Best Christmas Markets in Europe 2026: Dates for 10 Cities

The best Christmas markets in Europe for 2026 include Strasbourg, Vienna, Nuremberg, Cologne, Prague, Budapest, Tallinn, Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Brussels. Most open between 13 and 28 November 2026. Vienna and Copenhagen start earliest, Nuremberg and Strasbourg open on 27 November, and Prague, Tallinn and Brussels run into early January 2027.

The dates below were checked against official organiser, city and tourism websites in October 2026. Where an organiser has not yet published a date, we say so and give last year’s pattern. Hours often change on 24, 25 and 31 December, so check the official page again before you book travel.

Christmas market dates 2026 at a glance

City	Main market	Opens	Closes
Vienna	Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz	13 November 2026	26 December 2026
Copenhagen	Christmas in Tivoli	13 November 2026	3 January 2027
Budapest	Advent Bazilika, St Stephen’s Square	13 November 2026	1 January 2027
Edinburgh	Edinburgh’s Christmas, Princes Street Gardens	14 November 2026	3 January 2027
Cologne	Cathedral market, Roncalliplatz	16 November 2026	23 December 2026
Tallinn	Town Hall Square	20 November 2026	6 January 2027
Nuremberg	Christkindlesmarkt, Hauptmarkt	27 November 2026	24 December 2026
Strasbourg	Christkindelsmärik, Place Broglie	27 November 2026	Not yet announced (24 December in 2025)
Brussels	Winter Wonders, city centre	27 November 2026	3 January 2027
Prague	Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square	28 November 2026	6 January 2027

When do Christmas markets in Europe open in 2026?

There is no single start date. Austrian, Hungarian and Danish markets tend to open in mid-November. Many German and French markets wait until the end of November, close to the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on 29 November in 2026.

Also readDaylight Saving Australia 2026: Dates, States and Time Zones

Closing dates split into two groups. German markets such as Nuremberg and Cologne shut on or just before Christmas Eve. Markets in Prague, Tallinn, Brussels, Copenhagen and Edinburgh stay open over New Year, which makes them useful for a trip between Christmas and early January.

1. Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s main market, the Christkindelsmärik, is held on Place Broglie, and smaller markets spread across the old town. The city’s official Christmas website lists the 2026 opening as Friday 27 November 2026. It had not published a closing date at the time of writing. In 2025 the markets closed on 24 December, so expect a similar finish.

The Grand Sapin, the city’s large Christmas tree, stands on Place Kléber with its own market at its base. The town hall courtyard gets a giant Advent wreath, and a trail of lights links the cathedral, Petite France and the Neustadt district.

Best for: an old-town setting with several markets within walking distance of each other.

2. Vienna, Austria

The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, in front of the city hall, runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026. It opens daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with an earlier close of 18:30 on 24 December.

Next to the market, the Eistraum ice rink runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with the lit-up Rathauspark around it. It is closed on 31 December. Vienna also has other seasonal markets, including one at Schönbrunn Palace, so a single visit can cover two or three.

Best for: combining a market with ice skating in the city centre.

3. Nuremberg, Germany

The Christkindlesmarkt is one of Germany’s best-known markets. The 2026 edition runs from 27 November to 24 December, open 10:00 to 21:00 every day. The official opening ceremony takes place on 27 November at 17:30.

The organisers highlight traditional, often handmade decorations and two local foods: gingerbread and Nuremberg bratwurst, the small sausages traditionally served three in a bread roll. Spekulatius almond biscuits are another regular buy.

Best for: traditional crafts and food in a historic German setting.

4. Cologne, Germany

The market in front of Cologne Cathedral, on Roncalliplatz, opens on Monday 16 November and closes on 23 December 2026. It is closed on 22 November, a German day of remembrance known as Totensonntag. Hours are 11:00 to 21:00 Sunday to Wednesday, 11:00 to 22:00 on Thursday and Friday, and 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday.

The organisers list more than 140 stalls and over 100 free events on a central stage, plus a children’s programme. Cologne has several other markets across the city, so a day trip can include more than one.

Best for: a big, busy market with a cathedral backdrop and an easy rail connection.

5. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s main markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, according to the market organiser. Both are listed as open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.

Old Town Square is the more photogenic of the two, with the main city Christmas tree, the town hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn around it. Wenceslas Square is a short walk away and is usually a little less crowded.

Best for: a market trip that continues after Christmas into early January.

6. Budapest, Hungary

The Advent Bazilika market on St Stephen’s Square, outside St Stephen’s Basilica, runs from 13 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, according to its official website. The basilica facade is used for evening light projections, and there is a small ice rink in front of the church.

Budapest’s other well-known fair is on Vörösmarty Square, a short walk away. Check its own website for 2026 dates and hours before going, as they can differ from the basilica market.

Best for: evening visits, when the light shows are on.

7. Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn’s Christmas market on Town Hall Square runs from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. It opens at 18:00 on 20 November with the lighting of the main Christmas tree. Regular hours are 10:00 to 20:00, with hot drinks served until 22:00, and until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The organisers say 2026 is the market’s 26th year and that it has a wide range of glögi, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Reusable mugs carry a EUR 2 deposit, which is refunded when the mug is returned. Santa’s house opens on 29 November, the first Sunday of Advent.

Best for: a medieval old town and a quieter atmosphere than the big German markets.

8. Copenhagen, Denmark (Tivoli)

Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to the park’s opening hours page. Tivoli is an amusement park in central Copenhagen, so you pay an entry fee, unlike most of the street markets on this list. Daily hours had not loaded on the official page when we checked, so confirm them in the Tivoli app or website.

The season brings Christmas lights, decorated stalls and food alongside the rides. It works well for families who want more than browsing stalls.

Best for: families and anyone who wants rides as well as a market.

9. Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh’s Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to the city’s official tourism site. The Traditional Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens has around 70 stalls and free entry.

The same area has the 46-metre Big Wheel and an 80-metre Starflyer ride. West Princes Street Gardens hosts a family funfair, and George Street has an undercover ice rink. Some rides and the rink charge for tickets, so budget in GBP for those.

Best for: UK visitors who want a market without a flight to mainland Europe.

10. Brussels, Belgium

Brussels’ Winter Wonders runs from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, according to the organiser’s website. Note that one part of the same site gives 28 November as the start, so confirm the opening day closer to the time. The organiser says more details, including hours, will follow in November.

The event spreads across the city centre, with sites including Place de la Monnaie, Place Sainte-Catherine, the Vismet area, Place de la Bourse and Place de Brouckère. The organiser lists 238 chalets in total, and the Grand-Place has the city’s Christmas tree.

Best for: a long market trail through the centre of a capital city.

How to plan a Christmas market trip in 2026

1. Pick your dates first. For a multi-city trip, the overlap window when all ten markets above are open is 28 November to 23 December 2026, before Cologne closes on 23 December.
2. Avoid weekends if you can. The large German and Austrian markets are busiest on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Weekday mornings are calmer.
3. Check holiday hours. Vienna closes early on 24 December, Cologne is shut on 22 November, and the Vienna ice rink is closed on 31 December.
4. Carry some cash. Card payment is now common, but small stalls and mug deposits are quicker with coins. The euro is used in France, Austria, Germany, Estonia and Belgium. Prague uses the Czech koruna, Budapest the Hungarian forint, Copenhagen the Danish krone and Edinburgh the pound sterling.
5. Return your mug. Many markets serve hot drinks in deposit mugs. Return the mug for your deposit or keep it as a souvenir.
6. Book rail early. Nuremberg, Cologne, Vienna and Strasbourg are all on major rail routes. Cologne and Brussels are close enough to combine in one trip.

For more ideas on keeping costs down, see our tips for budget travel in Europe. If you want to add a quieter city to your route, our list of underrated European cities has options, and for the evenings after, there is our list of holiday movies to watch this Christmas.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Kölner Weihnachtsmarkt am Dom, Visit Edinburgh.