2026 Christmas Markets Guide

Europe's Christmas Markets are among the most anticipated events on the seasonal travel calendar. From medieval market squares draped in fairy lights to baroque palace courtyards filled with the scent of mulled wine, each market has a character entirely its own. As Christmas Markets dates for the 2026 season are confirmed, we'll be updating this guide with everything you need to plan your visit. 

November 6, 2026 – January 7, 2027

Each winter, the forecourt of the former Habsburg summer residence transforms into one of Vienna's most popular Christmas Markets, its baroque façade illuminated behind rows of wooden stalls. Pick up gifts and treats from nearly 90 vendors selling hand-blown glass ornaments and traditional pottery alongside Käsespätzle, roasted chestnuts and steaming mugs of Punsch. Unlike most Vienna markets, Schönbrunn's season stretches well into January, making it one of the last still lit after the festivities end elsewhere in the city.

November 19, 2026 – January 1, 2027

Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt has filled the squares beneath the Hohensalzburg fortress since the late 15th century, making it one of the oldest markets in the German-speaking world. Around 100 stalls glow under a specially designed starlit canopy, selling hand-carved wooden toys, Salzburg spice bouquets and handmade Lebkuchen. Set inside the city's UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, it's a market that feels every bit as historic as the backdrop surrounding it.

November 19 – December 30, 2026

Strung along the Rhine between Burgplatz and the old harbor, Roncalli's Christmas Promenade trades the usual wooden chalets for something more theatrical: antique food trucks and vending carts pulled from circus director Bernhard Paul's private collection, alongside glass, Art Nouveau-style orangeries selling handmade gifts. Covered pop-up restaurants provide more upscale dining options than most markets offer, all set against river views that make this one of Düsseldorf's most distinctive Christmas experiences.

November 26, 2026 – January 6, 2027

Set directly in front of Baden-Baden's colonnaded Kurhaus, this market offers more than 100 stalls along an illuminated lane, with the 15-meter Christmas tree acting as a waypoint while you get carried away by the scent of grilled sausages and organic mulled gin. The nearby Lichtentaler Allee offers a quieter, tree-lined walk for anyone looking to slow down between stalls.

November 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Winter Wonders spreads across nearly two kilometers of central Brussels, linking the Grand-Place, Bourse, Sainte-Catherine and De Brouckère with more than 200 wooden chalets. A giant Ferris wheel and ice rink anchor the fairground energy near Sainte-Catherine. Few Christmas Markets in Europe cover this much ground, or this much of a city's own history, in a single festive stroll.