Christmas 2026, two cities, dates checked against the organizers
Christmas in New York.
Christmas in Chicago.
People plan Christmas by city, so these pages are built by city. Each one carries the same kit: the markets decoded with their real 2026 dates and hours, the lights, skating priced by what you actually pay at the window, and day by day itineraries for the season. Every date on this site is checked against the organizer and a second source.
Christmas 2026
New York
Six plus markets with different end dates, a tree lighting on December 2, ticketed skating with real price spreads, and a lights neighborhood in Brooklyn that no organizer runs. The full New York hub is live now, and the guide is on sale.
The guide: on sale nowChristmas in New York
The New York Guide63 pages of day plans, market calendars and skating costs. On sale now: get the guide, $4.99.
Chicago
Three Christkindlmarkets with three different sets of rules, an opening weekend where everything lands at once, and a zoo lights show with its own ticketing logic. The Chicago hub is live now; the weekend guide launches Friday, November 13.
Guide launches Fri Nov 13, 2026Christmas in Chicago
The Chicago Guide43 pages on the three-market system and the opening weekend. Launches Fri Nov 13, 2026.
The free tools
Christmas market dates and hours finder
Every verified market in New York and Chicago, plus markets in Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia. Filter by city, search by name, or ask the only question that matters: what is open on my day?
Open the finderThe New York Christmas map and itinerary builder
Every New York Christmas stop on one map, 47 markets, trees, shows, rinks, festive hotels and family exhibits, each with its verified 2026 dates. Pick your dates and your stops and the builder assembles a day by day plan with route links, a shareable link and a downloadable map file.
Open the map and build a tripThe Christmas markets map: the US and Europe
The markets worth crossing a city, a state or an ocean for, on one world map: our New York and Chicago markets in full, plus the best known markets across the US and Europe, from Denver and Bethlehem to Strasbourg, Vienna, Nuremberg and Tallinn, each with its verified 2026 dates.
Open the markets mapChristmas trip budget calculator
One template, both cities. Hotel, skating at total cost, show tickets, ticketed lights, tours, market spending. The math is on the page, line by line, so you can check it with a pencil.
Run your numbersBooking windows for 2027
Most 2026 windows are already open. The tracker's real job is next season: when rink tickets, show tickets and market dates go on sale for Christmas 2027, and how to hear about it in August instead of November.
See the trackerA note on our booking links
Plainly, because you should not have to guess. The guides on these pages are ours, written and published by Summit and Spur. Some pages also carry booking links for tours, hotels and experiences we do not sell ourselves. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in the finder
The finder also tracks verified market dates for Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia. One honest note on Philadelphia: its Wanamaker Light Show is paused for 2026 and 2027, whatever older guides still tell you.
The Christmas List.
One email if a season date on these pages moves, and first word when the 2027 guides open. Nothing else.