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European Christmas Markets 2026: Official Dates for Vienna, Cologne, Nuremberg, Strasbourg and Tivoli

Last updated: 23 October 2026

Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed, fact-checked and approved by Thomas Lovas Lokoy. Editorial policy

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Shoppers browsing wooden Christmas market stalls hung with garlands, fairy lights and gingerbread hearts at dusk

The big European Christmas markets open between mid-November and the end of November 2026, and most close on 23 or 24 December. Vienna and Cologne open first, in mid-November; Nuremberg and Strasbourg open on 27 November; Tivoli in Copenhagen runs its Christmas season into early January. The dates below are taken from each market's own website, checked in October 2026.

The 2026 dates at a glance

Market	City	2026 dates	Opening hours (as published)
Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz	Vienna	13 November – 26 December	Daily 10:00–22:00; 24 December 10:00–18:30
Christmas market at the Cathedral, Roncalliplatz	Cologne	16 November – 23 December	Sun–Wed 11:00–21:00, Thu–Fri 11:00–22:00, Sat 10:00–22:00; closed 22 November
Christkindlesmarkt	Nuremberg	27 November – 24 December	Mon–Sun 10:00–21:00
Strasbourg Christmas Market	Strasbourg	27 November – 24 December	See the market's FAQ for hours
Christmas in Tivoli	Copenhagen	13 November – 3 January	See Tivoli's opening-hours page

Sources: Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Kölner Weihnachtsmarkt am Dom, Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, Strasbourg, Capitale de Noël and Tivoli opening hours and seasons. Hours change, and special days such as 24 December often close early, so check the official page in the week you travel.

Vienna: the longest run

Vienna's main market on Rathausplatz, in front of the city hall, opens on 13 November 2026 and runs to 26 December, open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, with an early close at 6:30 pm on 24 December. Its ice rink, "Ice Dream at the Christmas Market", runs alongside it from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 and is closed on 31 December.

That long run makes Vienna the easiest market to fit around other plans, and the only one of the big five still open on 25 and 26 December. If your trip falls in early November or between Christmas and New Year, it is the obvious choice.

Cologne: the cathedral market

The market on Roncalliplatz in front of Cologne Cathedral runs from Monday 16 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026. Hours are 11 am to 9 pm from Sunday to Wednesday, 11 am to 10 pm on Thursday and Friday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday. Note one closure: the market is shut on Totensonntag, 22 November 2026.

Nuremberg: the opening ceremony

Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt opens on 27 November 2026 with an opening ceremony at 5:30 pm, and runs until 24 December, open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm. If you want to see the opening itself, book your hotel early: the first evening is the one everybody wants.

The historic carousel at Frankfurt's Christmas market, lit up among half-timbered houses

Strasbourg: a city of markets

Strasbourg calls itself the Capital of Christmas, and its markets are open from 27 November to 24 December 2026. The best known, the Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie, is one of several across the city centre, so treat Strasbourg as a city-wide event rather than a single square. Its official site publishes the details for each market on its FAQ and market pages.

Copenhagen: Christmas in Tivoli

Tivoli Gardens' Christmas season runs from 13 November to 3 January, according to Tivoli's opening-hours page. Unlike the open squares above, Tivoli is a ticketed park, so plan entry tickets in advance and check opening hours for the specific day.

How to plan a better market trip

For accommodation, it pays to stay within walking distance of the market square so that you can come back in the evening without a taxi; compare city hotels on location before price. For guided walks, food tours and day trips around the markets, you can browse tours on GetYourGuide and compare what is included and how cancellation works before booking.

Which market suits which trip

If you want…	Choose	Why
The longest window to fit a trip around	Vienna	Open 13 November to 26 December, daily
An early-season weekend in mid-November	Vienna or Cologne	Both open before the 27 November group
The opening-night atmosphere	Nuremberg	Opening ceremony on 27 November at 5:30 pm
Several markets in one city	Strasbourg	Markets across the city centre, not one square
Something between Christmas and New Year	Copenhagen (Tivoli) or Vienna	Tivoli runs to 3 January; Vienna to 26 December
A family day out with rides and attractions	Copenhagen (Tivoli)	A park setting rather than an open square

A sample long weekend

If you can travel on the weekend of 27–29 November 2026, every market in this guide is open. One way to use it: arrive in Nuremberg on Friday 27 November for the opening ceremony at 5:30 pm, spend Saturday there in daylight, and travel on to Vienna for Sunday, where the market has been open since 13 November and is quieter in the late afternoon than in the evening. Swap Nuremberg for Cologne if you are coming from the north or west. Check rail times and the markets' own pages before you book — this is an outline, not a timetable.

Combining markets in one trip

Two pairs work well by rail on a long weekend. Cologne opens earliest among the German markets in this list and pairs naturally with a Rhine itinerary. Nuremberg and Vienna can be combined if you want both the opening-ceremony experience and the longest-running market. Strasbourg combines easily with a French or Swiss itinerary. Whatever you choose, check opening days carefully: a market that opens on 27 November will not be there if you arrive on the 20th.

If you are thinking of a wider European trip, our Grand Tour reinvented and luxury European road trip guide cover routes that pass several of these cities. For gifts to bring home, see our holiday gift guide for people who already have everything.

Frequently asked questions

When do the Christmas markets open in 2026? Vienna opens on 13 November and Cologne on 16 November; Nuremberg and Strasbourg open on 27 November. Tivoli's Christmas season in Copenhagen starts on 13 November.

Which Christmas markets stay open after Christmas? Of the markets in this guide, Vienna's Rathausplatz market runs until 26 December and Tivoli's Christmas season until 3 January.

Is the Nuremberg Christmas market open on Sundays? Yes. It is open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 9 pm between 27 November and 24 December 2026.

Is the Cologne Cathedral market closed on any day? Yes — on Totensonntag, 22 November 2026.

Which market is easiest to visit between Christmas and New Year? Of the markets in this guide, only Vienna (until 26 December) and Tivoli in Copenhagen (until 3 January) are still open then.

Some links on this page are affiliate links and are labelled as sponsored where a real partnership exists. Dates and hours are as published on each market's official website, checked in October 2026, and may change.

Related reading: The Grand Tour Reinvented