New this season: Wednesday workshops, twice-weekly Date Nights, an Après All Day event, and one extra night to ring in 2027
SEATTLE, OCTOBER 2026: The Seattle Christmas Market returns for its fourth year November 20 through December 26, 2026, bringing the sights, flavors, and traditions of a European holiday market to Seattle Center. This year the celebration runs past Christmas for the first time, then reopens for one night only on New Year’s Eve to send guests into 2027 under twinkling lights.
“We wanted this season to feel like there’s always a reason to come back. Whether it’s a Tuesday date night, a Saturday with the kids, or counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, there’s a new way to experience the Market every time you visit,” said Malte Kluetz, Founder of the Seattle Christmas Market.
For the first time, the Seattle Christmas Market will reopen on New Year’s Eve. On Thursday, December 31, the carousel, Christmas Pyramid, food and drink huts, and a beer garden in front of the Alpen Haus open to the public at 2 p.m. At 8 p.m., the beer garden becomes a ticketed late-night party, with a live DJ spinning in the Alpen Haus until 1 a.m., plus the New Year’s Wish Wall and a countdown to midnight. The carousel and Christmas Pyramid stay open to all guests through the evening. Tickets for the New Year’s Eve party are sold separately and will be available in November.
The Market’s food lineup gets bolder this year, with dishes cooked and carved right in front of guests:
They join returning favorites like Feuerzangenbowle, glühwein, and the famous cheese wheel. Holiday cheer doesn’t have to cost a lot. Plus, every food and drink vendor at the Market offers at least one item for $10 or less.
80 artisan vendors and food stalls fill the Market this season, including new merchants selling vintage-inspired watches and Christmas Closet, a shop stocked with holiday décor and seasonal finds.
Returning favorite Ryan “Henry” Ward, known as Seattle’s most prolific public artist, returns Nov. 23 to paint and sell original artwork every Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday from 12-6 p.m. Guests will recognize his playful Pacific Northwest characters from murals around the region.
Live music fills the Pyramid Stage and the Alpen Haus all season, with performers including The Jewel Tones, Luis Cano Mariachi, The Choppers Brass, Bonnie Birch Bavarian Trio, Life in Pink Vintage Holiday Jazz, the Bavarian Beer Garden Band, Manuela Horn, and roving carolers. Weekend afternoons also bring a cultural performance series celebrating Croatian, Ukrainian, and German, and other holiday traditions.
Admission includes a range of no-cost activities:
Dates: November 20 to December 26, 2026, plus New Year’s Eve on December 31. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Hours: Weekdays 4 to 9 p.m. and weekends 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 13, with Black Friday (Nov. 27) open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Extended holiday hours begin Dec. 14, with the Market open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 14 to 18 and 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19 to 23. Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Location: Seattle Center, in and around Fisher Pavilion
Tickets: General admission starts at just $6.99; children 6 and under are free. Ticketing options include an unlimited Season Pass for $31.99, a Family Season Pass for $64.99, and a Date Night pass for $47.99, available online starting October 13th. Guests are encouraged to purchase early online to secure the best pricing.
Season Pass: Get the most out of the season.
Family Season Pass: Fun for everyone throughout the season.
Date Night Pass: Set the mood for a romantic evening.
Website: www.seattlechristmasmarket.com
Founded in 2023, the Seattle Christmas Market is a ticketed holiday attraction inspired by traditional European Christmas markets. The yuletide celebration features local and international artisans, seasonal food and drink, live entertainment, and immersive holiday décor. Guests can enjoy music, carousel rides, snow showers, a stroll through Lovers’ Lane and the Love Lock, and ring in 2027 with views of the Space Needle fireworks at the new special New Year’s Eve celebration.
Seattle Center is an active civic, arts, and family gathering place in the heart of our city and region, committed to creating exceptional events and experiences that inspire and connect the community. Seattle Christmas Market is part of Seattle Center’s Holidays at the Center programming. This campus-wide seasonal lineup includes free, public activities like Winterfest, presented by Symetra, and New Year’s Eve at the Center, presented by Alaska Airlines, alongside ticketed attractions such as the Seattle Christmas Market and Pacific Northwest Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.
