IllustrationChristmas markets · Cape Town · Johannesburg · Pretoria
Christmas markets in South Africa 2026: 55 markets in 10 towns
From Edgemead, Nickel and The Barn in Cape Town to Emperors Palace, Montecasino and Sandton City in Joburg and the Irene Village Market near Pretoria: 55 Christmas markets in 10 towns, with 2026 dates as they're announced.
📍 Find a market near meuntil Christmas
Find a Christmas market near you
We list the Christmas markets announced by the venue, the estate or the organisers — not one-day school fetes. House light displays are in our Christmas lights guide. 2026 dates appear as soon as they're official; until then you see last season's, marked as such.
The most searched Christmas markets in 2026
Christmas markets by town and city
🧒 With kids
- Emperors Palace Christmas Village · Kempton Park
- Edgemead Christmas Market · Cape Town
- South Market Christmas Gifts & Craft Market · Cape Town
- Irene Village Market (Festive Edition) · Pretoria
- Tyger Valley Festive Market · Cape Town
- CapeGate Festive Market (Brackenfell) · Cape Town
✨ Date night
- Nickel Christmas Market · Pretoria
- Montecasino Festive Market · Johannesburg
- The Gift Fair at The Baxter (Rondebosch) · Cape Town
- Blaauwklippen Twilight Christmas Market · Stellenbosch
- Franschhoek Village Christmas Market · Franschhoek
- Stanford Festive Market · Stanford
🎉 With friends
- Emperors Palace Christmas Village · Kempton Park
- Edgemead Christmas Market · Cape Town
- The Barn Christmas Market · Cape Town
- South Market Christmas Gifts & Craft Market · Cape Town
- Nickel Christmas Market · Pretoria
- Montecasino Festive Market · Johannesburg
Christmas markets in other towns
Ballito
IllustrationChristmas market · Ballito
Christmas Country Fair (Collisheen Estate, Ballito)
One of the biggest Christmas markets in KwaZulu-Natal, held each year from late October into early November, with a huge range of high-quality unique stalls.
🎉 With friends🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- One of KZN's biggest
- High-quality stalls
- Dolphin Coast
The big KZN Christmas fair — worth the drive up the coast.
- Dates
- 30 Oct – 1 Nov 2025
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- Collisheen Estate, near Ballito.
Worth knowing
- Late October to early November.
- Proceeds support the fair's fund.
Bothaville
IllustrationChristmas market · Bothaville
OFM NAMPO Park Christmas Market (Bothaville)
The Free State's big Christmas market at the NAMPO agricultural show grounds, with more than 130 exhibitors.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- 130+ exhibitors
- Show grounds
- Free State
The Free State's main Christmas shopping event.
- Dates
- 6–7 Nov 2026
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- NAMPO Park, outside Bothaville.
Worth knowing
- 2026 dates: 6–7 November.
- Nothing comparable was found in Bloemfontein itself.
Franschhoek
IllustrationWeekend Christmas market · Franschhoek
Franschhoek Village Christmas Market
A weekend Christmas market in Franschhoek village; nearby Boschendal holds a Wine & Christmas Market evening (15 Dec 2025, 5–9pm) and Friday night markets all summer.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Franschhoek village
- Weekend market
- Boschendal Christmas evening nearby
Pair it with a Winelands weekend.
- Dates
- 12–13 Dec 2026
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- Franschhoek village centre.
Worth knowing
- 2026 dates: 12–13 December.
- Book Boschendal's Friday Night Market early.
George
- Illustration
Christmas market · George
Let's Love Local Gift Market (George)
A Garden Route gift market in George through the holiday season, from mid-December to early January.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Garden Route
- Open over the holidays
- Local makers
The Garden Route's holiday-season gift market.
- Dates
- 12 Dec 2026 – 2 Jan 2027
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- George, Garden Route.
Worth knowing
- Runs into January.
- Good for holidaymakers.
Gqeberha
- Illustration
Christmas market · Gqeberha
Christmas Craft Market (Old Grey Club, Gqeberha)
Gqeberha's oldest Christmas market (31st edition in 2025): handcrafted gifts, decorations and home décor from local makers.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- The city's oldest Christmas market
- Handcrafted gifts
- Free entry
The Christmas market to visit in Gqeberha.
- Dates
- 27–29 Nov 2025
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Old Grey Sports Club Hall, Lenox Street.
Worth knowing
- Opens 9am; Friday evening session.
- Late November.
Hermanus
- Illustration
Christmas market · Hermanus
The Gift Market Hermanus (Curro)
A holiday-season gift market at Curro school in Hermanus, open into the post-Christmas holiday weeks; the Son en See Feesmark also trades in Hermanus.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Holiday-season market
- Open after Christmas
- Whale Coast
Good for holidaymakers on the Whale Coast.
- Dates
- 12–28 Dec 2025
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- Curro Hermanus.
Worth knowing
- Runs until 28 December.
- Check the Hermanus Country Market too.
Vanderbijlpark
- Illustration
Christmas market · Vanderbijlpark
Kies en Keur Kersmark (Emerald Resort)
A month-long Afrikaans Christmas market of handcrafted décor, gifts and festive treats from local makers, open 9am–9pm daily.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- A full month
- Handcrafted décor and gifts
- Open till 9pm
The Vaal's big Christmas market.
- Dates
- 22 Nov – 22 Dec 2025
- Cost
- Free entry.
Getting there and parking
- Emerald Resort & Casino, Vanderbijlpark.
Worth knowing
- Open daily 9am–9pm.
- Combine with the resort's attractions.
Yzerfontein
- Illustration
Christmas market · Yzerfontein
Skeppend Christmas Market (Yzerfontein)
Skeppend brings a December Christmas market to the coastal town of Yzerfontein on the West Coast.
🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- West Coast holiday town
- Community hall market
- Nine days
Handy for West Coast holidaymakers.
- Dates
- 11–19 Dec 2025
- Cost
- See the organiser.
Getting there and parking
- Yzerfontein Community Hall.
Worth knowing
- 2026 dates: 11–19 December.
- Weskus Kersmark in Vredenburg runs 11–22 Dec 2026.
Christmas markets, South African style
With Christmas in midsummer, South African markets are craft-and-gift markets in community halls, wine estates and malls rather than snowy squares. Cape Town has the busiest scene — Edgemead runs daily through December, Nickel and The Barn are favourites — while in Gauteng the big names are Emperors Palace's Christmas Village, Montecasino's festive market and Irene's festive edition.
What to eat, drink and buy
Boerewors rolls, vetkoek, koeksisters, ice cream, local wine and craft beer. To take home: handmade gifts, leather, ceramics, beadwork, jewellery, decorations and art from local makers.
Tips for a good visit
Go early or in the evening to beat the heat and the crowds, and bring cash as well as a card — some small stalls are cash only. Parking fills up fast at weekends in December; check whether a market is indoor (good on rainy Highveld afternoons) or outdoor.
Questions
- When do Christmas markets open in 2026?
- Most run from late November to Christmas Eve; some only on selected weekends. Each card says whether the 2026 dates are confirmed.
- What is the best Christmas market in Cape Town?
- Edgemead is by far the most searched; Nickel, The Barn and South Market are the other favourites. Our cards say who each one suits.
- Where are the Christmas markets in Johannesburg and Pretoria?
- Emperors Palace's Christmas Village, the Montecasino festive market in Fourways, Sandton City's Christmas Village and the Irene Village Market festive edition near Centurion.