ADVENT 2026 · BILBAO · BASQUE COUNTRY
Bilbao Christmas market 2026: dates, places and opening times
Bilbao has three different Christmas market events in 2026. The park market in Doña Casilda Park is planned from 4 December, Gabonart opens at Muelle del Arenal on 11 December, and Santo Tomás brings farmers to Arenal for one day on Monday, 21 December.
When is the Bilbao Christmas market in 2026?
The municipal call for stallholders plans the Christmas market in Doña Casilda Park from 4 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, opening 17:00-22:00 on the first day. Gabonart, the craft fair at Muelle del Arenal, runs from 11 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, usually 11:00-14:30 and 17:00-20:30. Santo Tomás is a one-day farmers' market on Monday, 21 December 2026; visitor hours were not yet published at the research date. Both multiweek markets close on 25 December and 1 January and open only in the morning on 24 and 31 December.
- Park market
- 4 Dec – 5 Jan
- Gabonart
- 11 Dec – 5 Jan
- Santo Tomás
- Mon 21 Dec
- Closed
- 25 Dec and 1 Jan
Which Christmas markets are there in Bilbao in 2026?
The three events share a season but not a theme. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right dates for your trip.
Doña Casilda Park Christmas market
Bilbao Ekintza plans the stalls beside the illuminated arch in Doña Casilda Park. The range comes from local retailers in Bizkaia, with priority for Bilbao shops: food, gifts and Christmas decorations. Craft activities are excluded by the participation rules. The call allows up to 35 stalls, which is a ceiling, not a confirmed final count.
Gabonart at Muelle del Arenal
Gabonart is the craft fair organised by the association ARBASO beside the old town. Handmade work is the focus, so you can ask about materials, design and the workshop behind a piece. It runs for several weeks with a daily midday closure from 14:30 to 17:00, which needs a place in your plan.
Santo Tomás farmers' market
BBK announces Santo Tomás Azoka for Monday, 21 December 2026, at Arenal and the surrounding area. Agricultural producers and regional products take centre stage for a single day. If this market is your reason for travelling, another Advent weekend is not a substitute. Visitor hours still need a separate check.
What are the opening hours of the Bilbao Christmas markets?
The park market follows two schedules, split at 21 December. Gabonart keeps the same two daily windows except on special dates.
Park market before 21 December
After the opening on 4 December (17:00-22:00), the park market is planned Monday to Thursday 17:00-21:00 and Friday 17:00-22:00. Weekends and public holidays have two sessions, 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-22:00, with Sunday closing at 21:00. Weekday mornings are not part of this period.
Park market from 21 December
From 21 December, mornings are added on weekdays: Monday to Thursday 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00. Friday, weekends and public holidays run 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-22:00, again with Sunday closing at 21:00. On 24 and 31 December and 5 January, only 11:00-14:00 is planned.
Craft fair hours
Gabonart's regular hours are 11:00-14:30 and 17:00-20:30. On 24 and 31 December it opens only 11:00-14:30, and it is closed on 25 December and 1 January. The organiser page gave no extra shortening for 5 January, but it is worth checking the latest notice before the season ends.
Where are the Christmas markets in Bilbao?
The markets sit in two separate city areas. Plan a real journey between them rather than a short walk.
Doña Casilda Park
The western focus of the trip. It pairs well with Itsasmuseum and a short section of the Abandoibarra waterfront. Save the park as its own destination, because a general search for 'Bilbao Christmas market' may send you to a different event.
Arenal and Casco Viejo
Gabonart and Santo Tomás both use Arenal beside the old town. Casco Viejo adds shops around Plaza Nueva and the Siete Calles, plus pintxos areas. Mercado de la Ribera is close by, reached via Ribera tram stop or Casco Viejo metro station.
What the guide does not treat as a market
Mercado de la Ribera is a regular market hall with its own hours, not a Christmas market. Activities at Bilbao Exhibition Centre take place in Barakaldo and are not counted as a Bilbao market. Santo Tomás dates from San Sebastián or other towns do not apply to Bilbao.
Bilbao Christmas season 2026/27 at a glance
Planned and announced dates from the organisers' sources, as checked for the guide.
-
4 Dec
Park market opens
Planned opening day in Doña Casilda Park, 17:00-22:00.
-
5 – 20 Dec
Park market, first period
Weekday evenings only; morning sessions at weekends and on public holidays.
-
11 Dec – 5 Jan
Gabonart at Muelle del Arenal
11:00-14:30 and 17:00-20:30 on regular days.
-
Mon 21 Dec
Santo Tomás
One-day farmers' market at Arenal and nearby; visitor hours to be published. Park market adds weekday mornings from this date.
-
24 and 31 Dec
Morning only
Gabonart 11:00-14:30, park market 11:00-14:00.
-
25 Dec and 1 Jan
Closed
Gabonart and the planned park market do not open.
-
5 Jan
Last day
Park market planned 11:00-14:00; Gabonart's hours for the final day are worth checking.
Before you fix your travel dates
The full Bilbao guide as a PDF
Our 50-page guide puts all three markets, their opening windows and the old town, museums and waterfront into one plan. It includes six routes and a planning chapter with transport, costs and accessibility.
- Season calendar with all special dates
- Six routes, from a first evening to Santo Tomás day
- Airport bus, tram fares, budget table and planner
Frequently asked questions
When does the Bilbao Christmas market open in 2026?
The Doña Casilda Park market is planned to open on Friday, 4 December 2026, from 17:00 to 22:00, according to the municipal call for stallholders. Gabonart, the craft fair at Muelle del Arenal, begins on 11 December. A later visitor programme for the park can include changes, so check it before you book.
Is the Bilbao Christmas market open on Christmas Day?
No. Both Gabonart and the planned park market close on 25 December and 1 January. On 24 and 31 December they open only in the morning: Gabonart 11:00-14:30 and the park market 11:00-14:00. A trip over these days needs alternatives that you confirm individually.
What time is Santo Tomás in Bilbao?
BBK has announced the farmers' market for Monday, 21 December 2026, at Arenal and nearby. The announcement reviewed for the guide did not yet give visitor hours. Set your exact starting time once the later event information is published, and keep the day open for the market.
Can I visit the Bilbao Christmas markets at lunchtime?
Not really. The park market is planned to close from 14:00 to 17:00 and Gabonart from 14:30 to 17:00. Use the break for a meal in Casco Viejo, a return to your accommodation or a cultural visit you have checked separately.
Which Bilbao Christmas market sells crafts?
Gabonart. It is the craft fair at Muelle del Arenal, organised by ARBASO, where makers can tell you about materials, design and production. The park market in Doña Casilda shows local retailers' goods, food and Christmas decorations; its participation rules exclude craft activities, so plan both if you want both.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 27 October 2026. Tabiara is an independent guide, not an official publication; check the organisers' and operators' sources before travelling.