The countdown has begun. From Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, the Brussels Christmas Market, Winter Wonders, takes over the city centre again. And this edition is like no other: the Brussels Christmas Market turns 25. A quarter of a century of chalets, mulled wine, lights on the Grand-Place and family strolls, drawing an average of four million visitors a year, according to the City of Brussels.
Here is everything already confirmed for the Brussels Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours, locations, guests of honour, what is new for the anniversary and tips for getting there. The detailed programme will be presented at the press conference on 17 November; we will update this guide as soon as it is published.
Brussels Christmas Market 2026: dates and opening hours
The Brussels Christmas Market opens on Friday 27 November 2026 at noon and closes on Sunday 3 January 2027. For five weeks it is open every day from 12 noon to 10 pm, weekends included.
Three exceptions to remember: on 24 December, 31 December and 3 January, the chalets close at 6 pm, and there is no sound and light show on the Grand-Place on those evenings.
Entry to the Brussels Christmas Market is free. The attractions (Ferris wheel, ice rink, merry-go-rounds…) have their own prices, which will be published on the official website.
25 years of Winter Wonders: what is new for the anniversary edition
For its 25th anniversary, the Brussels Christmas Market welcomes Béarn Pyrénées and the Basque Country, which together form the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Their Basque-Béarn village sets up on Place de la Bourse: the City describes it as “much more than a market”, a space for encounters and cultural discovery in the heart of Brussels.
Run by the Béarn Pays basque departmental tourism agency, the village showcases producers and craftspeople from the department, with tastings and an immersive space. The Basque Country presents Biarritz, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Atlantic coast and the summit of La Rhune. Béarn highlights its valleys, ski resorts, the city of Pau and the Jurançon vineyards. French radio ICI mentions a 700 m² marquee. According to BX1, Mayor Philippe Close praised regions “with an exceptional heritage” and “a living culture”.
Another new feature, with a touch of nostalgia: the “Souvenirs d’Hiver” exhibition on Place Royale, from 27 November to 3 January. According to Le Soir, its 24 panels look back on a quarter of a century of festivities through photos, testimonies and anecdotes.
The organisers also announce a cultural programme with choirs, creative workshops and musical walks, a market of local makers, the Creators Factory, at the Bourse, and several art installations, notably in the courtyard of the Town Hall and on Place de la Monnaie. Details and times will be given in the official programme.
Where is the Brussels Christmas Market?
The Brussels Christmas Market is not on a single square: it is a walk through the heart of the city. The City of Brussels announces six main squares:
- Grand-Place: the big Christmas tree and the sound and light show;
- Place de la Monnaie;
- Place de la Bourse: the Basque-Béarn village of the guests of honour and the Creators Factory;
- Place Sainte-Catherine;
- Marché aux Poissons (Vismet);
- Place De Brouckère.
visit.brussels also lists Place Royale, the Black Tower, the Madeleine and Place Poelaert among the 2026 locations. To find chalets, attractions and transport, the official interactive map remains the handiest tool.
What to find at the Brussels Christmas Market
According to the City of Brussels, the 2026 Christmas market brings together more than 200 chalets (the official website listed 238 for the 2025 edition). Confirmed on the programme:
- food and craft chalets, for tasting and finding gift ideas;
- merry-go-rounds, the Ferris wheel, an ice rink and curling lanes;
- the Christmas tree on the Grand-Place;
- the sound and light show on the Grand-Place (except on 24 and 31 December and 3 January);
- cultural activities and events.
And the Grand-Place nativity scene? After the fabric nativity of 2025, the question remains open. We take stock in our article: what will the City of Brussels do with the Grand-Place nativity scene in 2026?
How to get to the Brussels Christmas Market
The organisers recommend public transport and cycling:
- Train: Brussels-Central station is right in the heart of the event.
- Metro, tram, bus: Gare Centrale, Bourse and De Brouckère stops, served by metro lines 1 and 5, trams 4 and 10 and several bus lines. Gare Centrale, Bourse, De Brouckère and Sainte-Catherine stations have lifts.
- Bike: secure underground bike parks at Bourse (610 spaces, plus 18 for cargo bikes) and De Brouckère (304 spaces) stations.
- Car: possible if there is no alternative; the Ceria and Kraainem Park & Rides let you reach the centre by metro.
Families and people with reduced mobility
The toilets along the route are accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to adapted ramps. Public toilets are also available at Place Fontainas, the Halles Saint-Géry, Gare Centrale and De Brouckère and Bourse stations. A baby corner at the Bourse lets families change a baby and warm a bottle in peace.
Our tips for enjoying the Brussels Christmas Market
- Come from noon: the market opens at 12 noon every day.
- Note the three 6 pm closings: 24 December, 31 December and 3 January, with no sound and light show.
- Start at the Grand-Place, then follow the route to the Bourse, Sainte-Catherine and the Vismet, before De Brouckère and the Monnaie.
- Keep the interactive map on your phone to find chalets, attractions and toilets.
All our practical information is gathered on our Brussels Christmas Market 2026 page.
Brussels Christmas Market: frequently asked questions
When does the Brussels Christmas Market 2026 start? On Friday 27 November 2026 at noon. It runs until Sunday 3 January 2027.
What are the opening hours of the Brussels Christmas Market? Every day from 12 noon to 10 pm. Closing at 6 pm on 24 and 31 December and on 3 January.
Where is the Brussels Christmas Market? In the city centre: Grand-Place, Place de la Monnaie, Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine, Vismet and Place De Brouckère, as well as Place Royale, the Black Tower, the Madeleine and Place Poelaert.
Is the Brussels Christmas Market free? Yes, entry is free. Prices for the attractions will be published on the official website.
Is there an ice rink at the Brussels Christmas Market? Yes, the City of Brussels announces an ice rink and curling lanes.
Who are the guests of honour in 2026? Béarn Pyrénées and the Basque Country, with a Basque-Béarn village on Place de la Bourse.
Why is it the 25th anniversary of the Brussels Christmas Market? The 2026 edition is the 25th of Winter Wonders, according to the City of Brussels as quoted by BX1 and according to visit.brussels.
What is the Brussels Christmas Market called? Winter Wonders in English, Plaisirs d’Hiver in French and Winterpret in Dutch.
🔗 Sources & verifiable links
- 🏛️ City of Brussels — Winter Wonders and Christmas market 2026
- 🎄 Winter Wonders — official website
- 🎄 Plaisirs d’Hiver — practical information (FR)
- 🚆 Plaisirs d’Hiver — getting there (FR)
- 🗺️ Winter Wonders — interactive map
- 🧭 visit.brussels — Winter Wonders
- 📰 BX1 — Béarn and the Basque Country guests of Winter Wonders 2026 (FR)
- 📰 Le Soir (So Soir) — opening date and new features (FR)
- 📰 Ouest-France — the Basque Country and Béarn as guests (FR)
- 📰 ICI (Radio France) — the Basque Country and Béarn guests of honour (FR)
— Jeanneke Pis, for BXLpositive.news
Bernard Frisque
