Dates and hours of the main markets in 2026
The list below comes from the Vienna Tourist Board's Christmas markets page, checked on 23 October 2026. The Rathausplatz and Spittelberg times match the organisers' own sites, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt and Spittelberg.
| Market | 2026–27 season | Usual hours | 24 December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rathausplatz (Wiener Christkindlmarkt) | 13 Nov–26 Dec | Daily 10:00–22:00 | 10:00–18:30 |
| Stephansplatz | 6 Nov–26 Dec | Daily 11:00–21:00 | 11:00–16:00 |
| Schönbrunn Palace | 6 Nov–6 Jan | Daily 10:00–21:00 | 10:00–16:00 |
| Belvedere (K&K market) | 20 Nov–31 Dec | See note below | 11:00–17:00 |
| Riesenradplatz, Prater | 20 Nov–6 Jan | Mon–Fri 12:00–22:00; weekends and holidays 11:00–22:00 | 11:00–17:00 |
| Maria-Theresien-Platz | 20 Nov–26 Dec | Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00; weekends 10:00–21:00 | Not listed |
| Schwarzenbergplatz | 13 Nov–26 Dec | Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00; weekends 10:00–21:00 | Not listed |
| Spittelberg | 13 Nov–23 Dec | Mon–Fri 14:00–21:30; weekends and holidays 11:00–21:30 | Closed |
| Am Hof | 13 Nov–23 Dec | Mon–Thu 11:00–21:00; Fri–Sun and holidays 10:00–21:00 | Closed |
| Freyung | 14 Nov–23 Dec | Daily 10:00–21:00 | Closed |
| Karlsplatz (Art Advent) | 13 Nov–23 Dec | Daily 12:00–20:00 | Closed |
| University Campus | 13 Nov–23 Dec | Mon–Thu 14:00–22:00; longer Fri–Sun | Closed |
A few details sit outside the table. Am Hof serves food until 22:00 and Karlsplatz until 21:00. The University Campus market, in courtyard 1 off Alser Strasse, closes at 20:00 on its last day, 23 December. The tourist board also lists smaller markets at Türkenschanzpark (14 November–23 December) and a Christmas exhibition at the Hirschstetten botanical gardens (12 November–20 December, Thursday to Sunday).
Which markets are open on 24, 25 and 26 December
Most markets that stay open past 23 December close early on Christmas Eve. On 24 December 2026 you can still visit:
- Stephansplatz and Schönbrunn until 16:00
- Riesenradplatz and Belvedere until 17:00
- Rathausplatz until 18:30, the latest of the big markets
On 25 and 26 December, Stephansplatz opens 11:00–19:00 and Schönbrunn 10:00–19:00. Schönbrunn keeps those shorter hours every day until it closes on 6 January. Rathausplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Schwarzenbergplatz all have 26 December as their last day. The tourist board gives no special hours for 25 and 26 December at Rathausplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz or Schwarzenbergplatz, so assume their normal times but expect quieter stalls.
Visiting between Christmas and Epiphany
From 27 December, the choice narrows to three markets:
- Schönbrunn, daily 10:00–19:00 until 6 January 2027. The market is in front of the palace, so you can pair it with a palace visit. Our Schönbrunn Palace tickets guide explains the timed tickets.
- Riesenradplatz in the Prater, until 6 January 2027. On 31 December it stays open from 12:00 until 02:00.
- Belvedere, until 31 December, with 11:00–17:00 listed for New Year's Eve. The palace galleries are next door; see our Belvedere and Klimt tickets guide.
The ice rink at Rathausplatz also keeps going after the market has gone. The organiser lists it until 6 January 2027, except on 31 December. For New Year's Eve itself, see our Vienna New Year's Eve and New Year's Concert guide.
How the mug deposit works
Mulled wine and punch at Vienna's markets usually come in a ceramic mug, and the price includes a deposit, the Häferlpfand. Return the mug to get the deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir.
The organisers' and tourist board pages we checked do not publish the deposit. In November 2023, ORF Wien reported €5 at Rathausplatz, Stephansplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz, Belvedere and the University Campus, €4 at Schönbrunn and €2 at Spittelberg. Those are 2023 figures from a news report, not 2026 prices, so check the price board at the stall.
Getting there and timing your visit
Six of the twelve markets in the table are in the first district (postcode 1010), so you can walk between them. Stephansplatz sits in front of the cathedral. Our St Stephen's Cathedral tickets guide covers the towers and catacombs if you want to go inside. Schönbrunn (13th district), Spittelberg (7th), the Prater (2nd) and Karlsplatz (4th) are further out. If you plan several rides in a day, compare single and day tickets in our Vienna public transport tickets guide.
