Guides

Christmas Markets in Sweden 2026: Dates, Tips and the Best Julmarknader

Christmas markets in Sweden 2026: dates for Stortorget, Skansen, Liseberg and more, what to buy and eat, admission and practical tips for your visit.

By Roland Strodthoff · 27 October 2026

Mit Weihnachtslichtern geschmückte Straße in Stockholm

A cup of glögg in your hand, the scent of gingerbread in the air and torches flickering outside old timber houses: a Christmas market in Sweden feels quite different from the rows of stalls in many big-city squares elsewhere in Europe. This guide explains which Swedish Christmas markets are worth visiting, when they are open in 2026, what you can buy and eat there, and how best to plan your trip.

Last updated: October 2026

Key facts at a glance

Most Swedish Christmas markets (julmarknader) open only on certain weekends, so check the dates carefully before you travel.
The season starts early: some large markets take place as early as late October or the first half of November, while many others run over the Advent weekends.
In 2026 the market on Stortorget in Stockholm’s Old Town, the oldest Christmas market in the country, is open every day from 22 November to 23 December.
Skansen’s Christmas market in Stockholm runs from Friday to Sunday between 27 November and 20 December 2026.
Liseberg in Gothenburg turns into a Christmas world with millions of lights on selected days from 14 November to 30 December 2026.
Expect crafts, candles, sweets and treats for the Christmas table rather than mass-produced goods.

What makes a Swedish Christmas market special

Many Swedish Christmas markets are held not on a town square but in open-air museums, on country estates, in castles or in old industrial villages. Craftspeople and small producers sell their own goods there, such as ceramics, ironwork, design items, handmade candles, glass, regional food and sweets.

To warm up, there is glögg, Swedish mulled wine served with almonds and raisins, and pepparkakor, thin ginger biscuits. Open fires often burn, choirs sing, and at some markets Father Christmas (tomte) and his family make an appearance. Many markets are aimed squarely at families, with animals, craft activities or sleigh rides.

Worth knowing: most markets do not run for weeks on end. Often they last only two or three days, sometimes over several Advent weekends. If you turn up on a Tuesday on the off chance, you may well find an empty square.

Christmas markets in Stockholm

Stortorget in Gamla stan

The market on Stortorget in the heart of the Old Town was first held in 1837 and is regarded as Sweden’s oldest Christmas market. According to Visit Sweden, in 2026 it is open every day from 22 November to 23 December. That makes it the most convenient market for anyone spending only a few days in Stockholm. Expect crowds in the narrow lanes at weekends and in the late afternoon.

Skansen on Djurgården

The open-air museum Skansen has held a Christmas market among its historic buildings since 1903. Stalls sell crafts, design items, sweets, homemade candles and delicacies for the Christmas table, along with waffles, mulled wine and roasted almonds by the fire. In 2026 the market is open Friday to Sunday from 27 November to 20 December: 10:00–17:00 on Fridays and Saturdays and 10:00–16:00 on Sundays.

The market takes place on the museum grounds, for which Skansen charges admission. Prices vary by season and are lowest when you buy online. Children aged 0 to 15 get in free but need a complimentary ticket booked in advance.

Kungsträdgården

The market in Kungsträdgården park has a character all of its own: upper secondary school students present the products of their student companies (Junior Achievement) at more than 400 stands. In 2026 it takes place on a single day only, 28 November.

For more on the capital, getting there and public transport, see our guide to Stockholm.

Gothenburg and the west

Christmas at Liseberg

Every year the Liseberg amusement park in central Gothenburg becomes one of Sweden’s largest Christmas markets. Around five million lights and some 2,000 Christmas trees decorate the grounds. There are several themed areas, including a Nordic winter landscape with an ice rink, an old-fashioned Christmas market, an Alpine-style Tyrolean market and Santa’s Village. Rides are also running.

In 2026 the park is open on selected days only: 14–15, 20–22 and 27–29 November and 2–6, 9–13, 16–23 and 26–30 December. According to Göteborg & Co, tickets go on sale in November, and prices had not yet been published at the time of writing. Opening hours may change, so check again shortly before your visit.

Tjolöholm Castle

South of Gothenburg in Halland, Tjolöholm Castle has hosted a Christmas market since 1987, one of the largest in the region. In 2026 it runs over three weekends: 20–22 and 27–29 November and 4–6 December.

More markets worth visiting around the country

The south: Skåne and Småland

Huseby Bruk (Småland, about 22 km south of Växjö): the organisers bill their fair as the largest Christmas fair in the Nordic region, with hand-picked craftspeople and small food producers across seven venues on the grounds of the old ironworks. Dates in 2026: 7–15 November.
Kalmar Castle: a four-day fair within the medieval walls, 26–29 November 2026.
Kosta (Kingdom of Crystal): Friday to Sunday from 21 November to 20 December, and daily from 25 to 31 December 2026.
Eksjö: a market in the well-preserved wooden town, 5–6 December 2026.
Malmö, Gustav Adolfs torg: Thursday to Sunday from 26 November to 20 December 2026.

Central Sweden: around Stockholm, Östergötland, Dalarna and Uppland

Taxinge Castle (Nykvarn, Sörmland): 13–15 and 19–22 November 2026.
Gamla Linköping: an open-air museum with a small-town feel, 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026.
Uppsala: a historical market with around 70 stalls in the city centre, 5–6 December 2026.
Falun Mine (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Christmas market on 6 December 2026, followed by an underground Lucia celebration from 11 to 13 December.

The north and Gotland

Jamtli (Östersund): an open-air museum with horse-drawn sleigh rides and dog sledding, 4–6 December 2026.
Gammelstad near Luleå: a market in the church town (UNESCO World Heritage Site), 5–6 December 2026.
Visby (Gotland): a medieval Christmas in a 13th-century church ruin, opened by a torchlight procession, 4–6 December 2026.

The market at Mårbacka in Värmland, the home of author Selma Lagerlöf, comes very early: in 2026 it takes place as early as 29 October to 1 November.

Lucia, julbord and Advent: what else belongs to the season

If you travel in December, you can easily combine a market visit with other traditions. 13 December is Lucia Day: a young woman wearing a crown of candles leads a procession of singers dressed in white. Lucia celebrations and concerts take place in churches, schools and workplaces, and Skansen also lists the Lucia tradition in its Christmas programme. Check in advance whether you need tickets for a concert.

During Advent, many restaurants serve a julbord, the big Christmas buffet with pickled herring, salmon, Christmas ham, sausages and meatballs. If you want to enjoy a julbord on a December weekend, book in good time. For more on customs and public holidays, see our page on public holidays and festivals in Sweden.

Practical tips for your visit

Double-check dates: all dates in this guide come from the organisers or Visit Sweden (as of October 2026). Short-notice changes are possible, especially to opening hours.
Go early in the day: in December it gets dark in Stockholm by early afternoon, and even earlier in the north. The atmosphere is lovelier with the lights on, but at weekends it also gets busy.
Dress warmly: many markets are outdoors. A hat, gloves, warm shoes with good grip and several layers are essential, and cobblestones and wooden walkways can be slippery.
You will hardly need cash: in Sweden almost everything is paid by card or mobile phone. What to bear in mind is explained in our guide to paying in Sweden.
Travelling by car? From 1 December to 31 March, winter tyres are mandatory whenever there are winter road conditions, including for foreign-registered cars. Our guide to winter tyres in Sweden has the details.
Book accommodation in good time: if you are travelling specifically for a market on an Advent weekend, do not leave your accommodation to the last minute, especially in smaller places with few beds.
Leave room in your suitcase: handmade candles, glass from Småland or woodwork make lovely souvenirs, but they are fragile. Pack some padding.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest Christmas market in Sweden?

The market on Stortorget in Stockholm’s Old Town, first held in 1837, is considered the oldest. The Skansen market has been running since 1903.

Which is the largest Christmas market in Sweden?

It depends on whom you ask: Liseberg in Gothenburg is often described as Sweden’s largest Christmas market, the one-day market in Kungsträdgården has the most stands with more than 400, and Huseby Bruk promotes itself as the largest Christmas fair in the Nordic region.

Are Swedish Christmas markets open every day?

Usually not. Many open only on one or a few weekends. Among the well-known markets, the one open daily in 2026 is above all Stortorget in Stockholm (22 November to 23 December).

Do you have to pay to get in?

It varies. Markets on public squares such as Stortorget are free to enter. For markets in museums or amusement parks such as Skansen or Liseberg, you will usually need a ticket. Current prices are on the organisers’ websites.

When is the best time for a Christmas market trip to Sweden?

Most markets take place between late November and mid-December. Among the markets in this guide, the second weekend of Advent (4 to 6 December in 2026) offers the widest choice: Jamtli, Visby, Uppsala, Eksjö, Gamla Linköping, Tjolöholm and Gammelstad are all open then, in addition to Stortorget, Skansen and Liseberg.

Sources

For more tips, see our Sweden guides.