Chicago Christkindlmarket 2026: Dates, Hours & Locations

The Christkindlmarket Chicago on Daley Plaza runs from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, open daily from 11am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The Christkindlmarket opens on the same day at 3 locations in 2026: Daley Plaza in the Loop, Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville and RiverEdge Park in Aurora. The Wrigleyville market stays open longest, until New Year’s Eve, and admission is free at all three.

This guide gives the confirmed 2026 dates and hours for each Christkindlmarket location, the 2026 souvenir mugs, what to eat and buy, and how to get there.

When is the Chicago Christkindlmarket open in 2026?

The Chicago Christkindlmarket is open from 20 November 2026 at all 3 locations, and it closes on 24 December in Chicago and Aurora and on 31 December in Wrigleyville, according to christkindlmarket.com. The 2026 dates and opening days for each location are listed below.

Entry is free at every location, and no ticket is needed for general admission. The 2026 season is the Christkindlmarket’s 30th anniversary, and the hours of each location are given below.

Where is the Christkindlmarket in Chicago?

The Christkindlmarket in Chicago is on Daley Plaza at 50 W Washington Street in the Loop, the city’s downtown. Daley Plaza is the original location, and it is the largest of the three markets.

Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza

The Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026 and opens every day, according to the organiser. The Daley Plaza market’s hours are listed below.

• Sunday to Thursday: Sunday to Thursday hours are 11am to 8pm.
• Friday and Saturday: Friday and Saturday hours are 11am to 9pm.
• Thanksgiving (26 November) and Christmas Eve (24 December): Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve hours are 11am to 4pm.

The market first opened in 1996 on Pioneer Court, and it moved to Daley Plaza in 1997 at the invitation of Mayor Richard M. Daley, according to the organiser’s history page. Its red-and-white booths fill the plaza around the Picasso sculpture in front of the Richard J. Daley Center.

Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way

The Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way runs from 20 November to 31 December 2026, the longest season of the three markets. Gallagher Way is the plaza just west of Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs in the Lakeview neighbourhood. The Wrigleyville market’s 2026 hours are listed below.

• Monday to Thursday: Monday to Thursday hours are 3pm to 9pm.
• Friday and Saturday: Friday and Saturday hours are 11am to 9pm.
• Sunday: Sunday hours are 11am to 7pm.
• Holiday weeks (21-23 and 28-30 December): Holiday-week weekday hours are 11am to 9pm.
• Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: Holiday hours are 11am to 4pm.
• Christmas Day: The Wrigleyville market is closed on 25 December.

Wrigleyville is a smaller version of the downtown market, according to Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism board. The Wrigleyville market is part of Winterland at Gallagher Way, which adds ice skating and ice bumper cars. Our guide to sports in the USA covers the baseball side of Wrigley Field.

Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park

The Christkindlmarket Aurora at RiverEdge Park runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, open Thursday to Sunday plus a few extra holiday days. Aurora is a western suburb of Chicago, and RiverEdge Park sits on the Fox River at 360 N Broadway. The Aurora market’s 2026 hours are listed below.

• Thursday: Thursday hours are 11am to 7pm.
• Friday and Saturday: Friday and Saturday hours are 11am to 9pm.
• Sunday: Sunday hours are 11am to 6pm.
• Extra days: Extra opening days are Wednesday 25 November and Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December, each 11am to 7pm.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve: Holiday hours are 11am to 4pm.

The organiser described Aurora as the only suburban Chicagoland Christkindlmarket, with more than 60 vendors in 2025.

What is the Christkindlmarket mug for 2026?

The 2026 Christkindlmarket mug is a flute-shaped, pearl-white mug of 200 ml (6.8 fl oz), with a market scene and fireworks marking the 30th anniversary, according to the organiser’s 2026 merchandise announcement. Pearl is the traditional symbol of a 30th anniversary. The 2026 mugs and souvenirs are listed below.

• Annual mug: The annual mug is the pearl-white flute mug, sold empty from $10 or filled with Glühwein (hot spiced wine) for guests 21 and over.
• Christmas Tree Mug: The Christmas Tree Mug is a green, tree-shaped mug for non-alcoholic drinks such as hot chocolate, cider and chai, also from $10 empty.
• Half-litre stein: The half-litre stein is a green beer stein with market scenes and skyline details from all 3 locations, priced at $20, and guests 21 and over can have it filled with beer at extra cost.
• Mini stein shot cup: The mini stein shot cup is a new 40 ml collectible with the market logo on one side and a vendor booth on the other.
• Anniversary ornament: The anniversary ornament is a limited-edition tree ornament priced at $42.

All mugs and merchandise are sold at the information booths at all 3 markets. You buy the mug and keep it as a souvenir, and the organiser’s Christmas Tree Mug carries miniature ornaments from past seasons to mark 30 years of collecting. A limited-edition gift box with both 2026 mugs and treats from market vendors starts at $120 and can be shipped within the continental US.

What food and drink can you get at the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

German food and hot drinks are the core of the Chicago Christkindlmarket menu, from bratwurst and giant pretzels to Glühwein imported from Nuremberg. The dishes Choose Chicago lists from the 2026 vendors are below.

• Sausages: Frankfurter sausages come with potato pancakes at German Grill, and currywurst is sold at DönerMen.
• Pretzels: Giant pretzels are baked at German Pretzels.
• Raclette: Alpine-style raclette, melted cheese scraped onto bread, is served at Baked Cheese Haus.
• Schnitzel: Schnitzel and goulash soup are served at Schnitzel House.
• Rollmops: Rollmops, bread rolls with fish and pickled herring, have their own stall.
• Pierogi: Potato and cheese pierogi are sold at Pierogi House.
• Sweets: Sugar-coated roasted nuts, gingerbread and German cookies are sold at Sweet Castle and Sweet Swabian.

The hot drinks follow the same German line. Glühwein comes from Original Nürnberger Glühwein, hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream from Bob’s Belgian Hot Chocolate, and imported German beer from Timber Haus. Pumpkin spice chai and hot cider cover the non-alcoholic side.

What can you buy at the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

Handmade European gifts and Christmas decorations are what the Chicago Christkindlmarket sells. The gifts Choose Chicago highlights for 2026 include Black Forest cuckoo clocks from Fehrenbach Black Forest Clocks, hand-blown and hand-painted glass ornaments from Glaszauber Lauscha, pewter bells and nativity scenes from Bavarian Pewter, and lace tablecloths from Meinel Embroidery. Alpaca sweaters, woven scarves from India and wooden animal figurines round out the stalls.

Do you need cash at the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

Yes, bring cash to the Chicago Christkindlmarket, because many vendors accept only cash. NBC Chicago and several visitor guides report that some stalls, food vendors in particular, take no cards. Carry a card as well, since other vendors do accept cards and contactless payment.

How is the Chicago Christkindlmarket linked to Nuremberg?

The Chicago Christkindlmarket is modelled on the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, one of the first outdoor Christmas markets of its kind, according to the organiser. The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest conceived the market in 1995 to promote trade between the US and Germany, and its staff set up the partnership with the city officials of Nuremberg. German American Events, a subsidiary of the Chamber, has run the market since 1996. If the Chicago market makes you want to see the original, our guide to the Nuremberg Christmas market covers its dates and location.

How do you get to the Christkindlmarket in Chicago?

The CTA trains and buses reach both Chicago Christkindlmarket locations, and the organiser recommends public transport over driving downtown. The routes to each market are listed below.

1. Daley Plaza: Daley Plaza is steps from several CTA ‘L’ stations, including Clark/Lake and Washington on the Blue Line, and a short walk from all 4 downtown Metra terminals: Union Station, LaSalle Street, Millennium Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center.
2. Wrigleyville: Wrigleyville is served by the CTA Red Line, with Addison station beside Wrigley Field, and by several bus routes.
3. Aurora: Aurora is reached on the Metra BNSF Line to the Aurora Transportation Center at 233 N Broadway, a short walk south of RiverEdge Park.

Drivers in Aurora can use the Aurora Transportation Center lots across from RiverEdge Park, which the organiser lists at $10 for the main lot and $3 for the overflow lot. Downtown, the organiser has partnered with Millennium Garages for discounted parking near Daley Plaza in past seasons. For a trip from further away, compare flights to Chicago before you book.

Where to stay near the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

The Loop is the most convenient base for the Chicago Christkindlmarket, because Daley Plaza is in its centre and the Red Line runs from there to Wrigleyville. River North, just across the Chicago River, is the other easy option. For hotels in both, compare hotels in Chicago and across the US and book early for December weekends.

What else can you do at the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

Ticketed events add to the free market at Daley Plaza, according to Choose Chicago. The ‘Twas the Night Before Christkindlmarket Preview Party gives a limited group of ticket holders early access the evening before opening. The Culture & Cheer Tours cover the market’s history, its vendors and German holiday traditions, and each tour includes a goodie bag with a souvenir mug and a hot chocolate voucher. Free live music and performances run at all 3 locations through the season.

The Chicago Christkindlmarket follows the German tradition, so the Germany Christmas markets guide is the place to plan a trip to the markets that inspired it. The other big American market season runs in Manhattan, and the NYC Christmas markets guide covers Bryant Park, Union Square and Columbus Circle.

Chicago Christkindlmarket FAQ

Which Chicago Christkindlmarket is the best?

Daley Plaza is the Chicago Christkindlmarket to choose for a first visit, because it is the original and largest location and opens daily in the Loop. Wrigleyville suits visitors in late December, because it stays open to 31 December, and it adds ice skating at Winterland. Aurora suits visitors from the western suburbs, but it opens mainly Thursday to Sunday.

How much does it cost to go to the Christkindlmarket Chicago?

The Christkindlmarket Chicago is free to enter at all 3 locations, with no ticket needed. You pay only for what you eat, drink and buy, and the 2026 souvenir mugs start at $10 empty.

What does Christkindlmarket mean?

Christkindlmarket means “Christ Child market” in German. The Christkind, the Christ Child, is the figure who brings presents at Christmas in German tradition, and the market’s name comes from the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg.

When is the best time to visit the Chicago Christkindlmarket?

Weekdays are the quietest time to visit the Chicago Christkindlmarket, especially in the morning and early afternoon, according to the organiser. Weekend evenings in December are the busiest.

Are dogs allowed at the Christkindlmarket?

Yes, pets are allowed in the outdoor areas of all Christkindlmarket locations, but not inside the walk-in cabins or tents, according to the organiser. All locations are also ADA accessible.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the organiser’s own 2026 timetables and visitor information, and each one changes when or how you visit.

1. Go to Wrigleyville after Christmas. Daley Plaza and Aurora close on 24 December, but Wrigleyville stays open to 31 December 2026 with long 11am-9pm days from 28 to 30 December.
2. Check the weekday hours in Wrigleyville. The Wrigleyville market opens only at 3pm from Monday to Thursday, except in the two holiday weeks of December.
3. Plan Aurora around its open days. The Aurora market opens Thursday to Sunday, so a Monday to Wednesday trip finds it closed except on 25 November and 21 to 23 December.
4. Leave early on the holidays. All 3 markets close at 4pm on Thanksgiving (26 November) and Christmas Eve, and Wrigleyville also closes at 4pm on New Year’s Eve.

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 States for independent travellers, including Chicago’s Christkindlmarket, its German food and souvenir mugs, and the hotels and flights worth booking, and updates this page when dates, prices and rules change.