Vienna at Christmas 2026: Christmas Markets, Concerts and Festive Things to Do

Vienna at Christmas runs from early November to early January, when more than a dozen Christmas markets light up the city's squares and palace courtyards and its Baroque churches and concert halls fill with festive music. The big Christmas market at Rathausplatz opens on 13 November 2026, and the market at Schönbrunn Palace runs from 6 November right through to 6 January 2027. The best way to see both sides of a Viennese Christmas is to pair a market with a concert, and you can book Schönbrunn Christmas market and concert tickets on tickadoo.

When are the Vienna Christmas markets in 2026?

The Vienna Christmas markets open from 6 November 2026, with most of the city-centre markets open by 13 November. Most close on 23 or 26 December, while Schönbrunn and the Winter Market on Riesenradplatz stay open until 6 January 2027. These are the 2026 dates for the main markets, as published by the Vienna Tourist Board:

Opening hours vary by market, and most close early on Christmas Eve. The Rathausplatz market closes at 6.30pm on 24 December, and Schönbrunn closes at 4pm that day.

Which is the best Christmas market in Vienna?

The best Christmas market in Vienna depends on what you are after. The Viennese Christmas Market at Rathausplatz is the city's biggest and best known, in front of the City Hall, with the Ice Dream skating rink alongside. Schönbrunn Palace has the grandest setting, with stalls in the palace forecourt, and stays open longest. For something smaller, the market at Spittelberg spreads through narrow old lanes, Art Advent at Karlsplatz focuses on arts and crafts, and the Winter Market on Riesenradplatz in the Prater adds rides and live music beneath the Giant Ferris Wheel.

How can you combine a Christmas market with a concert at Schönbrunn?

You can combine Schönbrunn's Christmas market with a Mozart and Strauss concert in one ticket, and there are three ways to do it:

• Schönbrunn Orangery: Christmas Market and Concert includes culinary vouchers for the market stalls, followed by a concert by the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra and Ensemble in the Orangery.
• Schönbrunn Christmas Market and Mozart and Strauss Concert includes a market voucher for a mug, a hot drink and a dish, plus concert seating in the category you choose. The concert lasts about 105 minutes.
• Schönbrunn Christmas Market, After-Hours Palace Tour and Concert adds an after-hours Imperial Tour of the palace rooms with an audio guide, between the market voucher and the concert.

The market is outdoors, so dress for a winter evening before you head inside for the music.

Where can you hear a Christmas concert in a Vienna church?

Two of Vienna's most beautiful Baroque churches hold Christmas concerts this season, each lasting about an hour, which makes them easy to fit around a market visit:

• The Magic Trumpet Christmas Concert at St Anne's Church pairs trumpet and organ with spoken seasonal reflections, in the church on Annagasse. Seating is unreserved, so arrive early for a good spot.
• The Christmas and New Year Concert at St Peter's Church features the Classic Ensemble Vienna in the Baroque Peterskirche, just off the Graben, with seating in three categories and coat check included.

Is there a guided Christmas market tour in Vienna?

Yes, the Vienna Christmas Market Tour is a three-hour guided walk through the city's traditional markets, with hot mulled wine included. It explains the history behind Viennese Christmas traditions as you go, and tours run from mid-November into December.

How do you celebrate New Year's Eve in Vienna?

Vienna celebrates New Year's Eve with waltzes and Strauss. The New Year's Eve Gala at Palais Ferstel on 31 December starts with a red-carpet welcome, then a four-course Austrian dinner with paired wines, a Viennese waltz performance and live dance music, with champagne and the Blue Danube at midnight. The night before, on 30 December, the Year-End Philharmonic Ensemble Concert at Palais Ferstel brings members of the Vienna Philharmonic together for Strauss waltzes and polkas, including the Blue Danube and the Radetzky March. The Winter Market on Riesenradplatz also stays open until 2am on New Year's Eve.

What else is there to do in Vienna at Christmas?

Vienna's year-round classics feel even more festive in winter. Ride the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater for views over the lit-up city, then browse the Winter Market below it. Watch the famous white horses at the Spanish Riding School, or hear Mozart in the gilded Golden Hall of the Musikverein.

How do you book Christmas in Vienna?

You can book Vienna's Christmas concerts, market tours and New Year's Eve events on tickadoo. The market and concert combinations and the Christmas Eve and New Year dates are the busiest, so book early if you have a particular evening in mind. tickadoo+ members save across bookings, and you can browse more things to do in Vienna.

Vienna at Christmas: frequently asked questions

When do the Vienna Christmas markets open in 2026?

The first Vienna Christmas markets open on 6 November 2026, at Schönbrunn Palace and Stephansplatz, and the Rathausplatz market opens on 13 November. Book a Schönbrunn market and concert ticket on tickadoo.

Are the Vienna Christmas markets open after Christmas?

Yes, some are. Schönbrunn Palace and the Winter Market on Riesenradplatz stay open until 6 January 2027, and the Belvedere market runs until 31 December. Most other markets close on 23 or 26 December.

Is there ice skating at the Vienna Christmas market?

Yes, the Ice Dream rink at Rathausplatz runs alongside the Christmas market from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, closing only on 31 December.

What is the best Christmas concert in Vienna?

For a grand setting, the Mozart and Strauss concerts at Schönbrunn Palace pair well with its Christmas market, while the Magic Trumpet concert at St Anne's Church and the Christmas concert at St Peter's Church offer an hour of music in a Baroque church. Book on tickadoo.