Italy Christmas markets run longer than most in Europe: many open in late November and stay up until Epiphany on 6 January 2027, when La Befana brings sweets to Italian children. The best ones are in South Tyrol and Trentino, where the tradition came from Austria, but Tuscany, Milan, Rome and Venice all have their own versions.
The dates below come from our city guides. Where the organiser has not confirmed 2026 yet, we say “expected” and give last year’s pattern.
Italy Christmas markets 2026: dates at a glance
| Town | Main location | 2026 dates |
|---|---|---|
| Arezzo | Piazza Grande and old town | 14 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Trento | Piazza Fiera and Piazza Cesare Battisti | 20 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Bolzano | Piazza Walther | 26 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Merano | Passer promenade and Piazza Terme | 26 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Bressanone (Brixen) | Piazza Duomo | 26 Nov 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Florence | Piazza Santa Croce | Expected mid-Nov – around 20 Dec |
| Milan | Piazza del Duomo | Expected around 1 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Rome | Piazza Navona | Expected early Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 |
| Venice | Campo Santo Stefano | Expected late Nov 2026 – early Jan 2027 |
Entry is free everywhere. Most South Tyrol markets close on 25 December; Trento opens that afternoon from 16:00 to 20:00.
South Tyrol and Trentino: Italy’s best Christmas markets
These towns sit on the Brenner railway, so you can see three or four markets in a few days without a car.
Bolzano
Bolzano has the biggest market in Italy, centred on Piazza Walther with stalls along Via Stazione and around the cathedral. It runs from 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with the tree lit on the opening night at 17:00. Stalls open 10:00 to 19:00 and the food stands stay open until about 21:00. Read our Bolzano guide.
Merano
About 80 exhibitors line the Passer river by the Kurhaus, with a big tree and an ice rink on Piazza Terme. Dates are 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, closed on Christmas Day. Book the Merano thermal baths for the afternoon and the market for the evening. See our Merano guide.
Bressanone (Brixen)
A small market of 44 stalls in the cathedral square, open from 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. It is ten minutes from the station and easy to add to a Bolzano trip. Read our Bressanone guide.
Trento
Trento opens first, on 20 November 2026, and runs to 6 January 2027, daily 10:00 to 20:00. About 70 huts fill Piazza Fiera by the old city walls and another 20 stand on Piazza Cesare Battisti. Try polenta and canederli in the Sapori del Mercatino food area. See our Trento guide.
Tuscany: Arezzo and Florence
Arezzo
Arezzo’s Città del Natale runs from 14 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 and spreads across Piazza Grande, the Fortezza Medicea and Parco Il Prato. The Tyrolean village on Piazza Grande is expected from 14 November to 27 December. In recent years it opened Thursday to Sunday at first and daily closer to Christmas. Read our Arezzo guide.
Florence
Piazza Santa Croce hosts a German-style market, expected from mid-November to around 20 December 2026. In 2025 it ran from 15 November to 21 December, daily 10:00 to 23:00. It is a ten-minute walk from the Duomo. See our Florence guide.
Milan, Rome and Venice
Milan’s Duomo market is expected from around 1 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, and the traditional Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair takes over the area around Castello Sforzesco for a few days around 7 December, the feast of Sant’Ambrogio (our Milan guide).
Rome’s Piazza Navona market is expected from early December to 6 January 2027, with stalls of nativity figures, sweets and Befana stockings (our Rome guide). In Venice, Campo Santo Stefano hosts the main market, expected from late November to early January (our Venice guide).
What to eat at Christmas markets in Italy
- Vin brulé, the Italian mulled wine, and hot apple juice in South Tyrol.
- Speck, Kaminwurz sausages and Zelten fruit bread in Bolzano and Merano.
- Canederli dumplings and polenta in Trento.
- Panettone, torrone and roasted chestnuts in Milan, Florence and Rome.
Tips for planning your trip
- Bolzano to Merano is about 40 minutes by regional train, and Bolzano to Bressanone or Trento is about 30 to 40 minutes.
- 8 December is a public holiday in Italy, and the long weekend around it is the busiest of the season in the north.
- Most of these markets stay open after Christmas, so the days between 27 December and 6 January are a good, quieter alternative.
- Pack for cold evenings in the Alps; temperatures in Bolzano and Merano often drop below freezing at night.
The South Tyrol tourism website lists the smaller village markets in the region, and Italia.it covers events in the rest of the country.
Luggage storage for market hopping
Seeing three markets in South Tyrol in two days usually means carrying a suitcase between trains. Radical Storage lets you leave it at a local shop or hotel near the station in Bolzano and other Italian cities, then pick it up when you are ready to move on. The network has 16.5K+ locations in 2.3K+ cities, every bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free and the service is rated 4.8/5.
FAQ about Italy Christmas markets
Arezzo opens on 14 November 2026, Trento on 20 November, and Bolzano, Merano and Bressanone on 26 November. Milan and Rome usually start in early December.
Bolzano is the largest and best known. Merano, Bressanone and Trento are smaller but close by train, so many visitors combine them.
Yes. Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Trento and Arezzo all run until 6 January 2027. Most close on 25 December, while Trento opens from 16:00 to 20:00 that day.
Yes, on Piazza Navona. It is expected from early December 2026 to 6 January 2027 and focuses on nativity figures, sweets and Befana gifts.
By regional train. Bolzano is about 40 minutes from Merano and about 30 to 40 minutes from Bressanone and Trento.
Book luggage storage with Radical Storage near Bolzano station or Piazza Walther. Bags are protected up to €10,000 and cancellation is free.