Warsaw Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours, tips

Warsaw has two main Christmas markets in the 2026/2027 season. The Warsaw Christmas Market on Plac Defilad, at the foot of the Palace of Culture and Science, has confirmed dates: its second edition runs from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with a bigger site, more than a hundred stalls, rides and illuminations. The traditional Barbican market in the Old Town hasn't announced its 2026 dates yet – in 2025 it ran from 22 November 2025 to 6 January 2026. We'll update this guide once the dates are published.

Key facts: Warsaw Christmas markets 2026

	Warsaw Christmas Market (Plac Defilad)	Barbican market (Old Town)
Dates 2026/2027	20 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 (confirmed)	not yet announced; 2025: 22 Nov 2025 – 6 Jan 2026
Opening hours	daily 11:00–22:00; closed 24 Dec, 25–26 Dec 12:00–22:00, 31 Dec 11:00–18:00, 1 Jan 14:00–22:00, 6 Jan 11:00–22:00	2025: Sun–Thu 11:00–20:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–21:30
Where	Plac Defilad 1, by the Palace of Culture and Science	between the Old Town walls, from Sigismund's Column to Wąski Dunaj; ice rink on the Old Town Market Square
Admission	free	free
Getting there	Centrum metro station, Warszawa Centralna and Śródmieście railway stations	buses to Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square), Ratusz Arsenał metro (10 minutes' walk)
Source	jarmark.waw.pl	go2warsaw.pl (Warsaw Tourist Office)

Status as of 21 October 2026. The Plac Defilad hours come from the organiser; its list of holiday exceptions still carries last season's dates, so check again before Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. We'll add the Barbican market's dates and hours once they are announced.

Below you'll find a side-by-side comparison, opening hours (clearly marked where they refer to last season), a map, transport from the airport, how to pay and how to combine a market evening with a walk through the Old Town. All other Polish cities are covered in Christmas markets in Poland 2026.

Warsaw Christmas Market on Plac Defilad

This is the newer of Warsaw's markets, but it has already been named “Event of the Year” in the city's Warszawiaki awards. For 2026 the organiser promises a second edition that is bigger and fuller of new ideas, with a larger site and more traders: more than a hundred stalls of gifts and crafts, mulled wine and hot chocolate, winter street food from around the world, plus rides, concerts and shows. More new attractions will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Its big advantage is the location: right in the centre, next to the main railway stations and the metro, so you can drop in for an hour between trains. In the evening, the illuminated Palace of Culture and Science forms the backdrop.

What's new in 2026

The second edition will take up a noticeably larger area below the Palace of Culture and Science and is open daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Announcements mention more than 200 exhibitors across three zones – crafts, regional food products and gastronomy, with well-known Warsaw restaurants joining in. Last season's Ferris wheel is being replaced by a carousel with an observation tower, and there will also be a maze and new rides. Santa is due to be in his cottage every day, with family entertainment planned for every weekend.

Over the holidays the hours change: the market is closed on 24 December, opens at 12:00 on 25 and 26 December, closes at 18:00 on 31 December and runs 14:00–22:00 on 1 January. The last day is 6 January (11:00–22:00).

The Barbican market and the Old Town ice rink

Warsaw's traditional market lines the space between the Old Town's double defensive walls (Międzymurze), from Sigismund's Column to Wąski Dunaj street. In 2025 the stalls sold crafts, artisan products, delicacies and Christmas decorations, with blacksmithing demonstrations, performances and carol singing. An ice rink was set up on the Old Town Market Square – skating between the rebuilt merchant houses is one of Warsaw's classic winter scenes.

In the 2025/2026 season it was open Sunday to Thursday 11:00–20:00 and Friday–Saturday 11:00–21:30. On Christmas Eve selected stalls were open, and on 25–26 December, 31 December and 1 January it opened 12:00–21:30. We'll add 2026 dates and hours once they're announced.

Map of Warsaw's Christmas markets

Plac Defilad and the Old Town are about 2.5 km apart. The nicest way between them is on foot along the Royal Route – Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście – or by bus to Castle Square.

What to eat and buy

Both markets offer mulled wine, hot chocolate, pierogi, grilled food, oscypek (smoked highland cheese) and sweets, plus tree ornaments, ceramics, wooden toys and crafts. The Barbican market leans towards traditional crafts and an old-fashioned fair atmosphere; Plac Defilad towards international street food and photogenic attractions. No 2026 prices have been published.

Gift idea: a personalised Warsaw map poster with a heart on the Old Town is a lovely present for anyone who loves the city – design it in minutes and print the PDF right away.

Practical tips for international visitors

Money: paying in złoty

Poland uses the złoty (zł, PLN). Card and contactless payments are very common in Warsaw, but keep a little cash for small stalls and rides. Asked by a terminal whether you want to pay in your own currency? Pick PLN and let your bank do the conversion.

From the airport

From Warsaw Chopin Airport, commuter trains (SKM and Koleje Mazowieckie) reach Warszawa Śródmieście and Warszawa Centralna – right by Plac Defilad – in about 20–25 minutes; one public-transport ticket covers the journey. City bus 175 also runs from the airport to the centre. From Warsaw Modlin Airport, take the shuttle bus or the bus-and-train combination to Warszawa Centralna (about an hour in total).

When to go

Plac Defilad is busiest after work and on weekend evenings, when locals from all over the city come; the Old Town is packed with tourists at weekends. If you only have one evening, choose the Old Town for atmosphere or Plac Defilad for food and rides – they're about a 30-minute walk apart, so with a little energy you can see both. Weekdays before 16:00 are the calmest at both markets. It gets dark around 15:25 in December, so you'll see the lights even on an early visit.

A simple afternoon plan

Start around 13:00 at Plac Defilad and, if the weather is clear, ride up to the Palace of Culture's 30th-floor viewing terrace. Then walk along Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście to Castle Square. After dark, stroll through the Barbican market, see the ice rink on the Old Town Market Square and have dinner in the Old or New Town.

Make a weekend of it

Warsaw's markets combine well with its museums, a good refuge from grey December weather. On day two, visit the Royal Castle or one of the big history museums, then walk in Łazienki Park or along the Vistula boulevards, which are quiet and well lit in winter. With kids, the Copernicus Science Centre by the river is a great rainy-day option. Come back to Plac Defilad or the Old Town in the evening.

Getting around and parking

Plac Defilad is served by the Centrum (M1) and Świętokrzyska (M2) metro stations, trams and trains. For the Old Town, take a bus to Castle Square or the M2 metro to Ratusz Arsenał. The centre is a paid parking zone and spaces are scarce in December; consider a park-and-ride by a metro station.

Kids, accessibility and dogs

Plac Defilad is flat and spacious – much easier with a buggy than the cobbled Old Town. Rides and the ice rink are the top attractions for children. The organisers haven't published accessibility or dog rules for 2026; choose quieter hours if you bring a dog.

Where to stay

The most practical base is the city centre around Warszawa Centralna: close to Plac Defilad and well connected to the Old Town. Old Town hotels cost more, but an evening stroll after the market closes is worth it.

Nearby: what else to see

• Palace of Culture and Science – with a 30th-floor viewing terrace, right next to the Plac Defilad market.
• Warsaw Old Town – rebuilt after the war and UNESCO-listed; full of Christmas decorations in December.
• Royal Castle – on Castle Square, a few steps from the Barbican market.
• Warsaw Barbican – the brick fortification where the Old Town market is held.
• Old Town Market Square – with the Mermaid statue and the winter ice rink.

From the Barbican stalls, keep walking with our audio guide “Warsaw: The City Rebuilt from Memory” – thirteen stories over 2.9 km from the Copernicus monument to the New Town Square, right through the Old Town market area. The first two stops are free. More ideas: things to do in Warsaw.

FAQ: Warsaw Christmas markets 2026

When does the Warsaw Christmas Market open in 2026?

The market on Plac Defilad opens on 20 November 2026 and runs until 6 January 2027. The Barbican market's dates haven't been announced yet.

What are the opening hours on Plac Defilad?

Daily from 11:00 to 22:00. Exceptions: closed 24 December, 25–26 December 12:00–22:00, 31 December 11:00–18:00, 1 January 14:00–22:00. The Barbican market's 2026 hours have not been announced; in 2025 it opened Sun–Thu 11:00–20:00 and Fri–Sat 11:00–21:30.

Is there an entrance fee?

No, both markets are free. Rides, the ice rink, food and shopping are paid.

How much is mulled wine?

Neither market has published 2026 prices; we'll add them when the organisers do.

Can I bring my dog?

No dog rules have been published. Plac Defilad is roomy, but the narrow Barbican walls get packed at weekends – choose a weekday.

Is the market open over Christmas?

Yes, except on Christmas Eve. The Plac Defilad market is closed on 24 December, opens 12:00–22:00 on 25 and 26 December, closes at 18:00 on New Year's Eve and opens at 14:00 on 1 January.

Before you go: take Warsaw home with you – a Warsaw map poster won't melt like the ice rink. Łódź is just over an hour away by train – find both cities, and the rest, in our guide to Christmas markets in Poland 2026.