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Christmas markets · Edinburgh

Edinburgh Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening times and tips

Edinburgh's Christmas runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The Christmas Market in East Princes Street Gardens is open daily 10am–10pm (except Christmas Day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and 1 and 4 January), has around 70 stalls and is free to enter; the Big Wheel and Star Flyer are ticketed.

1 market · checked October 2026

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🧒 With kids

✨ Date night

🎉 With friends

  • Busy food stall at Edinburgh's Christmas Market📷 Mike McBey · CC BY 2.0
    Edinburgh Christmas Market lights and big wheel in East Princes Street Gardens at nightBig wheel by the Scott Monument at Edinburgh's Christmas MarketHelter skelter ride at Edinburgh's Christmas Market

    📷 Peter Moore · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 📷 M J Richardson · CC BY-SA 2.0

    Christmas market · Edinburgh

    Edinburgh Christmas Market

    🧒 With kids🎉 With friends✨ Date night

    What's there

    • East Princes Street Gardens below the castle
    • Big Wheel and rides
    • Lights and glowing displays
    • Free entry

    What visitors sayGoogle 3.8 ★ · 663 reviews

    A lovely evening out with spectacular lights, good food and plenty of rides — and free to walk in. Some found it smaller and less magical than its fame suggests; food is expensive and parking near the centre before 6 pm is scarce and costly.

    A must on a winter trip to Edinburgh — go after dark, on foot or by tram.

    2026
    14 Nov – 3 Jan 2027
    Cost
    Free entry; you pay for rides.

    Getting there and parking

    • Next to Edinburgh Waverley station; tram to Princes Street.

    Worth knowing

    • Open daily 10am–10pm except Christmas Day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and 1 and 4 January.
    • Around 70 stalls in the gardens; the Big Wheel and Star Flyer are separately ticketed.
    Princes St., Edinburgh EH2 2HGOfficial site

Questions

When does the Edinburgh Christmas market 2026 open and close?

2026 dates: Edinburgh Christmas Market: 14 Nov – 3 Jan 2027.

What are the Edinburgh Christmas market opening hours?

Edinburgh Christmas Market: Open daily 10am–10pm except Christmas Day, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and 1 and 4 January. Hours can change, so check the organiser's site before you go.

Is the Edinburgh Christmas market free to enter?

Edinburgh Christmas Market: Free entry; you pay for rides.

How do I get to the Edinburgh Christmas market?

Edinburgh Christmas Market: Next to Edinburgh Waverley station; tram to Princes Street.

Do you need a ticket for the Edinburgh Christmas market?

No. Entry to the market in the gardens is free and needs no ticket; only the rides, including the Big Wheel and the Star Flyer, are ticketed separately. You pay for food, drink and gifts at the stalls.

Is the Edinburgh Christmas market open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Hogmanay?

The market runs 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 and is open daily 10am–10pm except Christmas Day, when it is closed. Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and 1 and 4 January have shorter hours, so check the organiser's page for the exact times before you go.

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