NYC Christmas Markets 2026-2027: Bryant Park & Dates

The NYC Christmas markets run from 28 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, starting with the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park Winter Village, New York City’s main Christmas market. The Union Square Holiday Market follows on 12 November, the Grand Central Holiday Fair runs from 9 November to 24 December, and the Columbus Circle and Herald Square markets open in early December 2026. Entry to every market is free.

This guide gives the 2026-2027 dates and hours for the 5 main Christmas markets in New York City, what to eat and buy at them, and how to get between them.

When are the NYC Christmas markets open in 2026?

The NYC Christmas markets open between 28 October and 3 December 2026, and they close between 24 December 2026 and 3 January 2027, according to the organisers. The dates of the main markets for the 2026-2027 season are listed below.

All 5 markets are free to enter. Urbanspace, a New York market operator, runs the stalls at Bryant Park, Union Square, Columbus Circle and Herald Square, and Grand Central Terminal runs its own fair.

Where is the main Christmas market in NYC?

The main Christmas market in NYC is the Holiday Shops at Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. The Bryant Park Christmas market is the first NYC market to open in 2026 and the last to close.

Bryant Park Winter Village Christmas market

The Bryant Park Christmas market, the Holiday Shops by Urbanspace, runs from 28 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to bryantpark.org. More than 180 shops sit in custom-designed “jewel box” kiosks along the park’s paths, plazas and terraces. The Holiday Shops’ 2026-2027 hours are listed below.

• Monday to Friday: Weekday hours are 11am to 8pm.
• Saturday and Sunday: Weekend hours are 10am to 8pm.
• Christmas Day: Christmas Day hours are noon to 5pm.
• New Year’s Eve: New Year’s Eve hours are 10am to 8pm.

The Bryant Park Holiday Shops open daily, and many shops stay open later at peak times, the park says. The Winter Village around them stays open until 28 February 2027, after the shops close.

The Rink is the centre of the Winter Village, a 17,000 sq ft (1,580 m²) ice rink open from 8am to 10pm. Skating admission is free. Skate rental costs $18.72 to $64.48 depending on the time, with lower prices off-peak, so bring your own skates to skate for nothing. The Lodge beside the rink holds Cafe ‘cito, a full-service bar with views of the rink and the Christmas tree, and igloos can be reserved rinkside.

What are the other Christmas markets in NYC?

New York City’s other Christmas markets range from the long-running Union Square market to an indoor fair inside Grand Central Terminal. The main ones are described below, with their 2026 hours.

Union Square Holiday Market

The Union Square Holiday Market runs from Thursday 12 November to 24 December 2026, according to Urbanspace. NYC Parks calls it the longest-running and largest holiday market in the city, and Urbanspace puts it at nearly 200 vendors selling gifts made by local craftspeople, artists and entrepreneurs. The Union Square market’s 2026 hours are listed below.

• Sunday to Wednesday: Sunday to Wednesday hours are 11am to 8pm.
• Thursday and Friday: Thursday and Friday hours are 11am to 9pm.
• Saturday: Saturday hours are 10am to 9pm.

In 2025, the Union Square market closed on Thanksgiving Day and at 4pm on Christmas Eve, according to NYC Parks. The 2026 holiday hours have not been published yet, so check before you go on 26 November or 24 December.

Grand Central Holiday Fair

The Grand Central Holiday Fair runs from Monday 9 November to 24 December 2026 in Vanderbilt Hall, the grand hall just off 42nd Street inside Grand Central Terminal. The Holiday Fair is indoors, so it is the market to pick on a cold or wet day. Grand Central describes it as a six-week fair of local-artisan vendors selling one-of-a-kind products. The Grand Central Holiday Fair’s 2026 hours are listed below.

• 9 November to 16 December, Monday to Saturday: Hours until 16 December are 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday.
• 9 November to 16 December, Sunday: Sunday hours in the same period are 11am to 6pm.
• 17 to 23 December: Christmas-week hours are 10am to 8pm every day.
• Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve hours are 10am to 6pm.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

The Columbus Circle Holiday Market runs from 1 to 31 December 2026 at the southwest entrance to Central Park, according to Urbanspace. The Columbus Circle market had more than 140 vendors in 2025, according to NYC Parks. The Columbus Circle market’s 2026 hours are listed below.

• Monday to Thursday: Monday to Thursday hours are 11am to 7pm.
• Friday to Sunday: Friday to Sunday hours are 10am to 8pm.

In 2025 the Columbus Circle market closed on Christmas Day and at 4pm on New Year’s Eve, NYC Parks reported.

Herald Holiday Fair at Herald Square

The Herald Holiday Fair, also called Macy’s Holiday Square, runs from 3 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 along Broadway from 32nd to 36th Street, according to Urbanspace. The Herald Square market stands beside Macy’s flagship store and its holiday windows. The Herald Holiday Fair’s 2026-2027 hours are listed below.

• Monday to Saturday: Monday to Saturday hours are 11am to 8pm.
• Sunday: Sunday hours are 11am to 7pm.

In its 2025 edition, the Herald Square market closed on Christmas Day and at 4pm on New Year’s Eve, according to NYC Parks.

What food and drink can you get at the NYC Christmas markets?

Sweet snacks and hot drinks are the food of the NYC Christmas markets, sold from food stalls mixed in among the gift kiosks. The Bryant Park Christmas market has the largest food offer, with stalls selling crepes, cookies, stroopwafels and chocolate-covered strawberries in its 2026 season, and Cafe ‘cito in The Lodge serves drinks beside the rink. The Union Square Holiday Market also mixes food stalls in with its craft vendors.

Bar service at The Lodge works like any New York bar, where a tip is expected. Our guide to tipping in North America explains how much to leave.

What can you buy at the NYC Christmas markets?

Handmade gifts from local makers are what the NYC Christmas markets sell, from jewellery and ceramics to ornaments, art and clothing. The Union Square Holiday Market focuses on New York craftspeople, artists and small businesses, and Grand Central’s Holiday Fair on local artisans with one-of-a-kind products. The Bryant Park Holiday Shops cover the widest range, with more than 180 kiosks of crafts, gifts and food.

How do you get to the NYC Christmas markets?

The New York City Subway reaches every Christmas market on this list, so you do not need a car or a taxi. The subway lines for each market are listed below.

1. Bryant Park: Bryant Park is served by the B, D, F and M trains at 42 St-Bryant Park and the 7 train at 5 Av.
2. Grand Central: Grand Central Terminal is served by the 4, 5, 6, 7 and S trains at Grand Central-42 St, and by Metro-North trains from the northern suburbs and Connecticut.
3. Union Square: Union Square is served by the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains, according to Urbanspace.
4. Columbus Circle: Columbus Circle is served by the 1, A, B, C and D trains, according to Urbanspace.
5. Herald Square: Herald Square is served by the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W trains at 34 St-Herald Sq.

Bryant Park and Grand Central are a short walk apart along 42nd Street, so they pair well in one afternoon. For a trip from further away, compare flights to New York before you book.

Where to stay near the NYC Christmas markets?

Midtown Manhattan is the most convenient base for the NYC Christmas markets, because Bryant Park, Grand Central and Herald Square are all within walking distance of each other there, and Columbus Circle is a few subway stops north. Union Square is a short subway ride south. For hotels in Midtown and across the city, compare hotels in New York and across the US and book early for December weekends.

What else can you do in NYC at Christmas?

Ice skating is the obvious pairing with a New York Christmas market, and the rink at Bryant Park Winter Village is free to enter. The Bryant Park rink stays open until 28 February 2027, so it outlasts every market on this list. Macy’s holiday windows sit right beside the Herald Square market on Broadway.

New York’s markets borrow their kiosks and mulled-drink habits from Europe, and the originals are a flight away. The Vienna Christmas market and the London Christmas markets are two of the easiest to reach from New York. America’s other famous German-style market is in Chicago, and the Chicago Christkindlmarket guide has its 2026 dates and locations.

NYC Christmas Markets FAQ

Are there any Christmas markets in NYC?

Yes, New York City has 5 main Christmas markets in 2026: Bryant Park Winter Village, Union Square, Grand Central, Columbus Circle and Herald Square. All 5 are in Manhattan and free to enter.

Where is the Christmas market in NYC?

The main Christmas market in NYC is in Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues. Union Square, Columbus Circle, Herald Square and Grand Central Terminal hold the other main markets.

Is the Bryant Park Christmas market cash only?

No, the Bryant Park Christmas market is not cash only, and most vendors accept cards as well as cash, according to visitor reports. Carry a little cash anyway, because a few small vendors may prefer it.

Which Christmas market is better, Union Square or Bryant Park?

Bryant Park is the better choice for the full winter experience, because it adds a free ice rink, The Lodge bar and more than 180 shops, and it runs from October to January. Union Square is the better choice for local makers, with nearly 200 vendors and a stronger focus on New York craftspeople, but it closes on 24 December.

How many days do you need in New York at Christmas?

Two days in New York cover the main Christmas markets, because Bryant Park, Grand Central and Herald Square are all walkable in Midtown, and Union Square and Columbus Circle are each a short subway ride away. A third day leaves time for skating and the holiday windows.

WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips

The 4 tips below come from the organisers’ own 2026 timetables, and each one affects which market you visit on which day.

1. Go to Bryant Park or Herald Square after Christmas. Union Square and Grand Central close on 24 December and Columbus Circle on 31 December, but the Bryant Park Holiday Shops run to 3 January 2027 and the Herald Holiday Fair to 2 January 2027.
2. Visit Bryant Park on Christmas Day. The Bryant Park Holiday Shops open from noon to 5pm on 25 December 2026, a day when Columbus Circle and Herald Square closed in 2025.
3. Save Grand Central for Christmas week. The Grand Central Holiday Fair stays open until 8pm every day from 17 to 23 December, an hour later than the rest of its season.
4. Bring your own skates to Bryant Park. Skating on the Bryant Park rink is free, and only the skate rental costs money, from $18.72 off-peak.

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 New York City’s Christmas markets, its ice rinks, and the hotels and flights worth booking, and updates this page when dates, prices and rules change.