Prague Christmas markets 2026

When are the Prague Christmas markets in 2026?

The main markets run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027; the neighbourhood markets open earlier, from 20 November, and close on 24 December.

The organiser of the two central markets lists 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, 10:00 to 22:00 for both Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. That covers Advent, Christmas, New Year's Eve and Epiphany. The Old Town Square market is the one in every photograph: the tree in front of the Týn Church, wooden stalls, a stage, and the astronomical clock on the corner.

The neighbourhood markets keep a shorter season. Their organiser lists Náměstí Míru from 20 November, Náměstí Republiky from 25 November and Tylovo náměstí from 26 November, all ending on 24 December. Náměstí Míru, in front of the Church of St Ludmila in Vinohrady, is the one locals prefer; it is two metro stops from the centre on line A. The LCA site gives no opening hours, so check on the day.

We found no 2026 dates yet for the smaller seasonal markets at Prague Castle or at Jiřího z Poděbrad. They usually announce in November.

When is the Christmas tree lit on Old Town Square in 2026?

The plan is Saturday 28 November 2026, the opening day of the market and the eve of the first Sunday of Advent; the time was not yet published.

The tree is a story every year. The organiser asks the public to suggest a spruce of about 23 to 25 metres that has to come down anyway, then trims it to 22 metres. On 1 October 2026 Taiko said none of the 47 tips so far met the criteria and extended the deadline to 15 October. The tree is due to be chosen by 2 November, felled on 21 November and installed on 23 and 24 November.

"If everything goes to plan", in the organiser's words, it will be lit on Saturday 28 November 2026. The lighting draws a big crowd to Old Town Square, so arrive well before dark if you want to be near the tree. Afterwards, walk down Karlova to the bridge: by then it is fully dark and the castle is floodlit.

How do you combine the markets with Charles Bridge?

Market in the late afternoon, bridge at dusk, and back to the square for the lights: in December dusk falls around 16:00.

The timing is easy because the days are so short. Sunset in mid-December is around 16:00, and the market runs until 22:00. A good loop: Old Town Square at 15:00, Karlova and Křižovnické náměstí to the Old Town Bridge Tower by 15:45, across the bridge as the lamps come on, and back the same way for dinner at the market. The towers stay open until 19:30 on normal December days, and a gallery above the lit bridge is the best view of the season.

A guided walk can set the whole thing up on your first day. The Old Town and Charles Bridge walking tour meets at the Powder Gate, passes Old Town Square and crosses the bridge, ending at the Lennon Wall; guests report a fast pace. One recent guest, Jason A, called it "The perfect tour if you don't have much time." After dark, the ghost tour starts from the Old Town Hall, right beside the market.

A three-hour first-day walk through the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter that ends across Charles Bridge. A good way to get your bearings before a market evening.

★ 4.9 · About 3 hours · from $21

Check dates → Tour details

What should you know before you go to the markets?

Card payment works at most stalls, prices are central-Prague prices, and the crowds on Old Town Square peak at weekends after dark.

The organiser's practical information page says most stalls take cards and there is an ATM inside the market. It recommends public transport: metro A to Staroměstská for Old Town Square and metro A or B to Můstek for Wenceslas Square. Use a bank ATM rather than the private exchange booths that line the route to the bridge.

The squares are busiest on weekend evenings and on the opening weekend. Weekday mornings are calm. Pickpockets love a crowd looking up at a tree, and the bridge after dark is the next place they go, so keep bags closed. More on safety and the bridge's own traps is in our visiting tips.

Are the markets open on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve?

The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets are scheduled every day from 28 November to 6 January, which includes 24, 25 and 31 December.

The organiser lists the same daily hours, 10:00 to 22:00, for the whole run, with no exceptions published. The three LCA markets close on 24 December, so after Christmas Eve only the two central squares are left. On New Year's Eve the Old Town Square market is still standing, which squeezes the midnight crowd; we cover that night in our New Year's Eve post.

Charles Bridge is open as always, and the towers run shorter holiday hours. The full winter picture is in Charles Bridge in autumn and winter.

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