# When are the Prague Christmas markets in 2026, and when is the tree lit on Old Town Square?

> Prague Christmas markets 2026: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run 28 Nov 2026 to 6 Jan 2027, daily 10:00-22:00. Tree lighting, smaller markets, tips.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/prague-christmas-markets-2026-dates-old-town-square
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from a 526-day trip across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-10-21

As of 21 October 2026, Prague's two main Christmas markets, on **Old Town Square** and **Wenceslas Square**, run from **Saturday 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027**, open **daily 10:00 to 22:00**. The organiser, Taiko, plans to light the Old Town Square tree on the opening day, 28 November. Smaller neighbourhood markets start earlier, from 20 November on Peace Square, and close on 24 December. These dates come from the organiser, Prague City Tourism and CzechTourism. We've been to Prague, but not in December, so this is a planning page built on official information.

## 2026 dates for each market

• **Old Town Square** (Staroměstské náměstí): 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10:00 to 22:00

• **Wenceslas Square** (Václavské náměstí): 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10:00 to 22:00

• **Peace Square** (náměstí Míru, Vinohrady): 20 November to 24 December 2026

• **Republic Square** (náměstí Republiky): 25 November to 24 December 2026

• **Tyl Square** (Tylovo náměstí): 26 November to 24 December 2026

The two central markets come from the organiser's site (trhypraha.cz) and Prague City Tourism (prague.eu). The three smaller markets are from CzechTourism's 2026 event listing, which also names markets at Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, Anděl and Prague Castle but gives no 2026 dates for them yet (as of 21 October 2026). That CzechTourism page's FAQ still shows last season's dates (29 November 2025 to 6 January 2026), so go by the 2026 dates in its main listing.

Some 2026 roundups give a 30 November start. That is wrong: the official opening is 28 November, the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent.

## The Old Town Square tree lighting

The organiser says that if everything goes to plan, the tree will be lit on **Saturday 28 November 2026**, the market's opening day. The exact time had not been announced as of 21 October 2026.

As of 1 October 2026 the 2026 tree had not been chosen. Taiko extended its public call for tree tips to 15 October and said it would pick a tree with the city's technical services company by 2 November at the latest. It is looking for a Norway spruce about 23 to 25 metres tall, trimmed to a safe 22 metres. Last year's spruce was 26 metres tall and came from Lesné, in the Ústí region.

**Last official pattern (2025, not a 2026 fact):** the market opened on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, and the tree had a lighting animation show that repeated at regular intervals every day, so you didn't have to be there on opening night to see it lit.

## What's there: stalls, food and the daily programme

Prague City Tourism describes the Old Town Square market as dozens of stalls focused on Czech products: glass and straw ornaments; decorations made of ceramics, wood, beads and dried fruit; ceramic and wooden nativity scenes; lace, crocheted toys, bells, and cookie cutters and moulds. There is food, mulled wine and a daily stage programme of music and folklore.

• **Stage programme:** the organiser's general FAQ says the Old Town Square programme runs daily from 16:00 to 19:00, with children's workshops at weekends from 11:00 to 15:00. On Wenceslas Square the programme is Thursday to Sunday. The detailed 2026 schedule wasn't published as of 21 October 2026.

• **Mulled wine** (*svařené víno*, or *svařák*): in 2025 the organiser highlighted mulled wine made from Moravian grapes.

• **Paying:** the organiser says most stalls take cards, and there is an ATM inside the market. The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro.

No official 2026 price list exists, so we don't quote prices. One practical tip: food sold by weight, such as roast ham carved off the spit, is priced per 100 g. Ask for the total before they cut, or name the amount you want.

**Last official patterns (2025, not 2026 facts):** a St Nicholas show for children with Nicholases, devils and angels on Old Town Square on 5 December at 16:00; free fish soup handed out from 11:00 on 24 December; and a New Year's Eve party on the square from 17:00 on 31 December, with firecrackers banned.

## Getting there and avoiding the crowds

• **Old Town Square:** metro line A to Staroměstská, trams to Staroměstská, or buses 194 and 207 to Staroměstská / Právnická fakulta.

• **Wenceslas Square:** metro to Můstek (lines A and B), or trams to Václavské náměstí.

• The two squares are about a 10-minute walk apart through the Old Town, via Na Příkopě or Melantrichova.

• **From the airport:** see our [Prague airport transfer guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/prague-airport-to-city-center-trolleybus-59-airport-express-guide).

Prague City Tourism calls Old Town Square one of the most visited holiday events in the country, and it is busiest on Saturday evenings, the opening weekend and the days between Christmas and New Year. If you want to see the stalls, come when it opens at 10:00 on a weekday. Come back after 16:00 for the stage programme and the tree. Wenceslas Square is longer and more spread out, so it takes crowds more easily. The neighbourhood markets at Peace Square and Republic Square are where locals shop, but remember they close on 24 December.

Watch your bag and phone in the dense crowd around the tree and the Astronomical Clock.

## Prague in December: what to know

• **Short days:** the sun sets around 16:00 in mid-December, so the lights are on by late afternoon. Expect cold weather, around or just above freezing, sometimes with snow.

• **Christmas Eve is the main day:** Czechs celebrate on 24 December. Under Czech law, shops over 200 m² must close at **noon on 24 December** and stay **closed on 25 and 26 December**. Small shops, pharmacies, petrol stations and shops at the airport and stations are exempt. The central Christmas markets are not shops and stay open over the holidays.

• **Carp in tubs:** in the days before Christmas, street sellers traditionally sell live carp for the Christmas Eve dinner.

• **Tipping in restaurants:** see our [Prague tipping guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-prague-czech-republic-restaurants-guide).

For a short visit, our [3 days in Prague itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/guides/3-days-in-prague) works in winter too; just move the outdoor viewpoints to the middle of the day. Combining Prague with Budapest? Our [Budapest Christmas markets guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/budapest-christmas-markets-2026-dates-basilica-vorosmarty) has the 2026 dates there. Budapest opens on 13 November, two weeks before Prague.

## Compare destinations

Compare dates with Bath, Budapest and Germany in our [Christmas markets hub](https://clevertourists.com/resources/europe-christmas-markets-2026-dates-planning-guide).

## Frequently asked questions

### When do the Prague Christmas markets start in 2026?

The main markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square open on Saturday 28 November 2026 and run until 6 January 2027. Smaller markets start earlier: Peace Square on 20 November, Republic Square on 25 November and Tyl Square on 26 November.

### What time does the Prague Christmas market open?

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 for the whole 2026–27 season, according to the organiser.

### When is the Prague Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

The organiser plans to light the Old Town Square tree on Saturday 28 November 2026, the opening day, if everything goes to plan. The exact time had not been announced as of 21 October 2026.

### Are the Prague Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?

The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets run every day until 6 January 2027, including 24 to 26 December. The smaller markets at Peace Square, Republic Square and Tyl Square end on 24 December. Large shops in the Czech Republic close from noon on 24 December and stay closed on 25 and 26 December.

### Can you pay by card at the Prague Christmas markets?

In most cases, yes. The organiser says most stalls take cards and there is an ATM inside the market. Prices are in Czech koruna (CZK).

## Official sources

- [Prague Christmas Markets (organiser Taiko): 2026 dates](https://trhypraha.cz/en/dates-of-markets)
- [Prague Christmas Markets: practical information](https://trhypraha.cz/en/practical-information)
- [Prague City Tourism: Old Town Square Christmas Market](https://prague.eu/en/akce/old-town-square-christmas-market/)
- [CzechTourism: Christmas markets in Prague 2026](https://www.visitczechia.com/en-us/things-to-do/events/2026/11/e-christmas-markets-prague)
- [Czech Trade Inspection Authority: Christmas shop closures](https://coi.gov.cz/en/sales-prohibited-in-establishments-over-200-square-metres-sales-area-on-christmas-eve-from-12-am-and-on-both-christmas-days/)