Vilnius Old Town hosts Christmas Market from 28 November
Published on 11/14/2026 at 15:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSChristmas programme and heritage
- Go Vilnius places the Christmas Market in Cathedral Square from 28 November 2026 to 27 December 2026.
- Christmas activities extend to Town Hall Square, where the ice rink opens on 29 November 2026.
- UNESCO inscribed the Vilnius Historic Centre in 1994 and records a 352 ha World Heritage property.
Vilnius Old Town and the Christmas Market will begin their 2026 festive programme on 28 November in Vilnius, Lithuania. The market will occupy Cathedral Square until 27 December, while the city’s seasonal attractions extend into January.
Christmas Market opens in Cathedral Square on 28 November
Go Vilnius lists the Christmas Market at Cathedral Square from 28 November 2026 to 27 December 2026. The same programme places the Christmas tree in the square from 28 November until 6 January 2027.
The market is part of the city’s wider Christmas programme, which also includes a carousel at Cathedral Square, a Christmas train through the Old Town and an ice rink at Town Hall Square. The city’s official tourism programme describes these attractions as separate parts of the season, with different end dates. A 2026 Christmas programme gives the market dates and the locations of the main attractions.
The Christmas tree and market open on the same day, giving the Old Town a defined starting point for the season rather than a general winter change. The city programme announced on 12 November also names the market, tree, train, carousel and ice rink as the principal central attractions.
Vilnius Old Town places the programme in a UNESCO centre
The historic centre was the political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the thirteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century. UNESCO says that its surviving buildings include Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and classical architecture, together with a medieval urban layout.
The World Heritage property was inscribed in 1994 and covers 352 ha. Its protected area includes the historic centre around the former defensive wall, the castle areas and a network of streets, squares and buildings that developed over several centuries. The Christmas Market therefore uses Cathedral Square within a place whose significance rests on its wider urban fabric, not only on a single attraction. These details are recorded by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
The seasonal layout also connects two recognised public spaces. Cathedral Square hosts the market, tree and carousel, while Town Hall Square is the venue for the ice rink from 29 November 2026. This gives visitors a programme spread across named historic spaces rather than a single enclosed market site.
Several Old Town attractions continue into January
The tree remains in Cathedral Square until 6 January 2027. The carousel follows the same end date, while the Christmas train runs from 28 November 2026 until 3 January 2027. The ice rink starts one day after the market and continues until 25 January 2027.
The official city tourism information also identifies the Christmas programme as a way to experience the decorated streets and squares on foot. The seasonal attractions are consequently tied to the historic centre’s streets and public spaces, while the market itself remains anchored to Cathedral Square.
Visiting Vilnius Old Town: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Christmas Market takes place at Cathedral Square from 28 November 2026 to 27 December 2026.
- The tree, market and carousel are in Cathedral Square; the ice rink opens at Town Hall Square on 29 November 2026.
- The Christmas train runs through the Old Town from 28 November 2026 until 3 January 2027.
- The historic centre is a walkable urban area of medieval streets, squares and buildings, with the programme distributed between Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square.
- Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania, and the national currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Vilnius Old Town
When does the Christmas Market take place at Vilnius Old Town?
The market runs in Cathedral Square from 28 November 2026 to 27 December 2026.
What is Vilnius Old Town?
It is the historic centre of Vilnius, a UNESCO World Heritage property inscribed in 1994 and covering 352 ha.
Where is Vilnius Old Town and how do you get there?
It is the historic centre of Vilnius, with Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square among the named programme venues. The city tourism programme presents the central attractions as places to explore on foot.
