The Toronto Christmas Market, now called the Distillery Winter Village, returns to the Distillery Historic District for its 17th season from Thursday, November 12, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027. The tree lighting is on opening night at 6 p.m., entry is free on weekday afternoons and most early-season weekdays, and evenings at busy times need a timed ticket from CA$16. Here’s when you can go for free, what’s new this year, how to get there and where to leave your bags.
Arriving at Union Station or checking out of your hotel? Drop your bags near the Distillery District and spend the evening at the market without them.
Toronto Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Thursday, November 12, 2026 – Sunday, January 3, 2027 |
| Closed | Christmas Day |
| Tree lighting | Thursday, November 12, 6 p.m. (ticketed night) |
| Hours | Cabins from late morning or noon until 9 p.m.; 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays |
| Free entry | Before 4 p.m. every day; all day Monday to Wednesday until December 13; Thursdays in November except opening night |
| Tickets needed | After 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Thursdays in December, every day from December 14 to 31, and opening night |
| Ticket price | From CA$16 plus HST and a service charge; online only |
| Kids | 9 and under always free |
| Address | Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street, Toronto |
| Transit | 504A King streetcar to Distillery Loop |
The full entertainment program, vendor list and Santa schedule are published on the Distillery Winter Village website.
Free Entry vs Tickets
The market is free most of the time. You only need a ticket after 4 p.m. on the busiest days: Friday to Sunday evenings for the whole run, Thursday evenings in December, every evening from December 14 to 31, and opening night. Children 9 and under never pay.
On a ticketed day you can still get in free if you’re inside the gates before 4 p.m., and you can stay as long as you like after that. There’s no re-entry, though, so step out and you’ll need a ticket to come back. Tickets start at CA$16 plus HST and fees, with General Admission, Flex and Express options. They’re sold online only, there’s no box office on site, and they’re non-refundable but transferable.
New Year’s Eve is a separate ticketed event from 7 p.m. to midnight at CA$30.
What’s New at the Toronto Christmas Market in 2026
- An immersive Nutcracker experience with interactive games and Sugar Plum Fairy sweets. It needs its own ticket.
- Santa’s Village moves indoors to Soulpepper Theatre, styled as a vintage European department store to go with Soulpepper’s production of Parfumerie. Kids can meet Santa and write letters, and there’s specialty hot chocolate.
- A new tree design, kept under wraps until the lighting on November 12.
- Performances from the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Myriad Ensemble and Mirvish Productions, with more acts to be announced.
Food, Drinks and Shopping
The Distillery District is a pedestrian-only area of brick Victorian industrial buildings, and during the season its lanes fill with wooden cabins selling ornaments, local crafts, gifts and seasonal food. Mulled wine and hot chocolate are the standard drinks for walking around, and the district’s own restaurants, cafés and shops stay open too, which helps when you need to warm up.
Most of the market is outdoors. There are fireplaces and indoor spaces for breaks, but dress for a Toronto evening in December, which is often below freezing.
How to Get to the Toronto Christmas Market
| From | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown (King Street) | 504A King streetcar east to Distillery Loop | 10–20 min |
| Union Station | Walk east along Front Street, or take the streetcar from King Station | About 25 min on foot |
| St. Lawrence Market | Walk east along Front Street and Mill Street | About 15 min |
| Pearson Airport | UP Express to Union Station, then walk or take the streetcar | About 1 hour |
| By car | Paid parking nearby; fills up on weekend evenings | Varies |
The TTC is the easy option, especially on ticketed evenings. Wheel-Trans passengers can use the accessible entrance at the Main Gate. If you’re planning the rest of your trip, our guide to what a Toronto visit costs helps with the budget.
Tips for Visiting
- Arrive before 4 p.m. on a ticketed day if you want to skip the ticket, then stay for the lights.
- Go Monday to Wednesday before December 13 for free entry all day and smaller crowds.
- Buy tickets ahead for December weekends. There’s no box office at the gate.
- Don’t leave once you’re in on a ticketed evening, since there’s no re-entry.
- Travel light. The lanes get crowded after dark and a suitcase on the old brick paving is hard work.
Luggage Storage Near the Distillery District
Lots of visitors fit the market in on the day they arrive or leave Toronto, and the no re-entry rule on ticketed evenings means you can’t easily pop back to a car or hotel to drop things off.
Radical Storage works with verified local shops and hotels around downtown Toronto, including spots near the Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market and Union Station. Book online in a minute, drop your bags and collect them after the market. Your bags are protected, cancellation is free, and travelers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage near the Distillery District
- Luggage storage near St. Lawrence Market
- Luggage storage near Union Station
Toronto Christmas Market FAQ
The Distillery Winter Village, formerly the Toronto Christmas Market, runs from November 12, 2026 to January 3, 2027. It is closed on Christmas Day.
Entry is free before 4 p.m. every day, all day Monday to Wednesday until December 13, and on Thursdays in November except opening night. Tickets are needed after 4 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays, Thursdays in December, every day from December 14 to 31 and on opening night. Kids 9 and under are always free.
Tickets start at CA$16 plus HST and a service charge, with General Admission, Flex and Express options. They are sold online only and are non-refundable but transferable.
The tree lighting is on opening night, Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. Opening night is a ticketed evening.
Take the 504A King streetcar east to Distillery Loop. From Union Station it is also about a 25-minute walk east along Front Street.
Radical Storage has verified partner shops and hotels near the Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market and Union Station. Book online, drop your bags and collect them after the market. Bags are protected and cancellation is free.
