Chicago Christmas Market 2026: Dates and Opening Hours
All 2026 dates and opening hours for the Chicago Christmas markets and craft fairs, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and the days after Christmas.
The Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026, and the Wrigleyville market at Gallagher Way from 20 November to 31 December. Daley Plaza opens at 11 am every day. Wrigleyville opens at 3 pm from Monday to Thursday and at 11 am from Friday to Sunday. The full overview of all four events is on our Chicago Christmas market 2026 page.
Two Christkindlmarket locations, two calendars
Chicago has two Christkindlmarket sites, and they do not share a season. Daley Plaza, at 50 W Washington Street in the Loop, finishes on Christmas Eve. Wrigleyville, at Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark Street on the North Side, carries on until New Year's Eve. Both open on Friday 20 November.
That difference shapes your travel dates more than anything else. If you arrive after Christmas, Wrigleyville is the only market in the guide that is still open. General admission is free at both locations, so a short visit does not need a whole day to make it worth the trip.
Regular opening hours
Daley Plaza, Sunday to Thursday: 11 am–8 pm.
Daley Plaza, Friday and Saturday: 11 am–9 pm.
Wrigleyville, Monday to Thursday: 3–9 pm.
Wrigleyville, Friday and Saturday: 11 am–9 pm.
Wrigleyville, Sunday: 11 am–7 pm.
The 3 pm weekday start in Wrigleyville catches people out. An early lunch in the neighbourhood does not mean the stalls are already open. If you only have a weekday morning, Daley Plaza is the better choice.
Holiday exceptions in 2026
The organiser publishes special hours around the holidays. These are the ones the guide lists:
Thursday 26 November (Thanksgiving): both markets close at 4 pm.
21 to 23 December: Wrigleyville opens 11 am–9 pm.
Thursday 24 December: both markets close at 4 pm. Last day at Daley Plaza.
Friday 25 December: Wrigleyville is closed.
Saturday 26 December: Wrigleyville 11 am–9 pm.
Sunday 27 December: Wrigleyville 11 am–7 pm.
28 to 30 December: Wrigleyville 11 am–9 pm.
Thursday 31 December: Wrigleyville 11 am–4 pm.
The guide notes that Daley Plaza has further holiday exceptions, so check the organiser page for your exact day.
The two indoor craft fairs
Two short events add a different kind of Christmas shopping. One of a Kind takes place from 3 to 6 December on the seventh floor of THE MART, 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza. It opens 10 am–7 pm from Thursday to Saturday and 10 am–5 pm on Sunday 6 December. A regular ticket costs US$15 and is valid on all four days; children under 12 enter free.
Renegade Craft follows from 18 to 20 December at Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W 35th Street. Friday has an evening session from 5 to 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday run from 11 am to 5 pm. The organiser suggests a voluntary US$5 contribution via an on-site QR code. The two fairs fall on different weekends, so you cannot see both on one short trip.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Chicago Christmas market open in 2026?
Both Christkindlmarket locations open on Friday 20 November 2026. Daley Plaza opens at 11 am. Wrigleyville opens at 11 am on Fridays as well.
Is the Daley Plaza market open on Christmas Eve?
Yes, until 4 pm. It is the final day of the Daley Plaza season, so plan a longer visit for an earlier date.
Which market is open after Christmas?
Wrigleyville, from 26 to 31 December, with the hours listed above. It is closed on Christmas Day.
Research status: 29 October 2026. Dates, opening times and prices are planning information and can change, so check the official organiser and venue sources listed in the guide before you travel.
