Christmas Market Dates 2026: When Do They Open?

Key dates for the 2026 Christmas market season

• 11 November 2026 (Wednesday) – St Martin's Day. A handful of markets, especially in the Netherlands, Belgium and the Rhineland, open around now; most are still building their huts.
• 16–20 November 2026. The big city markets in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Vienna and Budapest typically open in this week.
• 22 November 2026 (Sunday) – Totensonntag. In much of Germany markets traditionally open only after this Sunday of remembrance, so expect a wave of openings on Monday 23 November.
• 27 November 2026 (Friday). Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt traditionally opens on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent.
• 29 November 2026 (Sunday) – First Sunday of Advent. Almost every market is open by now. Many village Advent markets run only on Advent weekends: 28–29 Nov, 5–6 Dec, 12–13 Dec and 19–20 Dec 2026.
• 6 December 2026 (Sunday) – St Nicholas' Day. Nancy and towns across Lorraine, the Low Countries and Central Europe celebrate with parades.
• 23–24 December 2026. Most German markets close on 22 or 23 December; Christmas Eve is the last day for many others.
• 6 January 2027 – Epiphany. The last markets — in Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Rome and other capitals — close around Epiphany.

How Christmas market dates differ across Europe

Germany

German markets are tied to Advent. The large city markets (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich) open in mid- to late November, while many traditional markets wait until after Totensonntag. Nearly all close on 22 or 23 December, and only a few — mostly in Berlin, Cologne and ski areas — reopen as winter or New Year markets.

Austria and Switzerland

Vienna's markets open as early as mid-November and some, like the one at Schönbrunn Palace, continue as New Year markets. Smaller Alpine Advent markets often run only on weekends. In Switzerland most markets close before Christmas.

Central and Eastern Europe

Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Kraków and the Baltic capitals tend to open around the end of November and keep going into January, which makes them the best bet for a trip over Christmas and New Year.

United Kingdom

UK markets open earliest of all — several big city markets start in early or mid-November — and most close just before Christmas.

How to check the 2026 dates

Each market card on this site links to the official website. Organisers usually publish the new dates between September and early November, and opening hours a few weeks before the start. Opening times on 24 and 31 December are often shorter.