ADVENT 2026 · CHICAGO · ILLINOIS, USA
Chicago Christmas market 2026: dates, places and opening times
Chicago has two Christkindlmarket locations in 2026: Daley Plaza in the Loop from 20 November to 24 December, and Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way from 20 November to 31 December. Two short indoor craft fairs, One of a Kind and Renegade Craft, add a weekend each in December.
When is the Chicago Christmas market in 2026?
The Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington Street, runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. It opens at 11 am every day and closes at 8 pm from Sunday to Thursday and at 9 pm on Friday and Saturday. The Wrigleyville market at Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark Street, also opens on 20 November but stays open until 31 December. On Monday to Thursday it normally opens at 3 pm. Both markets close at 4 pm on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, and general admission is free.
- Daley Plaza
- 20 Nov – 24 Dec
- Wrigleyville
- 20 Nov – 31 Dec
- One of a Kind
- 3 – 6 Dec
- Renegade Craft
- 18 – 20 Dec
Which Christmas markets are there in Chicago in 2026?
The guide covers two outdoor markets and two indoor craft fairs. They sit in different parts of the city, so each one is a separate journey.
Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza
At 50 W Washington Street in the business district, surrounded by tall city buildings. The season runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. Opening is 11 am daily, closing 8 pm Sunday to Thursday and 9 pm on Friday and Saturday. General admission is free, so a short visit with a meal and one gift works well.
Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville
At Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark Street, part of the Winterland setting. Open 20 November to 31 December. Regular hours are Monday to Thursday 3–9 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm and Sunday 11 am–7 pm. Addison on the Red Line is a useful starting point. Winterland activities were announced for 2026 without full details.
One of a Kind and Renegade Craft
One of a Kind fills the seventh floor of THE MART, 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, from 3 to 6 December. Tickets cost US$15 for all four days. Renegade Craft is at Bridgeport Art Center, 1200 W 35th Street, from 18 to 20 December, with a suggested US$5 contribution. The two fairs fall on different weekends.
What are the opening times of the Chicago Christmas markets?
Daily hours differ between the locations, and holiday exceptions change them again. Check the organiser pages for your exact date.
From 11 am every day
Sunday to Thursday 11 am–8 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm. On Thanksgiving, 26 November, and on Christmas Eve, 24 December, the market closes at 4 pm. Christmas Eve is also the last day of the season. The organiser describes weekday mornings and early afternoons as generally less busy.
Later weekday start
Monday to Thursday the market normally opens at 3 pm, so an early lunch nearby does not mean the stalls are open. Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm, Sunday 11 am–7 pm. From 21 to 23 December it opens 11 am–9 pm. It closes at 4 pm on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and is closed on 25 December.
Short, fixed sessions
One of a Kind opens 10 am–7 pm from 3 to 5 December and 10 am–5 pm on Sunday 6 December. Renegade Craft opens 5–8 pm on Friday 18 December and 11 am–5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Build the day around these windows, and allow time to reach the event floor or the Bridgeport address.
Chicago Christmas season 2026 at a glance
Key dates from the guide, in order. Holiday hours need a separate check.
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20 Nov
Both markets open
Daley Plaza and Wrigleyville start their 2026 season on the same day.
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26 Nov
Thanksgiving
Both Christkindlmarket locations close at 4 pm.
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3 – 6 Dec
One of a Kind
Indoor craft fair on the seventh floor of THE MART, one ticket for all four days.
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18 – 20 Dec
Renegade Craft
Independent makers at Bridgeport Art Center, with a Friday evening session.
-
24 Dec
Christmas Eve
Both markets close at 4 pm. Last day at Daley Plaza.
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25 Dec
Christmas Day
Wrigleyville is closed.
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26 – 31 Dec
Wrigleyville only
Open with seasonal hours; 11 am–4 pm on New Year's Eve.
Before you go to a Chicago Christmas market
The Chicago Christmas markets guide
Our 50-page PDF brings the 2026 dates, opening hours and holiday exceptions for all four events together with CTA arrival tips, museums and five day routes. Download it straight after purchase and read it on your phone.
- Season calendar with holiday hours
- O'Hare, Midway and CTA fares explained
- Five day routes and a two-day plan
Frequently asked questions
When does the Chicago Christmas market open in 2026?
Both Christkindlmarket locations open on 20 November 2026. Daley Plaza in the Loop runs until 24 December, while Wrigleyville at Gallagher Way stays open until 31 December. One of a Kind follows from 3 to 6 December and Renegade Craft from 18 to 20 December. Check the organiser pages close to your visit, as holiday hours can change.
Is the Chicago Christmas market free?
General admission to the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza and in Wrigleyville is free. Food, drinks, souvenir mugs and extra activities cost separately. One of a Kind sells a regular ticket for US$15, valid on all four days, with free entry for children under 12. Renegade Craft suggests a voluntary US$5 contribution paid via an on-site QR code.
Is the Daley Plaza Christmas market open on Christmas Eve?
Yes, but only until 4 pm, and 24 December is the last day of its 2026 season. The Wrigleyville market also closes at 4 pm on Christmas Eve and is closed on Christmas Day. If you need more time, plan your market visit for an earlier day and keep Christmas Eve for a short final stop.
Which Chicago Christmas market is open after Christmas?
Wrigleyville is the market in the guide that continues after Christmas. It opens 11 am–9 pm on 26 December, 11 am–7 pm on 27 December, 11 am–9 pm from 28 to 30 December and 11 am–4 pm on New Year's Eve. Daley Plaza has finished by then, so a Loop hotel is not next to the remaining market.
Can I visit One of a Kind and Renegade Craft on the same weekend?
No. In 2026 One of a Kind takes place from 3 to 6 December and Renegade Craft from 18 to 20 December. Each can be combined with a traditional market, but if both fairs matter to you, you need two separate trips or a longer stay that covers both weekends.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 29 October 2026: this is an independent Tabiara guide, not an organiser publication, so check the official sources before you travel.