Schönbrunn Palace opens its Christmas market on 6 November

The Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) in Vienna opens on 6 November 2026, bringing a seasonal programme to the Parade Court. The organiser, Imperial Markets GmbH, has also begun preparations with a spruce from the Wienerwald placed in front of the palace on 20 October.

Christmas Market opens at Schönbrunn on 6 November

The palace operator lists the Christmas Market Schönbrunn Palace 2026 from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Its venue is the Parade Court, the broad forecourt in front of the imperial residence. The listing confirms free entrance and identifies the event as a Christmas programme open to visitors.

The market will have 95 stalls, according to an announcement from the Austrian Federal Forests about this year's preparations. The offer will include traditional handicrafts and regional food, while family activities will include a weekly ice disco, craft sessions and musical programme items. A new Sternensalon will add an event space with a panoramic terrace and a view over the market. The operator's 2026 market listing gives the opening and closing dates and the Parade Court venue.

A Wienerwald tree marks the market preparations

The market's most visible advance notice arrived on 20 October 2026, when an approximately 80-year-old spruce was installed in the Parade Court. The tree was harvested on 19 October in a forest district near Pressbaum and transported to Vienna before being placed at the palace the following morning.

The announcement says the tree will stand as the market's seasonal centrepiece before being transferred to Schönbrunn Zoo after the season. Suitable parts will be used there as natural toys and food for the animals. This links a regional forestry story with the market's setting: a tree from the Wienerwald will stand before an imperial residence in Vienna. The tree announcement from 20 October names the market, its organiser and the preparations.

The market sits within a UNESCO-listed Baroque ensemble

The seasonal event takes place within the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, a Baroque ensemble shaped by several phases of imperial building. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach supplied the plans for the palace construction that began in 1696, while major expansion under Maria Theresa started in 1743.

The palace and gardens joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1996. The protected ensemble includes the residence, park, fountains, sculptures and garden buildings, so the market's location is more than a forecourt: it forms part of a cultural landscape whose layout and buildings are treated as a connected whole. The operator's UNESCO heritage history records the 1996 inscription and the complex's conservation responsibilities.

Visiting Schönbrunn Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Christmas Market opens on 6 November 2026 and runs until 6 January 2027 in the Parade Court.
• The operator lists free entrance, while the palace and the market are separate visitor experiences within the same historic complex.
• The venue is at Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47 in Vienna's 1130 district, with the market located in the forecourt.
• German is Austria's official language and the currency is the euro.

Searching for Schönbrunn Palace on social platforms

These links open searches for Schönbrunn Palace on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Schönbrunn Palace

When does the Christmas Market take place at Schönbrunn Palace?

The 2026 market takes place from 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 in the Parade Court.

What is Schönbrunn Palace?

It is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna, designed in part by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Where is Schönbrunn Palace and how do you get there?

The complex is at Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47 in Vienna's 1130 district, with the Christmas Market in the Parade Court.