What's open in Europe on Christmas Eve?

Seventy-nine of the 182 Christmas markets on this site open on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026, and 56 of the 62 with hours on file close by 18:30. We ran every market file through the date engine behind our Christmas Eve page and checked each organizer's notes on holiday hours. The table runs from the earliest close to the latest. A date marked confirmed comes from the organizer's own page. Announced means a tourism board published it, and projected means nobody has yet, so the date comes from past seasons and could still move.

Market	City	Country	Christmas Eve hours	2026 dates
Hall in Tirol Advent Market	Hall in Tirol	Austria	10:00–13:00, last day	Confirmed
Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt	Augsburg	Germany	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Dresden Striezelmarkt	Dresden	Germany	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Munich Christkindlmarkt	Munich	Germany	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt	Nuremberg	Germany	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Nuremberg Kinderweihnacht	Nuremberg	Germany	10:00–14:00 (2025 hours)	Confirmed
Altgrazer Christkindlmarkt in the Franziskanerviertel	Graz	Austria	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Graz Advent market on the Glockenspielplatz	Graz	Austria	11:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Graz Christkindlmarkt on the Hauptplatz	Graz	Austria	11:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Graz Advent market on the Mehlplatz	Graz	Austria	11:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Hellbrunn Advent Market	Salzburg	Austria	10:00–14:00, last day	Confirmed
Kitzbuhel Advent	Kitzbuhel	Austria	10:00–14:00	Confirmed
Vorosmarty Square Christmas Market	Budapest	Hungary	10:00–14:00	Confirmed
Baden-Baden Christkindelsmarkt	Baden-Baden	Germany	11:00–15:00 (2025 hours)	Confirmed
Dusseldorf Christmas Markets	Dusseldorf	Germany	11:00–15:00	Announced
Advent Bazilika	Budapest	Hungary	11:00–15:00	Confirmed
Innsbruck Hungerburg Christmas Market	Innsbruck	Austria	12:00–15:00	Confirmed
Innsbruck Maria-Theresien-Strasse Christmas Market	Innsbruck	Austria	11:00–15:00	Confirmed
Salzburg Christkindlmarkt	Salzburg	Austria	09:00–15:00	Confirmed
Mirabellplatz Christmas Market	Salzburg	Austria	10:00–15:00	Announced
Merano Christmas Market	Merano	Italy	10:00–15:30, food stalls to 17:00	Confirmed
Bolzano Christmas Market	Bolzano	Italy	10:00–16:00	Confirmed
Brixen Christmas Market	Brixen	Italy	10:00–16:00, food stalls to 17:30	Confirmed
Bern Minster Christmas Market	Bern	Switzerland	10:00–16:00, last day	Confirmed
Bern Star Market by the Federal Palace	Bern	Switzerland	11:00–16:00	Confirmed
Obernai Christmas Market	Obernai	France	10:00–16:00	Announced
Polarzauber Christmas Market at Zurich Main Station	Zurich	Switzerland	11:00–16:00, last day	Confirmed
Maria-Theresien-Platz Christmas Village	Vienna	Austria	11:00–16:00	Confirmed
Schonbrunn Palace Christmas Market	Vienna	Austria	10:00–16:00	Confirmed
Schwarzenbergplatz Christmas Market	Vienna	Austria	11:00–16:00	Confirmed
Stephansplatz Christmas Market	Vienna	Austria	11:00–16:00	Confirmed
Graz Kinderadvent children's market	Graz	Austria	11:00–16:30, last day	Confirmed
Bruges Christmas Market	Bruges	Belgium	11:00–17:00, some stalls to 23:00	Announced
Colmar Ancienne Douane Christmas Market	Colmar	France	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
Colmar Koifhus Indoor Craft Market	Colmar	France	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
Colmar Petite Venise Children's Christmas Market	Colmar	France	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
Colmar Place des Dominicains Christmas Market	Colmar	France	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
Colmar Place Jeanne d'Arc Christmas Market	Colmar	France	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
Montreux Noel Christmas Market	Montreux	Switzerland	11:00–17:00, last day	Confirmed
Fluweelengrot Christmas Market	Valkenburg	Netherlands	11:00–17:00	Confirmed
WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt	Berlin	Germany	12:00–18:00	Announced
Brussels Winter Wonders	Brussels	Belgium	12:00–18:00	Confirmed
Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof	Maastricht	Netherlands	10:00–18:00	Confirmed
Mulhouse Christmas Market	Mulhouse	France	11:00–18:00	Announced
Strasbourg Christkindelsmarik	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Cathedral Christmas Market	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Place Kleber and the Grand Sapin	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Carre d'Or Christmas Market	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Petite France Christmas Market	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Quai des Delices	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Strasbourg Marche OFF	Strasbourg	France	11:30–18:00, last day	Projected
Trento Christmas Market	Trento	Italy	10:00–18:00	Confirmed
Turckheim Elves' Christmas Market	Turckheim	France	10:00–18:00	Confirmed
Gemeentegrot Christmas Market	Valkenburg	Netherlands	11:00–18:00	Confirmed
WinterGlow Valkenburg	Valkenburg	Netherlands	12:00–18:00	Confirmed
Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz	Vienna	Austria	10:00–18:30	Confirmed
Edinburgh's Christmas Market	Edinburgh	United Kingdom	10:00–20:00	Confirmed
Riga Christmas Market	Riga	Latvia	10:00–20:00	Confirmed
Tallinn Christmas Market	Tallinn	Estonia	10:00–20:00	Confirmed
Christmas Village Amsterdam	Amsterdam	Netherlands	12:00–21:00	Confirmed
Colmar Gourmet Christmas Market	Colmar	France	11:00–22:00	Confirmed
Christmas fair in Hyde Park	London	United Kingdom	10:00–22:00, timed tickets	Confirmed
Prague Old Town Square Christmas Market	Prague	Czechia	Not out yet (2025: 10:00–14:00)	Confirmed
Prague Wenceslas Square Christmas Market	Prague	Czechia	Not out yet (2025: 10:00–14:00)	Confirmed
Christmas Market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church	Berlin	Germany	Not out yet (2025: closed at 14:00)	Announced
Bern Christmas Market on Waisenhausplatz	Bern	Switzerland	Not out yet (2025: 10:00–17:00), last day	Announced
Lyon Christmas Market (Place Carnot)	Lyon	France	From 11:00; closing time not published, last day	Confirmed
Prague Namesti Miru Christmas Market	Prague	Czechia	Not published for 24 December, last day	Confirmed
Prague Republic Square Christmas Market	Prague	Czechia	Not published, last day	Confirmed
Cesky Krumlov Christmas Market	Cesky Krumlov	Czechia	No separate stall hours published	Confirmed
Cologne Harbour Christmas Market	Cologne	Germany	Not published for 24 December	Announced
Brno Christmas Market on Zelny trh	Brno	Czechia	Not published	Confirmed
Ghent Winter Festival	Ghent	Belgium	Not published	Confirmed
Selestat Christmas Market	Selestat	France	Not published	Announced
Advent Zagreb	Zagreb	Croatia	Not published	Confirmed
Krakow Christmas Market	Krakow	Poland	Not published	Announced
Ljubljana Festive Fair	Ljubljana	Slovenia	Not published	Projected
Vilnius Christmas Town	Vilnius	Lithuania	Not published	Projected
Budapest Christmas Market at Varoshaza Park	Budapest	Hungary	Not published	Projected

Which markets stay open into the evening on Christmas Eve?

London, Colmar and Amsterdam keep a market going until 21:00 or later, and Edinburgh, Riga and Tallinn run to 20:00. The Christmas fair in Hyde Park keeps its 10:00 to 22:00 on 24 December and closes only on Christmas Day. It suits families and groups who want rides and an ice rink with the stalls, and the catch is the timed ticket, since you can only get in during your slot. Colmar's Christmas site gives the Colmar Gourmet Christmas Market on rue de la Montagne Verte 11:00 to 22:00 every day and names New Year's Eve as its one early close. Colmar's other five markets shut at 17:00 that day, and the organizer warns that they close on the minute.

The Riga Christmas Market on Dome Square closes at 20:00 on Christmas Eve by its organizer's English page and LiveRiga, though its Latvian page still says 21:00. Christmas Village Amsterdam keeps its usual 12:00 to 21:00 in front of the Rijksmuseum. It suits a couple who want a mug in hand on Christmas Eve evening, and the drawback is size, since one square holds its 50-odd stands. Edinburgh's Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens closes at 20:00 that night, and the Tallinn Christmas Market keeps its daily 10:00 to 20:00 on Town Hall Square.

Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz runs latest of the big Central European squares, from 10:00 to 18:30, and it opens again on Christmas Day. Brussels Winter Wonders, Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof, WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt and the Trento Christmas Market go on to 18:00. In Bruges the stated hours end at 17:00, and Visit Bruges says some stalls carry on to 23:00. In South Tyrol, Bolzano and Brixen close their craft stalls at 16:00, and Merano closes at 15:30.

Strasbourg needs a note of its own. The city has confirmed that its seven markets open on Friday 27 November 2026 and hasn't printed the last day yet. We list 24 December as projected from past seasons, and the city's FAQ gives an 18:00 close for the chalets that evening, so check the Strasbourg Christkindelsmarik page before you build a Christmas Eve around it.

Why do the German and Austrian markets close at lunchtime?

Christmas Eve is the family evening in both countries. In Germany shops and most businesses close by the afternoon of 24 December, and families often go to a church service before the Bescherung, when the presents come out (Germany). Austrian families light the tree for the first time that evening (Austria).

So the big German markets give you a morning. The Munich Christkindlmarkt runs 10:00 to 14:00, and the Grünwalder Turmbläser play from the town hall at noon to close it. Nuremberg's Hauptmarkt and Dresden's Striezelmarkt also stop at 14:00, so go early if you're hunting a last present and want a Bratwurst before lunch. Graz closes four markets at 14:00 and keeps its Kinderadvent going until 16:30. Hall in Tirol closes earliest of all, at 13:00.

Salzburg gives you an extra hour. The Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on the Domplatz opens at 09:00 and closes at 15:00, and Innsbruck's two markets that run on past Christmas also close at 15:00.

Which big markets have already closed by Christmas Eve?

Most of Germany's famous names are gone by the 24th. The Frankfurt Christmas Market and the Heidelberg Christmas Market end on 22 December 2026. The Cologne Cathedral Christmas Market, the Stuttgart Christmas Market and the Leipzig Christmas Market close on the 23rd, all with confirmed dates, and so do both markets in Basel and Vienna's Spittelberg Christmas Market. Across the site, 40 markets end on 23 December and 12 on the 22nd.

If your trip runs right up to Christmas, base yourself in Nuremberg or Dresden for the 23rd and 24th. You get a full evening on the 23rd and the closing morning on the 24th in the same city.

Which markets skip Christmas Eve and reopen afterwards?

A few markets close for the 24th and come back. Christmas in Tivoli has no opening on Christmas Eve and returns on Christmas Day from 11:00 to 23:00, with fireworks at 20:45. Berlin's Berliner Weihnachtszeit at the Rotes Rathaus and the Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace both close on the 24th and open again on the 25th.

Cologne's Heinzels Wintermarchen (Cologne Old Town) shuts for the 24th and 25th and reopens on the Heumarkt on 26 December. Dresden takes a longer pause: the Augustusmarkt, Dresden and the Medieval Christmas Market in the Stallhof, Dresden close from 24 to 26 December and come back on the 27th. The Wroclaw Christmas Market shuts for 24 and 25 December and reopens at 13:00 on the 26th. Our guide to markets open after Christmas has the rest.

What else shuts early on Christmas Eve?

Shops and transport wind down too, so sort dinner before you head out. In Czechia, shops of 200 m² or more close at noon on the 24th under a 2016 law, and small grocers, pharmacies and station shops can keep trading (Czechia). Budapest's public transport stops at about 16:00 on Christmas Eve, so book a restaurant near your hotel (Hungary). Danish law closes most shops on 24 December (Denmark). In Switzerland many shops and businesses open only until the afternoon (Switzerland).

Where can you go to church on Christmas Eve?

Cathedrals fill on the 24th, and a Mass is worship first, so come to take part quietly and keep your phone away during the service. Salzburg's tourist board lists carols at 23:00 and the Christmas Mass at 23:30 for Christmas Eve at Salzburg Cathedral. Midnight Mass at Cologne Cathedral begins at midnight as the 24th turns into Christmas Day, and the cathedral has confirmed it. Vienna's Midnight Mass at St. Stephen's Cathedral falls on the same night every year, and the parish publishes its 2026 times in December.

How firm are these Christmas Eve hours?

The hours in the table come from the organizers' 2026 pages unless the table says 2025. Baden-Baden and the Nuremberg Kinderweihnacht hadn't set their 2026 holiday hours by 10 October 2026, so we show last year's. Prague's organizer Taiko publishes 10:00 to 22:00 daily for 2026 and no holiday hours yet; in 2025 both of its squares closed at 14:00 on Christmas Eve. The host of the Cologne harbour market lists no hours at all for 24 to 26 December.

Our Christmas Eve page reads the same market files and changes as soon as a file does. The Christmas Day guide picks up the next morning.

Quick answers

Are Christmas markets in Europe open on Christmas Eve?

Yes. Seventy-nine of the 182 markets on this site open on Thursday 24 December 2026, and 56 of the 62 with hours on file close by 18:30.

Is the Nuremberg Christmas market open on Christmas Eve?

Yes. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt opens from 10:00 to 14:00 on 24 December 2026, its last day, and the city's market notice confirms it.

Is the Vienna Christmas market open on Christmas Eve?

Yes. The Vienna Christmas Market at Rathausplatz opens from 10:00 to 18:30 on 24 December 2026, and the organizer has confirmed the run to 26 December.

Which Christmas market stays open latest on Christmas Eve?

The Christmas fair in Hyde Park and the Colmar Gourmet Christmas Market stay open latest, both until 22:00 on 24 December 2026. Christmas Village Amsterdam comes next and closes at 21:00, and Edinburgh, Riga and Tallinn close at 20:00.

Are Strasbourg's Christmas markets open on 24 December 2026?

Strasbourg's markets are projected to run until 24 December 2026, with the chalets closing at 18:00. The city has confirmed the 27 November opening and hasn't published the last day yet.

Are German Christmas markets open on Christmas Eve?

Some are, until lunchtime. The Munich Christkindlmarkt, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, the Dresden Striezelmarkt and the Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt open from 10:00 to 14:00 on 24 December 2026.