Prague Christmas Markets 2026: Dates, Hours and Best Markets
Old Town Square Christmas market seen from the Old Town Hall tower. Photo: Travis Wise (2018), CC BY 2.0, cropped.
Prague's two main Christmas markets, on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily from 10:00 to 22:00. The smaller markets open earlier and close on Christmas Eve: náměstí Míru from 20 November, náměstí Republiky from 25 November and Tylovo náměstí from 26 November, all until 24 December. All of them are free to enter — you pay only for what you eat, drink and buy.
Below are the 2026 dates confirmed by the organisers, what each market is like, what to eat and drink, which metro station to use and how to dodge the worst crowds. We will update this page when the organisers publish the programme and the holiday opening hours.
Prague Christmas markets 2026 at a glance
| Market | Dates | Hours | Nearest metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) | 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | 10:00–22:00 | Staroměstská (A), Můstek (A, B) |
| Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) | 28 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 | 10:00–22:00 | Můstek (A, B), Muzeum (A, C) |
| náměstí Míru (Vinohrady) | 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | see organiser | Náměstí Míru (A) |
| náměstí Republiky | 25 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | see organiser | Náměstí Republiky (B) |
| Tylovo náměstí | 26 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | see organiser | I. P. Pavlova (C) |
Dates and hours for Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square come from their organiser, Trhy Praha; dates for náměstí Míru, náměstí Republiky and Tylovo náměstí come from their organiser, LCA (vanocnitrhy.cz). Opening hours for 24, 25, 26 and 31 December have not been published yet, so check the organiser's website if you plan to go on those days.
Old Town Square: the classic
This is the market from the postcards: wooden stalls around a huge Christmas tree, framed by the Old Town Hall with its Astronomical Clock and the twin towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn. The tree is traditionally lit on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent — in 2026 that is the opening day, 28 November. In early October the organisers were still choosing this year's tree from tips sent in by the public, so the exact time of the lighting will be announced later.
It is also the busiest of Prague's markets, and many stalls are aimed squarely at visitors. Come for the atmosphere and the setting; for presents, the neighbourhood markets below are calmer. For the view in our photo, go up the Old Town Hall tower — the viewing gallery is open to the public for a fee.
Wenceslas Square: easy to combine with Old Town
The second official market, with the same dates and hours, is on Wenceslas Square, a few minutes' walk away. The two are easy to see in one evening: walk from Old Town Square down Melantrichova street to Můstek, passing the year-round Havel Market on the way.
Náměstí Míru: crafts in front of St Ludmila's
In Vinohrady, in front of the neo-Gothic Church of St Ludmila, the náměstí Míru market is the first to open — on 20 November — and closes on Christmas Eve. The organisers advertise Christmas decorations, ceramic nativity scenes, wooden toys, sheep's-wool products, art jewellery and seasonal food and drink. It has more of a neighbourhood feel than the Old Town, and the metro station Náměstí Míru (line A) is right on the square.
Náměstí Republiky and Tylovo náměstí
Náměstí Republiky (25 November – 24 December) is next to the Municipal House (Obecní dům) and the Powder Tower, so it fits into any walk through the Old Town. Tylovo náměstí (26 November – 24 December) is a small market by the I. P. Pavlova metro station, handy if you are staying in Vinohrady or the New Town.
Prague Castle and other Christmas events
Prague Castle runs its own Christmas programme: in the 2025 season it was a free "Christmas journey" through the Castle grounds, with a nativity landscape and creative workshops, from 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. The 2026 programme had not been announced at the time of writing — check hrad.cz in November. For markets that run all year, from farmers' markets to flea markets, see our guide to Prague's markets. Planning a trip beyond Prague? Our top 12 Czech Christmas markets covers Brno, Olomouc, Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora and more.
What to eat and drink
- Svařák (svařené víno) — hot mulled wine, the default market drink. Children get a non-alcoholic punch (dětský punč).
- Medovina — warm mead, and grog — rum topped up with hot water and lemon, a Czech winter classic.
- Grilled sausages and Prague ham roasted on a spit. Ham is usually sold by weight: ask the price per 100 g and how much they are about to cut before you say yes.
- Trdelník — the rolled pastry is everywhere, but it is not a traditional Czech sweet. For the real thing, see our guide to Czech desserts.
- Perník — decorated gingerbread, a good small present to take home.
If a drink comes in a deposit mug (vratný hrnek), return it to get the deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir. And if you see live carp sold from tubs in the street in the days before Christmas, that is no market gimmick: fried carp with potato salad is the traditional Czech Christmas Eve dinner. For more classic dishes, see our guide to traditional Czech food.
Tips: crowds, money and safety
- Timing. Evenings and weekends are the busiest, especially the opening weekend and the last days before Christmas. A weekday morning or early afternoon is much calmer.
- Pickpockets. Crowded Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are where pickpockets work, as well as the Můstek and Muzeum metro stations. Keep your phone and wallet in an inside pocket. More in our guide to safety in Prague.
- Money. Prices are in Czech crowns. If you need cash, avoid the exchange booths around the squares — see our guide to exchanging money in Prague.
- Getting there. All five markets are next to a metro station (see the table). One ticket covers the metro, trams and buses — how it works is in our Prague public transport guide.
- Holidays. On 24 December large shops close at noon, and on 25–26 December and 1 January they stay closed. The Old Town and Wenceslas Square markets continue until 6 January. Details in our guide to shops on public holidays.
Looking for presents beyond the market stalls? See our souvenir and gift ideas from Prague.
Frequently asked questions
When do the Prague Christmas markets open in 2026?
The main markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open on Saturday 28 November 2026. The náměstí Míru market opens earlier, on 20 November; náměstí Republiky opens on 25 November and Tylovo náměstí on 26 November.
When do the Prague Christmas markets end?
Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run until 6 January 2027, Three Kings' Day. The markets on náměstí Míru, náměstí Republiky and Tylovo náměstí end on 24 December 2026.
Are the markets open on Christmas Day?
The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run without a break until 6 January, but their hours for 24–26 and 31 December have not been published yet. The smaller markets close for the season on 24 December.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The markets are on public squares and free to enter; you pay only for food, drinks and goods.
When is the Christmas tree on Old Town Square lit?
Traditionally on the opening Saturday, which in 2026 is 28 November. The organiser, Trhy Praha, announces the exact time closer to the date.
Which Prague Christmas market is the best?
For the classic scene with the tree and the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Square. For a calmer, more local market with handmade goods, náměstí Míru. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are easy to combine in one evening.
Official sources
- trhypraha.cz — organiser of the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets: dates, hours, programme.
- vanocnitrhy.cz — organiser of the náměstí Míru, náměstí Republiky and Tylovo náměstí markets.
- prague.eu — Prague City Tourism: events calendar.
- hrad.cz — Prague Castle: Christmas programme.
Dates checked against the organisers' websites on 6 October 2026. Programmes and holiday opening hours are published closer to the season — check the official websites before your visit.
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