Copenhagen Christmas Markets 2026

TLDR: Copenhagen’s Christmas markets are pure Danish “hygge”. In 2026 the big news is a brand-new market at Højbro Plads – Jul På Højbro Plads – with stalls from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, while Tivoli remains the most magical (and the only paid) Christmas experience in town.

Copenhagen shines during the holiday season, with its streets glowing under festive lights and the smell of mulled wine (gløgg) drifting through the air.

As a local Copenhagener, I know how magical our city feels in December – and it’s largely thanks to the variety of Christmas markets. Each one offers something different, and a few things have changed for 2026, so here’s my updated guide to help you choose the right market (or markets!) for your visit.

And if you’d like a travel companion directly in your ears, you can go on the audio walking tour, Unlock Christmas in Copenhagen.

Updated October 2026. Dates and opening hours come from the organisers’ official websites. Where 2026 details haven’t been announced yet, we say so – always double-check before you go.

👇🗺️ Map of all Copenhagen Christmas markets 🎄🎅

Copenhagen Christmas Markets 2026 at a Glance

• Tivoli Gardens: 13 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 (paid entry)
• Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv: 6 November – 21 December 2026 (free)
• Jul På Højbro Plads (new): 14 November – 20 December 2026 (free)
• Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square): 11 – 20 December 2026
• Copenhagen Winter Wonderland, Kongens Nytorv: returns in November 2026 – exact dates not announced yet
• Nyhavn, the H.C. Andersen Christmas Market and Christiania: 2026 dates not announced yet

1. Tivoli Gardens Christmas Market

Perfect for: Families, first-timers, and lovers of all things magical

Why go? Tivoli Gardens is Copenhagen’s most magical Christmas experience. Christmas in Tivoli runs from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and the historic amusement park fills up with twinkling lights, Christmas stalls, festive food and the scent of gløgg and æbleskiver.

It’s the only market on this list that charges admission: entry starts at 210 DKK for adults and children aged 8+, from 115 DKK for children aged 3–7, and children under 3 go free (prices vary by date). In return you get the full show – rides running in the winter darkness, a Christmas market tucked between the old trees, and evening light that makes the whole garden glow.

Ballet fans can catch The Nutcracker at the Tivoli Concert Hall from 26 November to 20 December 2026, with sets and costumes designed by Queen Margrethe II. Tickets include entrance to the Gardens.

Tips:

• Visit in the evening, when the lights around the illuminated Nimb Hotel create pure magic.
• Be prepared for crowds – it’s famous for good reason. Weekdays are calmer.
• Check Tivoli’s opening calendar before you go – hours vary, and the park has closed on some holidays in previous seasons.

Getting there: Use the map below or find it here: Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 København V.

2. Jul På Højbro Plads (New for 2026)

Perfect for: Families with children, design and craft lovers, and anyone curious about Christmas in Greenland and the Faroe Islands

Why go? Højbro Plads has a brand-new Christmas market in 2026. Jul På Højbro Plads, run by new owner Jackie Berdino, gathers stalls from across the Danish Realm – Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands – so you can taste, shop and hear Christmas traditions from all three in one square. The entertainment programme draws on all three as well.

Expect thousands of lights, gløgg and æbleskiver, design and crafts, concerts and family activities around the equestrian statue of Bishop Absalon, the city’s founder. Children should head straight for the large interactive Christmas exhibition, where talking trees tell a brand-new tale about Julius Klejne.

The organisers’ ambition is refreshingly simple: a place to gather around each other – not just around Christmas.

Tips:

• Open 14 November – 20 December 2026, and entry is free.
• Opening hours: Monday–Wednesday 11:00–19:00, Thursday 11:00–20:00, Friday–Saturday 11:00–21:00, Sunday 12:00–19:00.
• Gammel Strand Metro station is right next to the square, and Christiansborg Palace is just across the canal.
• Our Christmas with H.C. Andersen audio walk starts right here at Højbro Plads.

Getting there: Use the map below or find it here: Højbro Plads 9, 1200 København K. Read more on the official website: kbhjulemarked.dk.

3. Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv

Perfect for: Skaters, shoppers, and anyone who wants a big, classic market right off Strøget

Why go? Spread across the two connected squares of Nytorv and Gammeltorv, by the old Copenhagen Courthouse, this market calls itself Denmark’s largest Christmas market. It runs from 6 November to 21 December 2026, entry is free, and new this year is a free ice rink with free skate rental.

Wooden stalls sell crafts, design and Christmas specialities, there’s plenty of gløgg and festive food, and Santa (Julemanden) drops by for the kids. It’s just a short walk from Rådhuspladsen and right on Strøget, so it’s easy to pop in while shopping.

Tips:

• Opening hours: Monday–Wednesday 11:00–19:00, Thursday 11:00–20:00, Friday–Saturday 11:00–21:00, Sunday 12:00–19:00.
• Gammel Strand Metro station is about a five-minute walk away.
• Combine it with a climb up the Round Tower for views over the festive rooftops.

Getting there: Nytorv and Gammeltorv, 1450 København K. Official website: julemarked.dk.

4. Nyhavn Christmas Market

Perfect for: Couples, photographers, and those seeking the classic Copenhagen postcard

Why go? Nyhavn’s Christmas stalls stand out for their unbeatable location along Copenhagen’s most photographed canal. At the time of writing, dates for 2026 haven’t been announced, but in previous years wooden stalls have lined the quay from November until just before Christmas.

Colourful 17th- and 18th-century houses and historic ships create a romantic backdrop perfect for that postcard shot. Hans Christian Andersen lived at three different addresses here – he wrote his very first fairy tales at Nyhavn 20 and “The Snow Man” while living at Nyhavn 67.

Nyhavn is smaller than Tivoli, but its charm lies in the atmosphere: Christmas decorations, Danish handicrafts and brændte mandler (caramelised almonds) you can smell from blocks away.

Tips:

• Come around sunset (roughly 15:30 in December) for the best photos.
• Strolling the quay is free, making it budget-friendly.
• Combine it with a winter canal tour, then warm up with gløgg in the courtyard at Zeleste in nearby Store Strandstræde.

Getting there: Use the map below or find it here: Nyhavn, 1051 København K.

5. Copenhagen Winter Wonderland at Kongens Nytorv

Perfect for: Couples and friends who want to skate in a grand, historic setting

Why go? Copenhagen Winter Wonderland is an ice-skating experience rather than a traditional market. In 2025 the circular rink made a comeback on Kongens Nytorv, winding around the statue of Christian V and surrounded by the Royal Danish Theatre and the festive façade of Hotel d’Angleterre.

The organisers have confirmed that Winter Wonderland returns to Kongens Nytorv in November 2026, but exact dates, opening hours and prices haven’t been announced yet. Check copenhagenwonderland.com for updates.

6. Christmas Market at Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square)

Perfect for: Pre-Christmas visitors who want a market right next to the city’s big Christmas tree

Why go? New for 2026, a Christmas market comes to Rådhuspladsen from 11 to 20 December. It’s run by the organiser behind the former Christmas market at Højbro Plads, which has moved here. Opening hours haven’t been published yet, so check Visit Copenhagen’s event calendar before you go.

Tivoli’s main entrance is just across the street, so it’s easy to combine the two.

7. Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market

Perfect for: Families and fairy-tale lovers

Why go? In previous years, the Hans Christian Andersen Christmas Market has charmed families with fairy-tale-themed stalls named after Andersen’s stories, Christmas lights and visits from Julemanden (Santa Claus).

At the time of writing (October 2026), the organiser hasn’t announced dates or a location for 2026, and the Nytorv and Gammeltorv squares it has used before will host Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv this year. We’ll update this guide as soon as we know more – in the meantime, check julemarked.co.

Tip: You can still spend a fairy-tale afternoon in Andersen’s footsteps with our Christmas with H.C. Andersen audio walk.

Which One Should You Choose?

• If you want the full festive experience: Go to Tivoli Gardens. It’s the quintessential Copenhagen Christmas.
• For families and something new: Try Jul På Højbro Plads, with its talking trees and traditions from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
• For skating and shopping: Head to Nytorv & Gammeltorv, where the ice rink and skate rental are free.
• For a romantic evening: Stroll along Nyhavn. The canal setting is perfect for couples.

When Do Copenhagen Christmas Markets Open in 2026?

Most Copenhagen Christmas markets open in November and close just before Christmas.

The first to open is Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv on 6 November 2026, followed by Tivoli Gardens on 13 November and Jul På Højbro Plads on 14 November. The market at Rådhuspladsen runs from 11 to 20 December. Copenhagen Winter Wonderland at Kongens Nytorv returns in November, with dates still to be announced.

Højbro Plads closes on 20 December and Nytorv & Gammeltorv on 21 December, while Tivoli stays open until 3 January 2027.

Smaller and alternative markets have their own schedules – see below – and some dates are only published closer to the season, so check official websites before visiting.

Which Copenhagen Christmas Markets Are Free?

Most Copenhagen Christmas markets are free – you only pay for what you buy.

• Jul På Højbro Plads (14 November – 20 December) is free, with a large children’s Christmas exhibition, concerts and stalls from Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
• Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv (6 November – 21 December) is free – and so are the ice rink and skate rental.
• Nyhavn is free to stroll, set along the iconic canal with its colourful townhouses.

Only Tivoli charges admission (from 210 DKK for adults).

Are There Unique or Alternative Christmas Markets Worth Visiting?

Beyond the big central markets, Copenhagen offers some distinctive alternatives.

• Christiania’s Christmas market in Den Grå Hal (The Grey Hall) has been a tradition since the 1970s and bills itself as Northern Europe’s largest indoor Christmas market, packed with handmade crafts. In 2025 it ran from 6 to 20 December; 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet. Read more about Christiania.
• RAW Marked at Nørrebrohallen is a one-day design market on Saturday 28 November 2026 (11:00–17:00) with around 90 stalls selling ceramics, jewellery, textiles and illustrations.
• Frederiksberg Christmas Market fills the square in front of Frederiksberg Town Hall from 4 December 2026, with free entry.
• The Swedish Christmas bazaar at Gustafskyrkan (the Swedish Church near Kastellet) opens on 20 November 2026 – come for Swedish treats and Advent decorations.
• Copenhagen Zoo usually puts on a Christmas programme with lights and festive activities; details for 2026 haven’t been announced yet.

Each offers its own unique Copenhagen Christmas character.

What Happened to the Kongens Nytorv and Højbro Plads Christmas Markets?

Copenhagen’s market map has been shuffled a few times. The traditional Christmas market at Kongens Nytorv moved to Thorvaldsens Plads in 2024 and to Nytorv in 2025. In 2026 it spreads across both Nytorv and Gammeltorv as Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv. Kongens Nytorv itself is now home to the Copenhagen Winter Wonderland ice rink.

At Højbro Plads, the former Christmas market will not take place in 2026 – its organiser has moved to Rådhuspladsen. Instead, the square gets a new market under a new owner: Jul På Højbro Plads.

What Should I Know Before Visiting Copenhagen Christmas Markets?

• The big central markets at Højbro Plads and Nytorv & Gammeltorv are open daily in 2026: Monday–Wednesday 11:00–19:00, Thursday 11:00–20:00, Friday–Saturday 11:00–21:00 and Sunday 12:00–19:00.
• Markets get crowded after 17:00 when locals finish work, so visit earlier for a relaxed experience and better photos.
• Only Tivoli charges admission (from 210 DKK for adults); the others are free.
• Copenhagen is largely cashless – most stalls accept cards and mobile payments.
• December temperatures usually hover around 0–5°C (32–41°F), and it gets dark around 15:30, so dress warmly in layers.
• Traditional treats include gløgg (mulled wine), æbleskiver (round pancake puffs), brændte mandler (caramelised almonds) and flæskesteg sandwiches (roast pork).
• Most markets close on 20 or 21 December, but Tivoli stays open until 3 January 2027.

Explore the markets with our audio walk Unlock Christmas in Copenhagen or the Christmas with H.C. Andersen audio walk.

My Personal Recommendation

If you can only visit one, I’d say start with Tivoli Gardens for the sheer magic of it. I once talked with two visitors from Australia who told me that during their whole week in Copenhagen:

Tivoli was the best part of Copenhagen! We loved the lights and everything was just so magical. This was very unique.

My personal favourite is still Nyhavn – there’s something about sipping gløgg along the old harbour that feels quintessentially Danish. And this year I’m especially curious about the new Jul På Højbro Plads and its Christmas traditions from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. For the ultimate evening, add a spin on the ice at Nytorv & Gammeltorv or Kongens Nytorv.

Get an overview of all Christmas markets using the map below.

Whichever one you choose, you’re guaranteed to leave with a heart full of hygge and holiday cheer. Enjoy your visit!