	13 November	3 January 2027
Cologne, Germany	Markt am Dom	16 November	23 December
Salzburg, Austria	Christkindlmarkt	19 November	1 January 2027
Munich, Germany	Christkindlmarkt (Marienplatz)	20 November	24 December
Tallinn, Estonia	Town Hall Square	20 November	6 January 2027
Berlin, Germany	WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt	23 November	31 December
Colmar, France	Alsace markets	23 November	29 December
Dresden, Germany	Striezelmarkt	25 November	24 December
Basel, Switzerland	Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz	26 November	23 December
Nuremberg, Germany	Christkindlesmarkt	27 November	24 December
Brussels, Belgium	Winter Wonders	27 November	3 January 2027
Prague, Czech Republic	Old Town Square	28 November	6 January 2027
Zagreb, Croatia	Advent in Zagreb	28 November	7 January 2027
Strasbourg, France	Christkindelsmärik	Expected late November	24 December

Dates are based on organiser and tourism board announcements. Strasbourg had not confirmed its 2026 dates at the time of writing. In 2025, it ran from 26 November to 24 December. Always check the official website before you travel.

A Closer Look at the Top Christmas Markets 2026

These are some of the most popular Christmas markets 2026 for travelers from the US and UK.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna’s market in front of the grand City Hall is one of the most beautiful in Europe, with a huge Christmas tree, lit up trees in the park and an ice rink nearby. The city has several other markets too, including those at Schönbrunn Palace and Spittelberg. The Rathausplatz market is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closing early on Christmas Eve.

Nuremberg, Germany

The Christkindlesmarkt is one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world. It opens with a ceremony on the evening of 27 November, when the “Christkind,” a young woman dressed as an angel, reads a prologue from the church balcony. Try the local Nuremberg bratwurst and Lebkuchen gingerbread.

Cologne, Germany

Cologne has several markets, but the most famous sits in the shadow of the city’s huge Gothic cathedral. It is one of the busiest in Germany, so try to visit on a weekday. Note that it is closed on 22 November for a German day of remembrance.

Prague, Czech Republic

The market on Prague’s Old Town Square, with its giant tree and views of the Astronomical Clock and Týn Church, is a fairy tale sight. It runs until 6 January 2027, so it is a good choice if you want a trip after Christmas.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg calls itself the “Capital of Christmas” and has held a Christmas market since 1570, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Its markets spread across the city centre, with a giant tree in Place Kléber.

Budapest, Hungary

The Advent Feast at the Basilica is known for its light show projected onto St Stephen’s Basilica and its ice rink. Budapest is often cheaper than Western European cities, making it a good value choice.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Christmas in Tivoli Gardens is magical, with thousands of lights, rides and festive food. You will need a ticket to enter Tivoli. The city’s harbour area of Nyhavn also has a smaller festive market.

Brussels, Belgium

Winter Wonders spreads across the city centre, with stalls, an ice rink, a big wheel and a light show on the Grand Place. Brussels is easy to reach from London by Eurostar, making it a popular weekend trip.

Best Christmas Markets 2026 in the UK

You do not have to leave the UK to enjoy Christmas markets 2026. Here are the dates for some of the most popular UK Christmas markets 2026:

City	Market	Opens	Closes
Birmingham	Frankfurt Christmas Market	5 November	24 December
Manchester	Manchester Christmas Markets	6 November	22 December (some sites to 3 January)
York	St Nicholas Fair	12 November	21 December
Cardiff	Cardiff Christmas Market	12 November	23 December
Canterbury	Canterbury Christmas Market	12 November	24 December
Edinburgh	Edinburgh’s Christmas	14 November	3 January 2027
Belfast	City Hall Christmas Market	14 November	22 December
Leeds	Leeds Christmas Market	19 November	23 December
London	Hyde Park Winter Wonderland	19 November	3 January 2027
Liverpool	Liverpool Christmas Market	21 November	3 January 2027
Bath	Bath Christmas Market	26 November	13 December

For a longer list of British markets and fairs, see the VisitBritain Christmas markets guide.

Birmingham

The Frankfurt Christmas Market is said to be the largest authentic German market outside Germany and Austria. It opens on 5 November, earlier than most.

Manchester

Manchester’s markets spread across several sites in the city centre and are among the most popular in the UK. Some sites, such as Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens, stay open until 3 January 2027.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Christmas fills East Princes Street Gardens with stalls, rides and a big wheel with views of the castle. It runs into the city’s famous Hogmanay New Year celebrations.

London

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a huge festive theme park with markets, rides, an ice rink, circus shows and food. Entry is free at off peak times, but you need to book tickets in advance. London also has smaller markets at the Southbank Centre and Leicester Square.

Bath

Bath’s market is one of the prettiest in England, set among the city’s Georgian buildings and the Abbey. It runs for a shorter time than most, from 26 November to 13 December, so plan ahead.

Tips for Visiting Christmas Markets 2026

A little planning helps you get the most out of Christmas markets 2026.

1. Go on a weekday. Weekends, especially Saturdays, can be very crowded. Weekday afternoons are usually the quietest.
2. Visit after dark. Markets look their best when the lights come on, which is around 4 p.m. in most of northern Europe in December.
3. Book early. Flights and hotels in popular market cities fill up fast and get more expensive closer to the date.
4. Bring cash. Many stalls take cards now, but some smaller ones still prefer cash.
5. Keep your mug. In Germany and Austria, mulled wine is served in a souvenir mug with a deposit, called Pfand. Return it for your money back, or keep it as a souvenir.
6. Dress warmly. Wear layers, a hat, gloves and comfortable waterproof shoes. Temperatures in Central Europe can drop below freezing.
7. Watch your belongings. Busy markets can attract pickpockets, so keep bags zipped and valuables close.
8. Check opening days. Some markets close on certain holidays or close early on Christmas Eve.

What to Eat and Drink

Part of the fun of Christmas markets 2026 is the food. Look out for:

• Glühwein: hot mulled wine, the classic market drink. Most markets also offer an alcohol free version, called Kinderpunsch.
• Bratwurst: grilled sausages in a bread roll.
• Lebkuchen: soft German gingerbread.
• Roasted chestnuts and sugared almonds.
• Trdelník: a sweet pastry cooked on a spit, popular in Prague.
• Raclette: melted cheese scraped over bread or potatoes, popular in Switzerland and France.
• Kürtőskalács: Hungarian chimney cake.

How to Plan a Christmas Market Trip From the US or UK

From the US: Many travelers combine several cities on one trip. A popular route links Munich, Salzburg and Vienna by train. Another option is a Rhine or Danube river cruise, which stops at several market towns. Book flights early, as December is a busy month for transatlantic travel.

From the UK: Short flights and Eurostar trains make a weekend break easy. Brussels, Bruges, Paris and Cologne are all easy to reach by train from London. Cheap flights go to Prague, Budapest, Vienna and many German cities.

If you are planning around your time off, check our guide to UK bank holidays 2027 for next year’s trip.

How Much Does a Christmas Market Trip Cost?

The cost of visiting Christmas markets 2026 varies widely, but here is a rough idea of what to expect at the markets themselves:

Item	Typical price
Mug of mulled wine	€4 to €6, plus a mug deposit
Bratwurst in a roll	€4 to €6
Bag of roasted chestnuts	€4 to €6
Handmade ornament	€5 to €20

Eastern European cities such as Budapest, Prague and Zagreb are usually cheaper than Vienna, Munich or Copenhagen.

Christmas Markets 2026 in the US

If you cannot travel to Europe, several American cities host European style markets. Popular ones include the Christkindlmarket in Chicago, the Bryant Park Winter Village and Union Square Holiday Market in New York, Christmas Village in Philadelphia and the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington, DC. Check each market’s official website for its 2026 dates.

A Short History of Christmas Markets

Christmas markets began in German speaking parts of Europe in the Middle Ages. Early markets such as those in Dresden and Vienna date back hundreds of years. They gave people a place to buy food, crafts and supplies for the winter.

Over time, they became festive gatherings with music, decorations and treats. Today, the tradition has spread across the world, from the UK to the US and beyond. You can read more on the Christmas market Wikipedia page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Organiser and tourism board websites via Monkey Travel and Amazing Europe, VisitBritain, JustPark