Riga Christmas Market
Vecrīgas Ziemassvētku tirdziņš56°57′ N 24°06′ ERigafrom Nov 27Seasonal
Riga's Dome Square market suits families with young children and anyone who wants to shop from Latvian makers. It runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 under the Riga Cathedral. The whole market sits on one square, which makes it an easy evening's wander between dinner and the hotel.
Riga Christmas Market runs November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027 · confirmed by the organizer (source)
Advent SundaysGaudete, 13 DecemberChristmas Eve
Dates and hours
- November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 10, 2026
- November 28, 2025 to January 4, 2026Confirmedsourcechecked Oct 10, 2026
Hours · Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00; Fri–Sat 10:00–22:00; Sun 10:00–21:00
- Dec 24, 2026 · 10:00–20:00 (The organizer's English page and LiveRiga give 10:00–20:00; its Latvian page gives 10:00–21:00, so we use the earlier close.)
- Dec 25, 2026 · 10:00–21:00
- Dec 26, 2026 · 10:00–22:00
- Dec 31, 2026 · 10:00–02:00 (New Year's Eve; the market closes at 02:00 on 1 January.)
- Jan 1, 2027 · 12:00–20:00
The huts gather around a tall spruce on Doma laukums (Dome Square), and the organizer puts Latvian craftspeople first when it picks traders. In 2025 the square held 42 huts dressed in more than 500 metres of real fir garland, with over 65 small spruces set out between them. Beeswax candles and wool mittens sit beside gingerbread, and the food huts mix traditional Latvian dishes with winter street food.
Children get plenty of room here. There are pony rides over the cobbles, a pen of friendly sheep, a carousel and gingerbread painting. Santa's cottage welcomed more than 4,200 children from 46 countries in the 2025 season by the organizer's count, and he answered 205 letters.
Weekends carry the music. LiveRiga's listing puts a DJ on the stage every Friday and keeps Sundays for folk music, with choirs and ensembles singing in between.
Worth knowing
- Pay the cup deposit with your first drink, keep the cup or swap it for a clean one, and hand it in at the collection point when you leave. The refund goes back to the card or phone you tap on the terminal.
- On New Year's Eve the market stays open until 02:00. In 2025 the organizer booked DJs and the band Focus 5 for the night.
Quick answers about Riga Christmas Market
When is the Riga Christmas Market 2026?
The organizer lists 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 on Dome Square. It opens from 11:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10:00 to 21:00 on Sundays.
Is the Riga Christmas Market open on Christmas Day?
Yes. The organizer's holiday hours run from 10:00 on 24 and 25 December and from 10:00 to 22:00 on 26 December. Its English page and LiveRiga close the market at 20:00 on Christmas Eve, while its Latvian page says 21:00, so plan on 20:00 that night.
In the journal and guides
Read more about Riga Christmas Market
Guide · 12 min read
What's open in Europe on Christmas Eve?
Seventy-nine markets open on 24 December 2026, and most of them close by 18:30, so do your last shopping before dark.
Guide · 12 min read
Which Christmas markets are open after Christmas?
Prague, Salzburg, Dresden and Cologne keep their markets going through the week after Christmas, and Colmar runs to 29 December.
Guide · 9 min read
Which Christmas markets in Europe are open on Christmas Day?
Vienna and Colmar give you the most choice on 25 December 2026, and Tivoli reopens for the day with fireworks at 20:45.
Guide · 12 min read
Which Christmas markets stay open until New Year and Epiphany?
Budapest stays up until 03:00 on New Year's Eve, and 15 markets with confirmed dates are still open on Epiphany, 6 January 2027.