Bruges Christmas market 2026 at a glance
The Christmas markets in Bruges run from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. They are part of Winter Glow, the city's winter program. Winter Glow itself lasts longer, until January 31, 2027, and it mixes paid and free offers that run for different periods. When someone says the market is open until the end of January, they mean the program, not the market stalls.
The markets are listed for the Market Square (Markt), where the Belfry stands, and for Simon Stevinplein. The ice rink is in a different place, in the Koning Albert I Park. This independent guide gives the dates and hours as published for the 2026/2027 edition.
What runs when
Dates and hours for the 2026/2027 winter season. Special days are listed in the notes.
| Part of the program | Dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas markets | November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027 | Sunday to Thursday 11–22, Friday and Saturday 11–23:30, New Year's Eve until 3:00 |
| Ice rink, Koning Albert I Park | November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027 | Daily 10–22, December 24 and 31 10–17:30, December 25 and January 1 12–22 |
| Winter Glow, whole program | November 20, 2026 to January 31, 2027 | Varies by offer |
The program has been reworked this year and includes a feature called Winter Giant. The old light trail is not listed in the same form, so do not plan around an earlier route you may have read about.
Our picks: guided walks from the Markt
Two guided walks that start at the Markt, where the Christmas market is held.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Walking tour with chocolate tasting and canal boat ride
A guided walk, a chocolate tasting, a canal boat ride and a QR code with recommendations. The listing shows no exclusions.
Check availability →
Small-group walk to the chapels and churches of the old town
Includes the Holy Blood Chapel, Saint Basil's Chapel, the Church of Our Lady with a short look at Michelangelo's Madonna, the Door to Narnia and a Belgian truffle.
Check availability →Winter tours and evening walks in Bruges
Guided walks, boat trips and tastings that suit the cold months, with live prices and availability.
The ice rink
The rink stands in the Koning Albert I Park, next to the winter bar IJsgloed. It opens on November 20, 2026 and closes on January 3, 2027. The daily hours are 10:00 to 22:00. On December 24 and 31 it closes at 17:30, and on December 25 and January 1 it opens only at 12:00.
In 2026/2027 adults and children pay €9. Children up to and including age 3 are free. Groups of 10 or more pay €8 per person, and Bruges schools pay €5. You can pay by Bancontact, Payconiq or cash. Ask at the rink whether skate rental is part of the price, and whether you should book in advance on busy days.
Winter in Bruges: opening hours worth knowing
The Christmas season changes hours at many sights. These are the main ones.
Belfry
From November 3 to March 31 an adult ticket costs €15, or €16 on weekends and from December 26 to 31 (2026 prices). Winter hours are 10–18 Monday to Friday and Sunday and 9–20 on Saturday, and 9–20 from December 26 to 30. It is open 9–16 on December 24 and 31 and closed on December 25 and January 1. The climb is 366 steps. Book a time slot online and see our Belfry guide.
Museums
The main museums close at 16:00 on December 24 and 31 and stay closed on December 25 and January 1. Groeningemuseum is closed on Mondays and Gruuthusemuseum on Wednesdays. The Groeningemuseum operator has announced a closure of several years for renovation starting in January, so check the date if you plan an early January visit. More on the museums page.
Canal boats
From November to February one jetty operates daily on a rotating system, and others may open at the operators' discretion. Tickets are sold on the spot. The ride lasts 30 minutes and costs €15 for adults until the end of 2026. See the canal boat guide.
Choco-Story
The chocolate museum closes at 16:00 on December 24 and 31 and is closed on December 25, January 1 and from January 4 to 8, 2027. See the chocolate guide.
Christmas bike tour
One bike operator, Quasimundo Bike Tours, lists a seasonal Christmas Bike Tour. It lasts 2 hours, is in English, takes at most 14 people and is open from age 6. It is a seasonal offer, so do not assume daily departures or that it runs for the whole winter. Check the operator's schedule for your dates. Other ideas are on our Bruges tours page.
Winter weather in Bruges
These are 1991–2020 monthly averages from the Royal Meteorological Institute for Uccle, near Brussels. They show the typical winter pattern for the region and are not a forecast for your dates.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 9.9 °C (50 °F) | 4.6 °C (40 °F) | 76 mm |
| December | 6.6 °C (44 °F) | 2.1 °C (36 °F) | 87 mm |
| January | 6.1 °C (43 °F) | 1.4 °C (35 °F) | 76 mm |
Dress warm and waterproof, and wear shoes with grip on cobbles. City drinking fountains are sometimes switched off in winter to prevent frost. More on the weather page.
Planning your visit
The market hours run into the evening, so you can spend the day at the museums or on the water and come to the stalls after dark. Dress for the cold, because you will be outside for most of the visit.
Day trippers should check how to get to Bruges from Brussels and where to park. If you want to stay overnight and see the lights, read where to stay in Bruges. Room-based accommodation adds a city tax of €3.75 per adult per night in 2026/2027, so check whether the price you see includes it.
Bruges Christmas market: frequently asked questions
When is the Christmas market in Bruges in 2026?
The markets run from November 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Winter Glow, the wider program, continues until January 31, 2027.
What are the opening hours?
Sunday to Thursday 11–22, Friday and Saturday 11–23:30. On New Year's Eve the markets stay open until 3:00.
Where is the ice rink?
In the Koning Albert I Park, next to the winter bar IJsgloed. It is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00 with shorter hours on December 24 and 31.
How much does the ice rink cost?
€9 for adults and children in 2026/2027. Children up to and including age 3 are free, groups of 10 or more pay €8 each, and Bruges schools pay €5.
Is the Belfry open at Christmas?
Yes, with shorter hours on December 24 and 31, and it is closed on December 25 and January 1. Book a time slot online.
Is the market open all of January?
No. The markets and the ice rink end on January 3, 2027. Only parts of the wider Winter Glow program continue until January 31.