Guides · Vilnius
Vilnius Christmas Market 2026: Tree Reveal, Dates & Festive Gems
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Vilnius Christmas market returns to Cathedral Square from 28 November to 27 December 2026, according to Go Vilnius, the city's official tourism agency. The season opens on 28 November with the lighting of the Vilnius Christmas tree, one of the most famous in Europe, which was ranked first by European Best Destinations two years in a row. The design of the 2026 tree is kept secret until the lighting. Entry is free.
Vilnius goes beyond a single market, with a free Christmas train through the Old Town, a two-storey carousel and an open-air ice rink in Town Hall Square. This guide covers the 5 best ways to enjoy a Vilnius Christmas market trip, each with the address, how to get there and a Pro Tip. Where 2026 details had not been announced, we give last year's information.
The UNESCO-listed Old Town is compact and best explored on foot. The order starts in Cathedral Square, climbs to the best viewpoints, follows the Christmas train route to Town Hall Square, and finishes with a festive evening at the opera and ballet theatre.
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1Cathedral Square Christmas Market and the Vilnius Christmas Tree
Cathedral Square, in front of the white neoclassical Vilnius Cathedral and its freestanding bell tower, is the heart of the Vilnius Christmas market. The 2026 market runs from 28 November to 27 December, and last year it featured 48 wooden huts arranged in a promenade around the Christmas tree.
The tree itself is the star of the season. Each year it follows a new theme, from fairy tales to clocks, and in 2025 it was a 20-metre installation decorated with 25,000 warm white lights and 400 ornaments, with a viewing platform for visitors. The 2026 tree will be lit on the evening of 28 November.
Stalls sell Lithuanian crafts, amber, linen, woollen goods and festive food, including šakotis, a spiky tree-shaped cake, and hot mead.
2Cathedral Bell Tower and Gediminas Tower - Views over the Lights
For the best views of the Christmas tree and the market, climb the Cathedral Bell Tower, which stands separately beside the cathedral. For a small fee, visitors can climb to the top for a bird's-eye view over Cathedral Square and the Old Town rooftops.
Above the square, Gediminas Tower, the last surviving tower of the Upper Castle, offers panoramic views over the city and is a symbol of Vilnius. It can be reached on foot via a steep path or by a short funicular, depending on the season.
Both viewpoints are especially beautiful at dusk, when the city's Christmas lights come on and the tree glows below.
3Christmas Train and Carousel - Free Festive Rides
Vilnius adds to its Christmas market with free festive rides. A Christmas train winds through the illuminated Old Town streets from Cathedral Square, running from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, according to Go Vilnius.
Next to the market, a traditional two-storey carousel handcrafted by artisans is a highlight for children and adults alike. In 2025, these attractions were offered free of charge as part of the city's festive programme.
The train is a relaxing way to see the decorated streets, churches and squares of the Old Town without walking on icy cobblestones, and it starts right beside the Vilnius Christmas market.
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4Town Hall Square Ice Rink - Skating in the Old Town
Town Hall Square, at the southern end of the Old Town's main street, hosts an open-air ice rink during the Christmas season, surrounded by historic buildings and the neoclassical Town Hall. In the 2025 season, the rink, called Vilnius Ice, opened from 30 November 2025 to 1 February 2026.
Skates can be hired on site, and the square is decorated with lights and festive installations. Walking from Cathedral Square to Town Hall Square along Pilies and Didžioji streets takes you past churches, cafés and Christmas windows.
Dates for the 2026 season had not been confirmed at the time of writing; check Go Vilnius before you go.
5Opera and Ballet Theatre - The Nutcracker and Festive Performances
The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT), a short walk from Cathedral Square near the Neris river, is the city's main stage for opera and classical ballet. In December, a night at the theatre is one of the most atmospheric ways to round off a day at the Vilnius Christmas market.
The highlight of the festive season is usually Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, the classic Christmas ballet set on Christmas Eve, which is a favourite with families. The December programme also typically includes popular operas and ballets, with performances sung in the original language and surtitles shown above the stage.
Holiday performances sell out quickly, so check the 2026 programme on the theatre's website and book as early as you can. Tickets are generally cheaper than at major opera houses in Western Europe.
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Vilnius Christmas Market 2026: Tree, Dates & Best Spots - FAQ
The Vilnius Christmas Market runs from 28 November to 27 December 2026 in Cathedral Square, according to Go Vilnius. The Christmas tree is lit on opening night, and the Christmas train runs until 6 January 2027.
Yes, entry is free. In 2025 the Christmas train and carousel were also free to ride. You pay for food, drinks, gifts and skate hire.
Cathedral Square is at the northern edge of the Old Town and easy to reach on foot. Vilnius Airport is a short bus, train or taxi ride from the centre, and the railway station is about a 20-minute walk from the square.
The market runs until 27 December, so it is in place over Christmas, and the tree stays lit. Stalls may keep shorter hours on 24 and 25 December, when Lithuanians celebrate at home.
Yes, until 27 December 2026. After the stalls close, the Christmas tree and the Christmas train continue into the new year, with the train running until 6 January 2027.
The market is in Cathedral Square, beside Vilnius Cathedral and at the foot of Gediminas Hill. The ice rink is in Town Hall Square, and smaller festive squares such as Vinco Kudirkos and Odminių are nearby.
The tree-lighting night on 28 November is spectacular but very crowded. For a calmer visit, come on a weekday evening, when the tree is lit and the square is easier to explore.
Cathedral Square is the main market and home to the famous tree. Town Hall Square adds an ice rink, and the smaller Christmas squares of Vinco Kudirkos and Odminių have their own decorations and stalls.
The Vilnius Christmas tree follows a new creative theme every year, kept secret until the lighting. It has been ranked first by European Best Destinations two years in a row, and is often called one of Europe's most beautiful trees.
Yes. An open-air ice rink sets up in Town Hall Square in the Old Town, a short walk from Cathedral Square. Skate hire is available, and the rink is especially atmospheric in the evening.
