NYC Christmas Markets 2026: Which to Go To, and When
NYC's four big holiday markets run on different dates. Bryant Park opens October 28, 2026. When the rest open, and which one is worth it.
New York has four big Christmas markets, and they open on different dates. Bryant Park’s Winter Village opens first, on October 28, 2026. Union Square and Grand Central follow in November. Columbus Circle comes last, in December. If you only go to one, go to Bryant Park.
Here’s each one, when it’s open, and what it’s actually good for.
The markets at a glance
- Bryant Park Winter Village. October 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027 for the shops. The rink stays until February 28. The best one.
- Union Square Holiday Market. Usually mid-November to Christmas Eve. Last year it opened November 13. The most shops for gifts.
- Grand Central Holiday Fair. Usually early or mid November to Christmas Eve. Last year it ran November 10 to December 24. Indoors.
- Columbus Circle Holiday Market. Last year it ran December 2 to 31. The smallest, and the one to pair with Central Park.
Checked October 5, 2026: Bryant Park is the only one with confirmed 2026 dates. Union Square, Grand Central and Columbus Circle haven’t announced theirs yet. Some sites list dates for them already; those are last year’s dates carried forward, not announcements, and we’ll update this page when the markets confirm.
Bryant Park Winter Village
Dates: October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027. The holiday shops run through January 3, 2027. Where: Bryant Park, between 40th and 42nd Street and Fifth and Sixth Avenue.
The best market in the city, and it isn’t close. Glass kiosks run along the edges of the park, with small makers selling real gifts, and the food is better than a market needs to be.
The center of the park becomes an ice rink with free admission. Bring your own skates and it costs nothing. Rentals cost extra. The rink opens at 8am daily and stays open to 10pm, or to midnight from November 19 to January 3.
The shops keep shorter hours than the rink: 11am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends.
It also has the best public bathroom in Midtown, which in December is worth a lot. It sits right behind the New York Public Library, so see both. Our Bryant Park review has more.
Union Square Holiday Market
Dates: usually mid-November to Christmas Eve. Last year it opened November 13 and closed at 4pm on December 24. Where: the southwest corner of Union Square Park, at 14th Street and Broadway.
The one for actual gift shopping. Last year it had 185 vendors, almost as many as Bryant Park, and with no rink it’s almost all shopping. Aisle after aisle of red-and-white striped stalls.
Last year’s hours were 11am to 9pm on weekdays, 10am to 9pm on Saturday and 11am to 7pm on Sunday.
It’s also on a huge subway hub: the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W all stop at 14 St–Union Square.
Grand Central Holiday Fair
Dates: usually early or mid November to Christmas Eve. Last year it ran November 10 to December 24. Where: Vanderbilt Hall, just off the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal.
The one to go to when it’s freezing or raining. It’s indoors, in one of the grandest rooms in the city, with a few dozen local vendors.
It’s smaller than the outdoor markets. The real reason to go is that you’re in Grand Central anyway, so walk out and look at the main concourse while you’re there.
Columbus Circle Holiday Market
Dates: last year it ran December 2 to December 31, closing at 4pm on New Year’s Eve and closed on Christmas Day. Where: Columbus Circle, at the southwest corner of Central Park.
The small one, in the best location. Fewer stalls than Union Square, but you walk out of it into Central Park. Pair it with a walk in the park, or end our holiday windows route here instead of at Bloomingdale’s.
Along with Bryant Park, it’s one of only two that stay open between Christmas and New Year’s.
Which one should you go to?
- One market only: Bryant Park. It’s the full holiday experience in one place, with skating.
- Serious gift shopping: Union Square. Nearly as big as Bryant Park, and nothing but stalls.
- Bad weather: Grand Central. Indoors, and a building worth seeing anyway.
- After Christmas: Bryant Park, open to January 3, or Columbus Circle, open to New Year’s Eve.
How to do them without the crush
- Go on a weekday, as early as you can. A Tuesday morning and a Saturday afternoon are two different markets.
- Avoid December weekends after about 2pm. Bryant Park and Union Square both get packed.
- Eat before the rink, not after. The lines for the food kiosks grow through the evening.
- Bring a bag. Most vendors have them, but you’ll carry more than you planned.
Pair it with the rest of December
The markets sit in the middle of the best free month in the city. Walk the holiday windows route, see the Rockefeller Center tree, and take the subway to Brooklyn for the Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Everything else on this month is in things to do in NYC in December 2026.
Check before you go
Market dates and hours change every year. Before you go:
- Each market’s 2026 opening date, once it’s announced
- Holiday hours around Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve
- Bryant Park rink hours and any closures for private events
The rest of the season
New York from late October to early December, in order:
- NYC fall foliage 2026: when it peaks and where to go
- NYC Marathon 2026 spectator guide: where to watch on November 1
- Macy’s balloon inflation 2026: the free Wednesday before the 100th parade
- Rockefeller tree lighting 2026: December 2, and how to see it without the crowd
Questions about anything in this guide? Reach MUSEENYC at museenyc.art@gmail.com or @museenyc on Instagram.
Four markets, one winner. More December in the city → museenyc.com