Update, 30 September 2026: earlier this month we reported that there would be no Christmas market at Belvedere Palace this year. That is no longer the case. A new, smaller market with a different organiser will open in front of the Upper Belvedere on 20 November 2026. We have rewritten this page with the confirmed details.
So yes, there will be a Christmas market at Belvedere Palace in 2026, but it is not the market you may remember. The organiser of the long-running Belvedere market has moved to Schwarzenbergplatz. In its place comes the K&K Christmas Market Belvedere Palace, which runs until New Year’s Eve. That makes it one of the few Viennese markets still open after 26 December.
What changes at Belvedere this year?
The new market is deliberately small. There will be a maximum of 35 huts, all on the square in front of the Upper Belvedere. The organiser says the market is kept to that area to protect the historic palace gardens, so do not expect stalls spreading into the park.
The concept has two sides. During the day, the focus is on traditional music, crafts and Austrian food. In the evening the market switches to lounge music, jazz and electro swing. There will also be performances, activities for children, craft demonstrations and charity events.
“K&K” stands for kaiserlich und königlich (imperial and royal), the old label of the Habsburg monarchy. Here it is simply branding, but it fits the setting: you are drinking your punch in front of the palace that houses Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.
Dates and opening hours
The K&K Christmas Market Belvedere Palace runs from 20 November to 31 December 2026.
- Monday to Friday: 11 am–9 pm
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 10 am–9 pm
- 24 and 31 December: 11 am–5 pm
- Location: in front of the Upper Belvedere, Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030 Vienna
- Website: kkweihnachtsmarkt.at
The organiser has not published separate hours for Christmas Day, so check the website before you go on 25 December. Because the market stays open until New Year’s Eve, it is a good option if you are in Vienna between Christmas and New Year, when most markets in the city centre have already closed.
How to get there
Tram D stops at Schloss Belvedere, right next to the Upper Belvedere. Tram 18 and tram O stop at Quartier Belvedere, a few minutes’ walk from the palace’s southern entrance. From Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) you can walk it in about ten minutes.
Combine it with the museum
With the market back in front of the palace, a visit to the Upper Belvedere and the Christmas market fits easily into one afternoon. Visit the museum first and step out into the market just as it gets dark, around 4 pm in late November and December. It is advisable to book a time slot for the museum in advance.
Staying a little longer? From 23 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, the Schwarzenberg Garden next door hosts Klanglicht im Park, an evening light and sound art trail. You need a timed ticket for it, but it makes a good combination with the market on the same evening.
Also new: Christmas market at Schwarzenbergplatz
About fifteen minutes’ walk away, the new Weihnachtszauber am Schwarzenbergplatz (Christmas Magic at Schwarzenbergplatz) opens around the Hochstrahlbrunnen, the large fountain at the southern end of the square. This is where the organiser of the former Belvedere market has moved. The fountain and surrounding park will be illuminated, with stage performances and activities for children.
- Dates: 13 November to 26 December 2026
- Monday to Friday: 11 am–9 pm; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 10 am–9 pm
- Location: Schwarzenbergplatz, around the Hochstrahlbrunnen, 1010 Vienna
- Admission: free
Tram D also stops at Schwarzenbergplatz. Schwarzenbergplatz is long rather than compact, so do not stop at the equestrian statue near the Ringstrasse: keep walking south towards the fountain and the Soviet War Memorial. Tram D links both markets in a few stops, so you can easily visit both on the same evening.
Both markets are new this year, so we cannot give a first-hand review yet. We plan to visit after they open and will update this page with our impressions, photos and practical tips.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Christmas market at Belvedere Palace in 2026?
Yes. The new K&K Christmas Market Belvedere Palace runs from 20 November to 31 December 2026 in front of the Upper Belvedere. It is smaller than before, with a maximum of 35 huts, and is run by a different organiser.
Has the Belvedere Christmas market moved to Schwarzenbergplatz?
Partly. The organiser of the former Belvedere market now runs the new Weihnachtszauber am Schwarzenbergplatz. At the same time, a new market with a different organiser opens at Belvedere Palace itself. So in 2026 there are two markets, about fifteen minutes’ walk apart.
When does the Schwarzenbergplatz Christmas market open?
The Weihnachtszauber am Schwarzenbergplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026. The market at Belvedere Palace opens a week later, on 20 November, but stays open until 31 December.
Is the Belvedere Christmas market open between Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The market runs until 31 December 2026. On 24 and 31 December it closes early, at 5 pm. No separate hours have been published for 25 December, so check the official website before you go.