Belgium Christmas Markets 2026: Early Opening Dates and Locations
Belgium’s Christmas market season opens in five days, with Maredsous Abbey in Namur province and Hasselt’s Winterland welcoming visitors November 13, 2026, weeks before December. The early start gives residents multiple weekends of mulled wine and illuminated stalls, with some animations running until early January, Sudinfo reported.
Maredsous and Hasselt Kick Off on November 13
The Maredsous Abbey market in Namur province gives the season its start on November 13 for its 14th edition. More than 60 chalets will operate across six weekends until December 20, open Friday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays, Sudinfo reported. Visitors can also use a real ice rink, which Sudinfo said remains accessible until January 4, though belgiqueinsolite.com lists the rink’s closure as January 3.
The 2025 edition drew nearly 120,000 visitors over its six weekends, according to belgiqueinsolite.com, which also notes the abbey hosted Christmas concerts in its crypt and basilica last year. The market is located at Rue de Maredsous 11, 5537 Denée, with official details at maredsous.com.
On the same day, Winterland opens in Hasselt with a Christmas market, ice rink, carousel, and Santa’s house, running until January 3. Entry to the site is free, Sudinfo reported.
Bruges, Durbuy, and Charleroi Open November 20
Bruges begins its festivities on November 20 with two markets in the historic center of the “Venice of the North”: one on the Grand-Place (Markt) at the foot of the belfry and another on Simon Stevinplein focused on crafts and regional products. The chalets welcome visitors until January 3, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Sudinfo reported. The broader Wintergloed festival, which includes a light trail and an ice rink in Koning Albert I park, runs until February 14, 2027, and access is free, according to belgiqueinsolite.com. Details are at visitbruges.be.
Also on November 20, Durbuy—known as the smallest city in the world—opens its market in the historic center until January 3, where visitors can taste local specialties like potatoes with foie gras, SoSoir reported. An ice rink operates in Roi Baudouin park from November 21 to January 4, costing 9 euros without skates or 12.50 euros with skates, belgiqueinsolite.com reported. The site warns that parking is complicated and nearby accommodations fill quickly, advising early booking. The address is Place aux Foires 25, 6940 Durbuy, with information at durbuyinfo.be.
Charleroi’s market also opens November 20 and runs until January 3, SoSoir reported.
Brussels, Liège, and Louvain-la-Neuve Launch November 27
Brussels launches its Plaisirs d’Hiver on November 27 for the event’s 25th anniversary. The festivities, which include chalets, illuminations, and a sound-and-light show on the Grand-Place with its Christmas tree, spread across the city center including place de Brouckère, place de la Bourse, and place Poelaert, continuing until January 3, Sudinfo and SoSoir reported. belgiqueinsolite.com identifies it as Belgium’s largest Christmas market with more than 200 chalets.
Liège’s Christmas village opens the same day in the Fiery City and runs until January 2. SoSoir reports it as one of Wallonia’s most important markets, attracting about 1.5 million visitors annually, with 200 chalets and 300 artisans presenting their creations.
Louvain-la-Neuve hosts Louvain-la-Neige from November 27 to December 20, gathering 180 exhibitors across 85 chalets on the Grand-Place and Place de l’Université, which become 100 percent pedestrian for the occasion, SoSoir reported.
Namur’s market runs from November 27 to December 30, SoSoir reported.
December Brings Antwerp, Mons, and Smaller Cities
The season expands in December with Ciney and Ghent opening December 3, Antwerp on December 4, and Mons on December 5, according to belgiqueinsolite.com. Antwerp’s Winter in Antwerpen runs until January 3 across multiple locations including the Grand-Place, Groenplaats with its covered ice rink and winter bar, Operaplein, and Steenplein with a big wheel, SoSoir reported. Ghent and Antwerp close January 3, Mons closes December 31, and Ciney closes December 21, belgiqueinsolite.com listed. Tournai opens December 10 and closes December 23, SoSoir reported.
Opening Dates and Durations Across Belgium
| Market | Opens | Market Closes | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maredsous | Nov 13 | Dec 20 | 60+ chalets; 14th edition |
| Hasselt (Winterland) | Nov 13 | Jan 3 | Free entry |
| Bruges | Nov 20 | Jan 3 | Two markets; Wintergloed until Feb 14 |
| Durbuy | Nov 20 | Jan 3 | Ice rink extra fee |
| Charleroi | Nov 20 | Jan 3 | — |
| Brussels (Plaisirs d’Hiver) | Nov 27 | Jan 3 | 200+ chalets; 25th anniversary |
| Liège | Nov 27 | Jan 2 | 200 chalets; 300 artisans; 1.5M visitors/yr |
| Louvain-la-Neuve | Nov 27 | Dec 20 | 85 chalets; 180 exhibitors |
| Namur | Nov 27 | Dec 30 | — |
| Ciney | Dec 3 | Dec 21 | — |
| Ghent | Dec 3 | Jan 3 | — |
| Antwerp | Dec 4 | Jan 3 | Multiple city-center locations |
| Mons | Dec 5 | Dec 31 | — |
| Tournai | Dec 10 | Dec 23 | — |
The schedule shows a clear pattern: major cities cluster openings around November 27, while smaller destinations spread across December. Only Maredsous and Ciney close before Christmas Day, with Maredsous ending December 20 and Ciney December 21, belgiqueinsolite.com noted. Full listings and updates appear at belgiqueinsolite.com and SoSoir.
Some Belgians have pushed back on the early announcements. SoSoir quoted one exclamation: “it’s way too early to talk about Christmas markets, Halloween isn’t even over!” Yet with daylight saving ending October 25 and temperatures already dropping, the dates offer a long runway for holiday planning.