Madrid Christmas Market

The Madrid Christmas market takes place on the Plaza Mayor, in the Austrias district: 104 chalets arranged in a U shape around the equestrian statue of Philip III. The 2026 edition opens in late November (day to be confirmed) and closes on 31 December 2026. In 2025, the market ran from 27 November to 31 December. The chalets sell nativity figurines, decorations, instruments and novelty jokes, with free entry. The market has existed for more than a century.

2026 dates and opening hours

For 2026, from late November to 31 December, the opening hours are already set: Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 9pm, Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays from 10am to 10pm, with no midday break. These hours are the same as in 2023. Entry is free.

Past editions give the order of magnitude: from 27 November to 31 December in 2025, from 24 November to 31 December in 2023.

104 chalets of nativity scenes, decorations and novelty jokes

The 104 chalets are run by members of the Asociación del Mercado Tradicional Navideño de la Plaza Mayor, the traders’ association that organises the market. The same number appears in 2023, in 2025 and in the 2026 presentation. You will find nativity figurines to build your own belén, decorations, zambombas and other instruments, toys and novelty jokes, as well as Christmas trees and their accessories.

On the neighbouring plaza de Santa Cruz, an old carousel turns until early January. With around a hundred chalets, the market falls into this guide’s large market category.

A market more than a century old

In 2023, the deputy mayor presented the market as a meeting place for Madrileños and visitors “for more than a century”. Christmas trading dates back to the 17th century on the plaza de Santa Cruz, and was regulated in the 19th century. In 1944, the city council brought the sale of all Christmas goods, food excepted, together on the Plaza Mayor; in 1960, the car park works moved the market to the plaza de Santa Ana; the chalets replaced tarpaulins in the 1980s.

Madrid’s other Christmas markets

The Feria Mercado de Artesanía de la Comunidad de Madrid holds its 39th edition from 1 to 30 December 2026 on the paseo de Recoletos, between Colón and Cibeles. The Community of Madrid entrusts its organisation to the Asociación Madrileña de Oficios Artesanos (AMOA): around 130 workshops of ceramics, jewellery, leather goods, hats, toys and glass, more than 150 artisans in 2025. Metro Banco de España (L2) or Colón (L4), Cercanías Recoletos.

La Navideña, on the plaza de España, holds its sixth edition from late November 2026 to early January 2027, dates to be confirmed, while in 2025, it ran from 25 November to 11 January. On the programme: a 600 m² natural ice rink, 40 craft chalets and a food area, churros and mulled wine included. Super 8 Entertainment organises it with Santalucía. Metro Plaza de España (L2, L3, L10). Other small markets return every year without published dates for 2026: plaza de Juan Goytisolo, plaza de Isabel II and Madrid Río, where some twenty chalets of food, Christmas goods and crafts line up behind the Casa del Reloj.

The Cabalgata de Reyes on 5 January 2027

The Three Kings parade sets off on 5 January 2027 at 6pm from the plaza de San Juan de la Cruz and reaches Cibeles along the paseo de la Castellana and the paseo de Recoletos. The last Cabalgata had more than 1,500 participants and ended with fireworks. On the morning of 5 January 2026, Aldeas Infantiles SOS handed out 7,500 slices of roscón de Reyes at Puerta del Sol, for the 34th edition of the event.

Getting to the Madrid Christmas market

The Plaza Mayor is reached by metro from Ópera (L2, L5, R), Sol (L1, L2, L3) or Tirso de Molina (L1), by the Madrid-Sol Cercanías station, and by buses 002, 17, 18, 23, 31, 35, 50, 65, M1 and M3.

No direct train runs from Paris to Madrid: Renfe withdrew its applications for train paths to Paris on 2 April 2026, and the journey involves a change in Barcelona. A direct AVE links Marseille to Madrid, one a day in each direction. Check SNCF and Renfe timetables before you book. The airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas. Allow around two and a half hours by AVE to Barcelona and to Seville alike.

• The Barcelona Christmas market, the Fira de Santa Llúcia, has been documented since 1786 in front of the cathedral.
• The Seville Christmas market is a nativity fair at the foot of the cathedral, the Feria del Belén.
• Our page of Christmas markets in Spain brings together the country’s three listings.