Menu

Counties

Leinster

CarlowDublinKildareKilkennyLaoisLongfordLouthMeathOffalyWestmeathWexfordWicklow

Munster

ClareCorkKerryLimerickTipperaryWaterford

Connacht

GalwayLeitrimMayoRoscommonSligo

Ulster

AntrimArmaghCavanDerryDonegalDownFermanaghMonaghanTyrone

Christmas markets in Ireland 2026

11 Christmas markets across 10 counties, north and south, with the dates each organiser had published when we checked on 8th October 2026. 6 are confirmed by the organiser; the rest say so beside them. The first opens on the 13th of November.

The markets, in date order

Earliest opening first. Each name goes to the organiser.

  1. Guildhall Craft Fair13th to 15th November · The Guildhall, Derry · Co. DerryThree days of craft and food stalls inside the Guildhall to open Derry's Christmas; the lights go on the Friday after.
  2. Waterford Winterval13th November to 23rd December, weekends · Across Waterford city · Co. WaterfordMarkets, a light trail, the Winterval Express and the rest of Ireland's biggest Christmas festival, on weekends from the 13th.
  3. TwinkleTown20th November to 31st December · Smithfield Square and St Patrick's Park, Dublin · Co. DublinDublin's main market now that Dublin Castle sits out 2026. Smithfield from the 20th of November; a second site in St Patrick's Park from the 27th of November to the 23rd of December. Free in, some rides ticketed. Reported, not yet on the organiser’s page.
  4. Christmas in Limerick23rd November to 3rd January 2027 · Limerick city, with the Milk Market's festive markets · Co. LimerickThe city's season, with Limerick on Ice and the Milk Market's weekend Christmas markets in December (the market's own dates were not out when we checked).
  5. Everwinter25th November to 23rd December · RDS, Ballsbridge · Co. DublinThe RDS market this year, with Irish makers, a covered rink, a circus big top and a vintage fairground. Ticketed entry, closed on Mondays; the rink stays open to the 3rd of January.
  6. Yulefest Christmas Market28th November to 23rd December, weekends, then the 21st to the 23rd · The Parade, Kilkenny · Co. KilkennyOpens with Santa's arrival on the 28th, every weekend to the 20th of December and daily in Christmas week, under the castle.
  7. Christmas in Killarney markets4th to 20th December, Fridays to Sundays · Old Market Lane, Killarney · Co. KerryThe markets run Friday to Sunday for three weekends; the parades are the four Saturdays before Christmas and the rink runs to the 10th of January.
  8. Belfast Christmas MarketDates to be announced · City Hall grounds, Donegall Square · Co. AntrimA hundred stalls from more than two dozen countries under the City Hall dome. The council had not published 2026 dates when we checked; it ran from the 15th of November to the 22nd of December in 2025. 2026 dates not yet published.
  9. Bishop Lucey Park Christmas MarketDates to be announced · Bishop Lucey Park, Cork · Co. CorkChristmas in Cork opens with the parade on Sunday the 15th of November; the council had not given the market's dates when we checked. 2026 dates not yet published.
  10. Galway Christmas MarketMid-November to 31st December · Eyre Square, Galway · Co. GalwayFifty wooden chalets, a big wheel and a bar tent on the square. Free in. Reported, not yet on the organiser’s page.
  11. Sligo Christmas MarketDates to be announced · Quayside Shopping Centre, Sligo · Co. SligoIndoors on the mezzanine, with rotating stalls and a grotto, so the weather does not come into it. The 2026 dates were not out when we checked; it ran daily from the 28th of November to the 23rd of December in 2025. 2026 dates not yet published.

Dates as the organisers gave them. A market can move a weekend or close early in bad weather; check its own page before you travel. Dublin Castle is closed to the public until January 2027, so its market is not running in 2026.

Santa experiences

The ticketed ones book out early; the grottos at the markets are drop-in.

  1. Elf Town Dublin14th November to 23rd December · RDS, Ballsbridge · Co. DublinAn immersive walk-through of about seventy-five minutes ending with Santa. Tickets, not a drop-in.
  2. Santa's Grotto, Christmas in Killarney27th November to 23rd December · Killarney · Co. KerryThe festival's own grotto, running the length of the season.
  3. Elf Town GalwayDates to be announced · Ballybrit Racecourse, Galway · Co. GalwayBack for November and December with a freer-flowing layout; dates to be confirmed by the organisers. 2026 dates not yet published.

In Fáilte Ireland’s listings

  1. Sun15 NovWinter Fair and Santa PawsWells House & Gardens · Gorey · Co. WexfordFree
  2. Sat28 NovSanta PawsNewbridge House & Farm · Donabate · Co. Dublin28th November to 22nd December
  3. Sat28 NovSanta at Malahide CastleMalahide Castle & Gardens · Malahide · Co. Dublin28th November to 23rd December
  4. Sat28 NovThe Magic of Christmas at Airfield EstateAirfield Estate · Co. Dublin28th November to 22nd December

How the markets work

Most Irish markets are weekend markets: chalets on a square from a Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, with the bigger ones in Galway, Belfast and Dublin open every day. Entry is free at every market on this page except Everwinter at the RDS, which is ticketed; the rinks, wheels and Santa experiences beside them are ticketed too.

The rest of the season, the light trails, pantos, carol services and markets in smaller towns, is on Christmas in Ireland 2026, by the day and by county, from Fáilte Ireland’s listings. Running a market that is not here? Tell us and we will look at adding it.

Privacy

Help

Find your way around the site.

How can we help? Pick a topic.