Christmas Events events
Discover the best Christmas events of 2026 around the world, from Europe's most famous Christmas markets and candlelight Christmas concerts to Nutcracker ballet performances, Christmas light shows and festive afternoon teas. Find Christmas activities in the cities you love, book your tickets in a few clicks, and pair every event with a hotel nearby on trip1.
Christmas Events events
Edinburgh: City of Wizards Outdoor Exploration Game
Edinburgh Castle Entry + Harry Potter Walking Tour
Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair
Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Coach from London
Christmas by Candlelight at 235 Shaftesbury Avenue
Sparkling Christmas Lights Open Top Bus Tour
Vivaldi's Four Seasons at Christmas at St Mary le Strand
Candlelight: Christmas Classics at Central Hall Westminster
Nutcracker Suite at Christmas by Candlelight at St Mary le Strand
Christmas Events events by destination
Booking a stay around christmas events events
Christmas events around the world in 2026
December is when cities everywhere feel their most magical. Old town squares fill with wooden market stalls, historic churches glow with hundreds of candles for Christmas concerts, gardens and castle grounds turn into illuminated light trails, and theatres stage the Nutcracker and festive shows night after night. This page brings together the Christmas events worth planning a trip around, in Europe, the UK, North America and beyond, so you can book a concert, a market visit or a light show and find somewhere to stay nearby in one go.
The best Christmas markets in Europe and beyond
Christmas markets are the heart of the season. Vienna, Prague, Strasbourg, Cologne, Nuremberg, Copenhagen, Tallinn and Vilnius are among the best Christmas markets in Europe, with mulled wine, handmade decorations and towering Christmas trees in their main squares. In the UK, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bath draw huge crowds, while New York, Montreal and Quebec City bring the European market tradition across the Atlantic. Most Christmas markets open in late November and run through December, so a weekend city break is the easiest way to see one.
Christmas market guides by city
Planning a Christmas market trip? Our travel guides cover opening dates, the best markets in each city, what to eat and drink, and where to stay. Pick a city below to start planning.
- Germany: Berlin Christmas market, Cologne Christmas market, Dresden Christmas market, Hamburg Christmas market, Munich Christmas market, Nuremberg Christmas market
- Austria: Vienna Christmas market, Salzburg Christmas market, Innsbruck Christmas market
- France: Paris Christmas market, Strasbourg Christmas market, Colmar Christmas market
- Central and Eastern Europe: Prague Christmas market, Budapest Christmas market, Krakow Christmas market, Warsaw Christmas market, Wroclaw Christmas market, Gdansk Christmas market, Zagreb Christmas market
- Baltics: Vilnius Christmas market, Riga Christmas market, Tallinn Christmas market, Tartu Christmas market
- Nordics: Copenhagen Christmas market, Stockholm Christmas market, Gothenburg Christmas market, Oslo Christmas market, Bergen Christmas market, Helsinki Christmas market, Christmas in Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Village
- Benelux: Amsterdam Christmas market, Brussels Christmas market, Bruges Christmas market
- Southern Europe: Lisbon Christmas market, Christmas in Madeira, Zaragoza Christmas market, Trento Christmas market, Christmas in Gubbio
- United Kingdom: London Christmas market, Manchester Christmas market, Edinburgh Christmas market, Birmingham Christmas market, Bath Christmas market
- USA and Canada: New York City Christmas market, Chicago Christmas market, Philadelphia Christmas Village, Seattle Christmas market, Denver Christmas market, Baltimore Christmas market, Carmel Christmas market, Montreal Christmas market, Toronto Christmas market
Want to wake up close to the festive lights? Browse our Christmas hotels collection for stays in the best Christmas market cities.
Christmas concerts, Nutcracker ballet and festive shows
Few things feel more like Christmas than live music. Candlelight Christmas concerts in cathedrals and historic churches pair classical favourites like Vivaldi's Four Seasons with carols and film soundtracks, while the Nutcracker ballet returns to opera houses and theatres in almost every major city. Add carol services, gospel choirs, Christmas shows and family pantomimes, and there is a festive performance for every taste and budget.
Christmas light shows and light trails
Botanical gardens, stately homes, castles and zoos transform after dark into walk-through Christmas light trails, with tunnels of light, illuminated trees and projection shows. City Christmas lights tours, often by open-top bus, are another easy way to see famous shopping streets and landmarks decorated for the season.
Festive afternoon teas, winter wonderlands and family Christmas activities
Looking for Christmas activities beyond markets and concerts? Book a Christmas afternoon tea in a grand hotel, spend a day at a winter wonderland with ice skating and fairground rides, join a wizard-themed tour or studio experience, or plan a family day out with Santa's grottos and festive trails. Many of these Christmas experiences sell out early, so it pays to book ahead.
Plan your Christmas getaway
Build a Christmas break around one headline event and fill the rest of your trip with markets, lights and festive food. Weekdays in late November and early December are usually quieter than the weekends just before Christmas, and staying close to the venue makes evening events much easier. Every event on this page links to hotels nearby, and our handpicked hotels for a festive Christmas stay make it easy to book your tickets and your stay together on trip1.
Christmas Events travel FAQs
Common questions about travelling for christmas events events.
The most popular Christmas events in 2026 include Christmas markets in cities like Vienna, Prague, Strasbourg and Cologne, candlelight Christmas concerts, Nutcracker ballet performances, Christmas light trails in gardens and castle grounds, and festive afternoon teas. Browse the events above to find tickets and hotels nearby.
Most Christmas markets open in mid to late November and run until Christmas Eve or the end of December, and some continue into early January. Opening dates vary by city, so check each event listing before you travel.
Vienna, Prague, Strasbourg, Cologne, Nuremberg, Copenhagen, Tallinn and Vilnius are among the most loved Christmas markets in Europe. In the UK, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bath are the most popular choices.
Christmas light trails, winter wonderland parks, Santa's grottos, pantomimes, Nutcracker performances and Christmas markets are all great family Christmas activities. Many events offer child tickets and early time slots.
Popular Christmas concerts, Nutcracker ballet performances, light trails and festive afternoon teas often sell out weeks in advance, especially on weekends in December. Booking as early as possible gives you the best choice of dates and times.
Yes. Every Christmas event on trip1 links to hotels nearby, so you can book your tickets and find somewhere to stay close to the venue in one go.
