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Christmas markets 2026

Practical tips · 8 October 2026 · updated 30 October 2026 · 9 min read

White Christmas market stalls with garlands of lights in the evening snow, a lit building behind them
Photo: Pofka, CC BY-SA
Contents

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The Christmas markets of 2026 start on 20 November in Tallinn, Gdańsk and Warsaw. In Riga they start on 27 November, in Vilnius on 28 November. For Kaunas we so far know only the date of the tree lighting. In Šiauliai, Panevėžys, Klaipėda, Alytus, Utena and Plungė Christmas fairs run from 21 November to 13 December. Below are the dates, hours, location and walk from the station for twelve cities. We read the other cities on 8 October on the organisers’ or municipalities’ pages, and the Vilnius market dates on 12 October. We read the regional fair dates on 28–29 October in event calendars.

How to read this guide. We calculated the walk with the OpenStreetMap pedestrian routing service. We do not write prices: you will find trips with live prices on the trip pages. If an organiser has not published 2026 data, we write “dates not yet announced”.

Vilnius

The white Vilnius Cathedral with columns and a tall bell tower on Cathedral Square
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA

Vilnius Archcathedral Basilica

The cathedral and bell tower on Cathedral Square are the centre of the old town; you can go inside only when no service is being held.

On the mapWebsite

Dates. The Christmas tree in Cathedral Square will be lit on Saturday, 28 November (LRT). The programme is published: the Christmas town in Cathedral Square runs from 28 November to 27 December, the Christmas carousel from 28 November to 6 January, the Christmas train from 28 November to 3 January. The “Vilniaus ledas” rink in Town Hall Square runs from 29 November to 25 January (programme, checked 2026-10-30). Market hours are not yet announced.

How to walk there. From the Bus Station to Cathedral Square it is 2.0 km, about 27 min on foot, and from the railway station 2.1 km, about 28 min.

Entry. There is no price or ticket information. What is special: the tree is lit on 28 November. More on the Vilnius destination page and in the guide Advent weekends in Lithuania (in Lithuanian).

Kaunas

Laisvės alėja in Kaunas with trees, festive fir branches and garlands of lights
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY

Dates. The Kaunas tree will be lit a day earlier than in Vilnius, on 27 November at 18:00 in Town Hall Square. The programme of the event is being prepared, and the municipality has not yet announced the market dates (LRT).

How to walk there. From Kaunas bus station to Town Hall Square it is 3.5 km, about 46 min on foot, and from the railway station 3.8 km, about 51 min.

Entry. There is no price. What is special: the tree is lit a day earlier than in Vilnius, and the event programme is still being prepared. More on the Kaunas destination page.

Šiauliai

Dates and hours. Two fairs take place at Šiauliai Arena (J. Jablonskio g. 16), both on a Sunday, 10:00–16:00. On 22 November, the pre-Christmas fair “Stilius ir Skonis” (Visit Šiauliai). On 6 December, the Great Christmas Fair of Šiauliai (Visit Šiauliai).

How to walk there. From the bus station to the arena it is 2.4 km, about 35 min on foot, and from the railway station 2.5 km, about 36 min.

More on the Šiauliai destination page.

Panevėžys

Dates and hours. The pre-Christmas fair “Stilius ir Skonis” takes place on Saturday, 21 November, 10:00–16:00 at Kalnapilis Arena (Parko g. 12) (Panevėžys NOW).

How to walk there. From the bus station to the arena it is 2.3 km, about 35 min on foot, and from the railway station 2.3 km, about 34 min.

More on the Panevėžys destination page (in Lithuanian).

Klaipėda

The Klaipėda Drama Theatre building with a paved square and a fountain with a sculpture in front
Photo: Thomas Pusch, CC BY-SA

Theatre Square and the Anikė sculpture

An old town square by the Drama Theatre with a fountain and the sculpture of Anikė from Tarau.

On the mapWebsite

Dates. Two fairs take place at Švyturys Arena (Dubysos g. 10). On Friday, 4 December, the fair “Kalėdų magija 2026” (Klaipėdon). On Sunday, 13 December, the Great Christmas Fair of Klaipėda (Klaipėdon). Both start at 10:00. The event pages do not say when they end.

How to walk there. It is a long walk: from the bus station to the arena it is 4.7 km, about 68 min on foot, and from the railway station 4.7 km, about 69 min.

More on the Klaipėda destination page.

Alytus

Dates and hours. The pre-Christmas fair “Stilius ir Skonis” takes place on Saturday, 28 November, 10:00–16:00 at the Alytus Sports and Recreation Centre (Naujoji g. 52) (Alytus info).

How to walk there. From the bus station to the sports centre it is 1.4 km, about 22 min on foot.

More on the Alytus destination page.

Utena

Dates and hours. Two fairs take place at the Utena Multifunctional Sports Centre (K. Donelaičio g. 38), both 10:00–16:00. On Sunday, 29 November, the pre-Christmas fair “Stilius ir Skonis” (Visit Utena). On Saturday, 12 December, the Great Christmas Fair of Utena (Visit Utena).

How to walk there. From the bus station to the sports centre it is 0.6 km, about 9 min on foot.

More on the Utena destination page.

Plungė

Dates and hours. The Great Christmas Fair of Plungė takes place on Sunday, 29 November, 10:00–16:00 at Plungė Sports Arena (Mendeno g. 1c) (Visit Plungė).

How to walk there. From the bus station to the arena it is 2.8 km, about 46 min on foot, and from the railway station 2.9 km, about 47 min.

More on the Plungė destination page.

Riga

The nave of Riga Cathedral with a red carpet between the pews and tall white vaults
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA

Riga Cathedral

The cathedral of Riga’s old town, open to visitors; midday concerts are held too.

On the mapWebsite

Dates. The market in Dome Square will run from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The organiser’s hours (market website):

  • Monday to Thursday 11:00–21:00;
  • Friday 11:00–22:00, Saturday 10:00–22:00, Sunday 10:00–20:00;
  • 24 and 25 December: 10:00–20:00; 26 December: 10:00–22:00;
  • 31 December: 10:00–00:02; 1 January: 12:00–20:00.

The LiveRiga page gives other hours: Friday 10:00–22:00, Sunday 10:00–21:00, and on 31 December until 02:00. On the opening day, 27 November, it says 11:00–20:00 (LiveRiga). Go by the organiser’s hours.

How to walk there. From the bus station to Dome Square it is 1.1 km, about 15 min on foot, and from the railway station 1.2 km, about 16 min.

Entry is free. What is special: LiveRiga says the market has run since 2000. More on the Riga destination page and in the guides A weekend in Riga and New Year in Riga (in Lithuanian).

Sunny Dome Square in Riga: the cathedral tower, red-brick buildings and tourists walking
Photo: Steven1991, CC BY-SA

Tallinn

Tallinn old town sunk in fog: red tower roofs, the spire of St Olaf’s church and trees
Photo: Hendrik Mändla, CC BY-SA

Tallinn Old Town

Tallinn old town with its towers and roofs, wrapped in morning mist.

On the map

Dates and hours. The market in Town Hall Square will run from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10:00–20:00. Hot drinks are poured until 22:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 23:00 (christmasmarket.ee).

How to walk there. From Baltic station (Balti jaam) to Town Hall Square it is 0.9 km, about 12 min on foot. From the bus station it is 2.3 km, about 31 min.

Entry. There are no prices on the website. What is special: the organisers say the market opens for the 26th time by the first public Christmas tree in the world and offers the widest choice of glögg in Europe (christmasmarket.ee). More on the Tallinn destination page and in the guide Tallinn Christmas market (in Lithuanian).

Tallinn Town Hall Square with light-coloured buildings, café umbrellas and passers-by
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA

Gdańsk

Dates and hours. The market will run from 20 November 2026 to 23 December, Sunday to Thursday 12:00–20:00, Friday and Saturday 12:00–21:00 (organiser). It ends earlier than the other markets in this guide.

How to walk there. From Gdańsk Główny station to the Coal Market (Targ Węglowy) it is 0.8 km, about 10 min on foot.

Entry is free. What is special: the market is not in one square but at the Coal Market, on the Royal Way from the Upland Gate to the Golden Gate and on Bogusławskiego Street, where there is a crafts zone. There is a cash machine at the Coal Market. More on the Gdańsk destination page and in the guide A weekend in Gdańsk (in Lithuanian).

Gdańsk Long Market at night: the lit town hall tower and colourful merchants' houses
Photo: Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA

Warsaw

The tower of the Palace of Culture and Science with a clock among modern skyscrapers on a clear day
Photo: Pudelek, CC BY-SA

Palace of Culture and Science

A skyscraper in central Warsaw with a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.

On the mapWebsite

Dates. The second Warsaw Christmas market in Defilad Square (Plac Defilad) will run from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. The organisers promise a larger area (jarmark.waw.pl). The 2026 hours are not yet announced: the page shows only last season’s. The dates of the old town market are not yet announced.

How to walk there. From Warsaw Central station to Defilad Square it is 0.5 km, about 7 min on foot.

Entry. There are no prices on the website. What is special: this is the second edition, and the organisers promise a bigger scale than last year. More on the Warsaw destination page and in the guide A weekend in Warsaw (in Lithuanian).

Comparison

City Dates Walk from the station Entry
Vilnius tree and market 28 November; market until 27 December 2.0 km from the bus station not announced
Kaunas tree 27 November at 18:00; market not yet announced 3.5 km from the bus station not announced
Šiauliai fairs 22 November and 6 December 2.4 km from the bus station not stated
Panevėžys fair 21 November 2.3 km from the bus station not stated
Klaipėda fairs 4 and 13 December 4.7 km from the bus station not stated
Alytus fair 28 November 1.4 km from the bus station not stated
Utena fairs 29 November and 12 December 0.6 km from the bus station not stated
Plungė fair 29 November 2.8 km from the bus station not stated
Riga 27 November–3 January 1.1 km from the bus station free
Tallinn 20 November–6 January 0.9 km from Baltic station not stated
Gdańsk 20 November–23 December 0.8 km from Główny station free
Warsaw 20 November–6 January 0.5 km from Central station not stated

You will find more cities, including Wrocław, Berlin and Prague, in the guide 10 Christmas markets in Europe (in Lithuanian).

Wrocław Market Square in the evening: a lit Christmas tree, the Old Town Hall and Christmas market stalls
Photo: Icodense, CC BY-SA

Frequently asked questions

When do the Christmas markets start in 2026?

On 20 November in Tallinn, Gdańsk and Warsaw, on 27 November in Riga, and on 28 November in Vilnius (the market runs until 27 December). In Kaunas the tree is lit on 27 November. In the Lithuanian regions the first fair is on 21 November in Panevėžys.

Do I need tickets for the markets?

Entry is free in Riga and Gdańsk. The organisers in the other cities do not state a price.

When will the Vilnius and Kaunas programmes be announced?

The Vilnius programme is already published: the Christmas town runs 28 November–27 December, hours not yet announced. The Kaunas event programme is being prepared. We will update this guide when they appear.

Contents

Destinations in this guide

  • The bell tower and cathedral of Vilnius Archcathedral on Cathedral Square

    Vilnius

    The old town, Užupis and contemporary art museums: from Kaunas 59 min by train, and a city ticket costs from €1.00.

  • A street in the Kaunas old town with colourful houses and people walking

    Kaunas

    UNESCO modernism, the Ninth Fort and the old town: 59 min by train from Vilnius, and a single city ticket on the app costs €0.70.

  • The white spire of Šiauliai Cathedral rising behind green trees into a blue sky

    Šiauliai

    A city of museums with the Hill of Crosses 12 km to the north: 2 h 28 min–2 h 44 min by train from Vilnius, from 2 h 30 min by bus from Kaunas, museum ticket €8.

  • Half-timbered buildings with red tiled roofs in the Klaipėda old town

    Klaipėda

    A port city with an old town, the Lithuanian Sea Museum at Smiltynė and a ferry across the lagoon, from 3 h 45 min by bus from Vilnius.

  • A long white pedestrian bridge on two concrete piers over the Nemunas, with green hills around

    Alytus

    The largest city in southern Lithuania on both sides of the Nemunas: 1 h 5 min by bus from Kaunas, from 1 h 40 min from Vilnius, regional museum ticket €1.

  • Utena from above: blocks of houses, a lake and forests on the horizon

    Utena

    The centre of eastern Lithuania’s county with a regional museum, north-east of Vilnius.

  • The greyish Plungė Oginski Palace with sculptures on the roof and stone steps against a blue sky

    Plungė

    The Oginski Palace with the Samogitian Art Museum and a 45 ha park in Samogitia, 45–60 minutes by train from Klaipėda.

  • The silhouette of Riga’s old town with church towers in evening light, reflected in the water of the Daugava

    Riga

    Art Nouveau streets, the Central Market and the old town, only a few hours by bus from Vilnius.

  • Tallinn's Town Hall Square with white buildings and café terraces

    Tallinn

    A medieval old town and the Lennusadam maritime museum: the farthest trip of all, for those who treat the bus ride as half the adventure.

  • The colourful buildings of the Long Market in Gdańsk, Artus Court and Neptune's Fountain on the right

    Gdańsk

    The Royal Way, St Mary’s Basilica and the Museum of the Second World War: a Baltic port city about 10 hours by bus.

  • A square in the Warsaw old town with colourful historic houses and café tables

    Warsaw

    The old town, the Warsaw Rising Museum and pierogi: a city weekend about 7 hours by bus from Vilnius.

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