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Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026-2027: Dates & Location

The Edinburgh Christmas Market runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 in East Princes Street Gardens, below Edinburgh Castle. Entry is free and it opens daily from 10:00 to 22:00, except on Christmas Day.

Updated November 1, 2026UK

Edinburgh Christmas Market title card: the market in Princes Street Gardens with the Scott Monument
UK

The Edinburgh Christmas Market runs from Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 in East Princes Street Gardens, below Edinburgh Castle, according to Edinburgh’s Christmas, the official festival site. The market is free to enter and opens daily from 10:00 to 22:00, except on Christmas Day, when it is closed.

This guide covers the confirmed dates and hours, where the market and the other Edinburgh’s Christmas sites are, what to eat, drink and buy, and how to get there.

When does the Edinburgh Christmas Market open in 2026?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market opens on Saturday 14 November 2026 and closes on Sunday 3 January 2027, according to edwinterfest.com, the official site of Edinburgh’s Christmas. The market’s opening hours are listed below.

DateHours
Daily, 14 November 2026 to 2 January 202710:00-22:00
Tuesday 17 November 202616:00-22:00
Thursday 24 December 202610:00-20:00
Friday 25 December 2026Closed
Saturday 26 December 202612:00-20:00
Thursday 31 December 202610:00-17:00
Friday 1 January 202712:00-20:00
Sunday 3 January 202710:00-18:00

Entry to the market is free, and you do not need to book. The organisers note that opening times can change and post updates on their social channels (@edinburghschristmas).

Where is the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market is in East Princes Street Gardens, the park between Princes Street and the Old Town, directly below Edinburgh Castle and next to the Scott Monument. The traditional market has around 70 wooden chalets selling gifts, decorations, food and drink, with bars and food huts between them.

East Princes Street Gardens has step-free entrances from Princes Street, from Waverley Bridge and, for the south side of the site, from Market Street, according to the official access page. Edinburgh Waverley station sits right beside the gardens, so the market is a short walk from the platforms.

What else is part of Edinburgh’s Christmas?

Edinburgh’s Christmas spreads across several city-centre sites beyond the market, and the main ones are listed below with their 2026-2027 dates.

LNER Big Wheel

The LNER Big Wheel stands in East Princes Street Gardens from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with enclosed pods that look over the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat. It opens from 10:00 to 22:00 (last admission 21:30), closes on Christmas Day, and tickets start from £12 (about $16, €14). Tickets are for a chosen date with no fixed time slot.

Around the World Star Flyer

The Around the World Star Flyer is an 80 m (262 ft) swing ride that towers over the market in East Princes Street Gardens, running from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Tickets start from £15.50 (about $21, €18), riders must be at least 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall, and riders under 1.4 m (4.6 ft) must ride with a paying adult.

Festive Funfair

The Festive Funfair fills West Princes Street Gardens from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is free to enter, with rides such as dodgems and waltzers paid for at each ride. It opens from 12:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 21:00 at weekends, with shorter hours over the Christmas holidays.

The Coorie Inn and the Polar Ice Bar on George Street

The Coorie Inn is a free outdoor bar on George Street (east of Castle Street), open from 12:00 until late from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with tartan throws, heaters, live music from Friday to Sunday evenings and quizzes on Tuesdays. The Polar Ice Bar with Icelandair, for over-18s, runs from 19 November 2026 to 2 January 2027.

There is no ice rink this season. The George Street ice rink, a fixture of Edinburgh’s Christmas for almost 30 years, was cut from the 2026-2027 programme, as BBC News reported in October 2026, so guides that still list it are out of date.

What food and drink can you buy at the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

Mulled wine and hot chocolate are the signature drinks at the Edinburgh Christmas Market, and the organisers name both on the market’s own page. The food follows the European Christmas market pattern, and the dishes most often listed for the market are below.

  • Grilled sausages. German-style sausages in a roll, from the food huts between the chalets.
  • Raclette. Melted cheese scraped over bread or potatoes.
  • Crêpes. Sweet and savoury pancakes made to order.
  • Churros. Fried dough sticks, usually with chocolate sauce for dipping.
  • Roasted nuts. Sugared and roasted nuts sold in paper cones.

Edinburgh’s Christmas is a cashless site, so every stall, bar and ride takes card payments only.

What can you buy at the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market’s chalets sell gifts from Scottish and European makers and independent retailers. The typical buys are listed below.

  • Christmas decorations. Tree ornaments, lights and seasonal decorations.
  • Knitwear. Scarves, hats and jumpers, including Scottish-made pieces.
  • Candles and ceramics. Hand-made candles, mugs and decorative pottery.
  • Jewellery. Pieces from independent makers.
  • Scottish food and drink. Food gifts and drinks made in Scotland.

How do you get to the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

You can reach the Edinburgh Christmas Market by train, tram, bus or on foot, and the train is the most direct option because Edinburgh Waverley station adjoins East Princes Street Gardens.

First, take the train to Edinburgh Waverley. LNER runs direct trains from London King’s Cross, and ScotRail connects Waverley with Glasgow and the rest of Scotland. Leave the station by the Waverley Bridge exit and the market entrance is in front of you. Before you travel, compare train tickets to Edinburgh.

Second, take the tram from Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh Trams run from the airport into the city centre and stop on Princes Street, a short walk from the gardens. If you are flying in, compare flights to Edinburgh.

Third, walk from the Old Town or the New Town. The market sits between the two, so most central hotels are within walking distance. Driving into the city centre is not practical during the festival, because parking around Princes Street is limited.

Where to stay near the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

The most convenient base is the New Town around Princes Street and George Street, or the Old Town around the Royal Mile, because both are a few minutes’ walk from East Princes Street Gardens. December weekends and the run-up to Hogmanay fill quickly, so compare hotels in Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland as soon as your dates are fixed.

If you are heading north after the market, our guide to Loch Ness cruises from Inverness covers the boat trips to Urquhart Castle.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Edinburgh Christmas Market close?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market closes at 22:00 on most days of the 2026-2027 season. It closes earlier on 24 December (20:00), 26 December (20:00), 31 December (17:00), 1 January (20:00) and 3 January (18:00), and it is closed all day on 25 December.

Do I need to book the Edinburgh Christmas Market?

You do not need to book the Edinburgh Christmas Market, because entry to East Princes Street Gardens is free. You only need tickets for paid attractions such as the LNER Big Wheel, the Star Flyer, Santa’s Stories and the Polar Ice Bar.

How far is the Edinburgh Christmas Market from the train station?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market is next to Edinburgh Waverley station. The Waverley Bridge entrance to East Princes Street Gardens is a couple of minutes’ walk from the station exit.

Is the Edinburgh Christmas Market open on Christmas Day?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market is closed on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026. It reopens on Boxing Day from 12:00 to 20:00.

Is the Edinburgh Christmas Market worth going to?

The Edinburgh Christmas Market is worth a visit for its setting under Edinburgh Castle, its free entry and the views from the Big Wheel and Star Flyer. It is busy and ride-heavy rather than a quiet craft market, so go on a weekday morning if you want to browse the stalls in comfort.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the official 2026-2027 programme and the access information on edwinterfest.com.

  1. Bring a card, not cash. Edinburgh’s Christmas is a cashless site, so stalls, bars and rides accept card payments only.
  2. Avoid the afternoon of Tuesday 17 November. The market opens only at 16:00 that day, and the Big Wheel and Star Flyer only at 17:00.
  3. Do not plan a New Year’s Eve evening at the market. The market closes at 17:00 on 31 December 2026, and on 1 January 2027 it does not open until 12:00.
  4. Use the Waverley Bridge or Princes Street gates for step-free access. Both are level entrances to East Princes Street Gardens, and at peak times the security staff on each gate can direct you to the nearest accessible one.

About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the team covers the United Kingdom for independent travellers, including the Christmas markets, hotels, tours and transport worth booking in Edinburgh and Scotland, and updates this page when prices, dates and rules change.

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