# Christmas Markets in Portugal 2026: Dates and Cities Christmas markets in Portugal 2026: Óbidos, Perlim, Madeira and Guimarães have dates; Lisbon and Porto have none yet. Checked 3 Nov with official links. Canonical: https://unlockportugal.co/travel/christmas-markets-portugal/ Updated: 2026-11-03T00:00:00.000Z Language: en --- Portugal’s Christmas markets in 2026 split into three groups. Óbidos Vila Natal (27 November to 3 January), Perlim near Porto (28 November to 30 December) and Madeira’s festive season (1 December to 10 January) have official dates. Guimarães’s council and local press for Braga give market dates from 1 December. Lisbon, Porto and most other cities had not published theirs on 3 November. The table below marks each one. **Last checked: 3 November 2026.** This page is updated as organisers publish dates. Where a 2026 date does not exist yet, the table says so and links the official page instead of repeating last year’s. ## Which Christmas markets in Portugal have confirmed 2026 dates? Three events do. Every other row says “not announced” because the municipal or organiser page read on 3 November showed no 2026 programme. Past-year facts carry their year. Regions run north to south, starting with the North. | Event | Region | 2026 status | What the official source shows | Official page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Porto Christmas lights and Aliados programme | North | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | 2025 edition: lights on from 29 Nov 2025 to 6 Jan 2026 in 94 streets (press report) | [porto.pt news](https://www.porto.pt/pt/noticias) | | “Braga é Natal” market, Avenida Central | North | Market dates reported by local press: 1 Dec 2026 to 6 Jan 2027 | Lights and hours not announced | [O Vilaverdense](https://ovilaverdense.pt/braga-transforma-avenida-central-em-mercado-de-natal-em-dezembro/) | | “Guimarães, Cidade Natal” | North | Council notice: 1 Dec to 3 Jan, closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan | Lights and hours not announced | [cm-guimaraes.pt](https://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/areas-de-intervencao/noticia/guimaraes-cidade-natal-abre-inscricoes-para-o-mercado-de-natal) | | Perlim, Santa Maria da Feira | North | Confirmed | Park: 28 Nov to 30 Dec 2026. Market at Rossio: 28 Nov to 30 Dec 2026, free | [perlim.pt](https://www.perlim.pt/pt-pt/a-magia-do-natal-esta-de-regresso-a-santa-maria-da-feira/) | | Aveiro, Boas Festas | Centro | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | The council lists a 2025 edition with a Christmas markets section; no 2026 page found | [cm-aveiro.pt](https://www.cm-aveiro.pt/visitantes/eventos/boas-festas-em-aveiro) | | Óbidos Vila Natal | Centro | Confirmed | 27 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027, theme Pinocchio and puppets | [cm-obidos.pt](https://www.cm-obidos.pt/viver/programacao-eventos/evento/obidos-vila-natal-97) | | Wonderland Lisboa, Parque Eduardo VII | Lisbon | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | 2025 edition opened 28 Nov 2025 (10th edition) | [Visit Lisboa events](https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/events) | | Lisbon Christmas lights (Baixa, Rossio) | Lisbon | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | No 2026 item found | [Visit Lisboa events](https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/events) | | Cascais Christmas Village | Lisbon area | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | Council home page lists 2026 news but no Christmas Village dates | [cascais.pt](https://www.cascais.pt/) | | Algarve town markets (Loulé and others) | Algarve | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | Loulé’s agenda read on 3 Nov covered 7 to 22 Nov only | [cm-loule.pt](https://www.cm-loule.pt/) | | Funchal and Madeira festive season | Madeira | Confirmed (season) | 1 Dec 2026 to 10 Jan 2027; detailed programme not yet seen | [Visit Madeira](https://visitmadeira.com/pt/a-acontecer/eventos/festas-de-natal-e-fim-de-ano/) | | Ponta Delgada and other Azores towns | Azores | Not announced as of 3 Nov 2026 | No Christmas listing on the regional tourism site | [visitazores.com](https://www.visitazores.com/) | “Confirmed” means an official page gives a date for this year. Opening hours and prices can still change. ## What are the northern Portugal Christmas markets like? The North has the most to see in a short distance, and most of it is free. Porto lit 94 streets in 2025 and ran concerts and a videomapping show on Avenida dos Aliados on the opening night, according to a Lusa report. If the city repeats the format, the lights go up in late November. The 2026 date is not out. Our [Christmas in Porto guide](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/christmas-in-porto/) tracks it. Local press reports Braga’s 2026 market on Avenida Central from 1 December to 6 January, and Guimarães’s council gives 1 December to 3 January in the Jardim da Alameda de São Dâmaso. Neither has published lights dates or opening hours yet. For the city itself, see [living in Braga](https://unlockportugal.co/cities/living-in-braga-2026/). Perlim is the only large northern event with dates and prices in hand. The park runs 28 November to 30 December 2026. A daily ticket is €9 for ages 13 to 64 (about $10), €7.50 for ages 3 to 12 and for 65 and over, and free for ages 0 to 2. A two day ticket is €13.50 and the unlimited pass is €16.50. On event days it opens 10:00 to 19:00. The Christmas market at Rossio in Santa Maria da Feira is listed as free, with food stalls and crafts, and the organiser says it may close early in bad weather. The official news item gives 27 November for the market and the market page gives 28 November, so check on arrival day. If you are driving through, our [North Portugal road trip](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/north-portugal-road-trip/) shows how the stops connect. Vigo’s lights sit one border away, and the [Vigo Christmas lights guide from Porto](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/vigo-christmas-lights-from-porto/) covers timing and logistics. For other Galician stops, see [Galicia day trips from Portugal](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/galicia-day-trips-from-portugal/). ## How much does Óbidos Vila Natal cost? On the official price list, adults over 12 pay €12 (about $14) and children 3 to 11 pay €8. Students 12 to 25 and over 65s pay €11 with proof. A family ticket for two adults and two children is €36. The page does not state a year beside the prices, but its footer reads 2026 and tickets are listed as going on sale from 5 November. Hours on that page run 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Thursday from 30 November to 17 December, and 10:00 to 21:00 on Fridays, weekends and holidays from 27 November to 3 January. It closes on 25 December and 1 January. The event runs inside the walled town, so a day trip from Lisbon is realistic. The [best day trips from Lisbon](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/best-day-trips-from-lisbon/) explains the transport, and our [Óbidos Vila Natal guide](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/obidos-vila-natal/) has the full timetable, what the ticket includes and how sessions work. ## Is Lisbon’s Wonderland back in 2026? Not confirmed. No official page showed 2026 dates for Wonderland on 3 November. The 2025 edition opened on 28 November 2025 at Parque Eduardo VII and was the tenth, run by Niu Experience Agency with council support, per ECO. In an earlier edition, a Time Out report (2022) described free entry with paid attractions. Both are history, not a promise for 2026. Lisbon also lights its centre every year, and the dates for 2026 are not out. The [Christmas in Lisbon guide](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/christmas-in-lisbon/) will carry them once they appear. ## How do Portuguese markets compare with German ones? They are smaller and more scattered. A German Christmas market is usually one dense field of timber stalls around a main square. Portugal’s equivalent is mostly a lit town centre, a large tree, a handful of craft and food stalls and, in some places, a ticketed theme park built for children. | | German-style market | Portugal | | --- | --- | --- | | Format | Dense field of stalls in one square | Light displays across streets, plus a few stalls | | Cost | Free entry, pay per item | Free in most towns, ticketed at Óbidos and Perlim | | Best fit | Evening wandering and shopping | Families, walks through lit streets, one big event per region | | Closest match | The original format | Wonderland in Lisbon, when it runs | The comparison is an editorial reading of the formats above, not an official ranking. ECO reported that Wonderland placed fourth in a European Best Destinations ranking in 2025, ahead of markets such as Vienna and Cologne. For food, closures and family customs, see our [Christmas in Portugal guide](https://unlockportugal.co/daily-life/christmas-in-portugal/). ## When are Madeira and the Azores worth visiting? Madeira’s tourism board lists its Christmas and New Year festivities from 1 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, centred on Funchal, with lights, a Christmas tree, the Mercadinho de Natal and a market night on 23 December at the Mercado dos Lavradores. Funchal’s council had opened registration for its shop window contest on 3 November, but no lighting date was on the site. The Azores had no Christmas listing on the regional tourism site that day. See the [Azores guide](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/azores-portugal-complete-guide/) for the wider trip. ## What should you plan around? December 1 and December 8 are public holidays and both fall on a Tuesday in 2026, which affects trains and hotel prices in Lisbon and Porto. For weather, daylight and what else to do in the month, see [Portugal in December](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/portugal-in-december/) and [Portugal in November](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/portugal-in-november/). The [winter guide](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/portugal-in-winter-guide/) covers packing. Óbidos and Perlim sell tickets, so book weekend slots early. For the free city events, a flexible room lets you pick the evening once the council announces the switch-on. ## Quick facts Confirmed for 2026 Óbidos Vila Natal (27 Nov to 3 Jan), Perlim (28 Nov to 30 Dec), Madeira festive season (1 Dec to 10 Jan) Not announced as of 3 Nov Lisbon, Porto, Aveiro, Cascais, Algarve, Azores Entry Town markets and street lights are free; Óbidos and Perlim sell tickets Óbidos adult ticket €12 on the official price list (children 3 to 11, €8) Perlim daily ticket €9 ages 13 to 64, €7.50 ages 3 to 12 Last checked 3 November 2026 ## Frequently asked questions When do the Christmas markets in Portugal start in 2026? The earliest confirmed starts are Óbidos Vila Natal on 27 November and Perlim in Santa Maria da Feira on 28 November, with its market running from 28 November to 30 December. Madeira lists its festive season from 1 December. Lisbon, Porto, Braga and most other cities had not published 2026 dates on their official sites by 3 November. Are Portuguese Christmas markets free? Town markets and street lights are free to walk through. Perlim's Christmas market in Santa Maria da Feira is listed as free. The two big theme events, Óbidos Vila Natal and Perlim itself, charge admission, and rides or skating usually cost extra at other events. Which Portuguese Christmas market is closest to a German one? None copies the German format of a dense field of wooden stalls selling mulled wine. Lisbon's Wonderland, set in Parque Eduardo VII, comes nearest, because it mixes stalls with rides and shows. Most Portuguese towns prefer a lit square, a tree, a few craft stalls and chestnut sellers. Is Óbidos Vila Natal worth the ticket? It suits families with children, since the programme is built around staged shows and activities, and the 2026 theme is Pinocchio and puppets. Adults travelling without children may prefer a free evening in a lit city centre. Check opening hours first, because they change by weekday and the village closes on 25 December and 1 January. How do I know a Portuguese Christmas date is real? Look for the municipal or organiser page and a year on it. Many guides copy 2025 dates into 2026 articles. This page marks each event as confirmed or not announced and links the page where the date will appear. Can I visit Christmas markets in northern Portugal and Galicia on one trip? Yes, the north is compact and Vigo's lights are an easy add-on from Porto or Braga. Vigo's own switch-on date is covered in the separate Vigo guide, and Spain keeps its own holidays, so confirm opening days before you cross the border. ## Sources This guide cites the following official sources. We link directly so you can verify every claim yourself. - [Ovilaverdense](https://ovilaverdense.pt/braga-transforma-avenida-central-em-mercado-de-natal-em-dezembro/)ovilaverdense.pt - [CM Guimaraes](https://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/areas-de-intervencao/noticia/guimaraes-cidade-natal-abre-inscricoes-para-o-mercado-de-natal)cm-guimaraes.pt - [Perlim](https://www.perlim.pt/pt-pt/a-magia-do-natal-esta-de-regresso-a-santa-maria-da-feira/)perlim.pt - [Perlim](https://www.perlim.pt/pt-pt/mercado-de-natal/)perlim.pt - [Perlim](https://www.perlim.pt/pt-pt/info/)perlim.pt - [CM Obidos](https://www.cm-obidos.pt/viver/programacao-eventos/evento/obidos-vila-natal-97)cm-obidos.pt - [Obidosvilanatal](https://obidosvilanatal.pt/)obidosvilanatal.pt - [Obidosvilanatal](https://obidosvilanatal.pt/horarios-e-precos/)obidosvilanatal.pt - [Visitmadeira](https://visitmadeira.com/pt/a-acontecer/eventos/festas-de-natal-e-fim-de-ano/)visitmadeira.com - [Funchal](https://funchal.pt/)funchal.pt - [Noticiasaominuto](https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/2890822/luzes-de-natal-acendem-dia-29-no-porto-e-aliados-sao-palco-de-concertos)noticiasaominuto.com - [ECO (SAPO)](https://eco.sapo.pt/2025/11/28/wonderland-lisboa-e-considerado-o-quarto-melhor-mercado-de-natal-na-europa-2026/)eco.sapo.pt - [Timeout](https://www.timeout.pt/lisboa/pt/noticias/wonderland-prolonga-a-magia-do-natal-ate-1-de-janeiro-111522)timeout.pt - [CM Aveiro](https://www.cm-aveiro.pt/visitantes/eventos/boas-festas-em-aveiro)cm-aveiro.pt - [CM Braga](https://www.cm-braga.pt/)cm-braga.pt - [CM Guimaraes](https://www.cm-guimaraes.pt/)cm-guimaraes.pt - [Porto](https://www.porto.pt/pt/noticias)porto.pt - [Cascais](https://www.cascais.pt/)cascais.pt - [CM Loule](https://www.cm-loule.pt/)cm-loule.pt - [Visit Lisboa](https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/events)visitlisboa.com Some links on this page are affiliate links. 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[How we research and update our guides](https://unlockportugal.co/editorial-policy/) ![Photo of Larissa Miranda](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/larissa-miranda.C89EgK8m_ZIuImL.webp) Written by [Larissa Miranda](https://unlockportugal.co/author/larissa-miranda/) Writer & editor Larissa Miranda is a writer and editor at Unlock Portugal. ## Related guides [ ![Looking up inside the lit Christmas tree on Avenida dos Aliados in Porto, with white globes and blue and green lights, December 2024](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.2GyejycR_Z273aDf.webp) Travel ### Christmas in Porto 2026: Lights, Markets and What's Open ](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/christmas-in-porto/)[ ![People watching New Year's Eve fireworks burst over Funchal, Madeira, from the Barreiros area just after midnight](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.KAlYpmOO_285mUy.webp) Travel ### New Year's Eve in Portugal 2026: Lisbon, Porto, Madeira ](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/new-years-eve-in-portugal/)[ ![The walled town of Óbidos and its castle on the hill, seen across white houses and tiled roofs in December](https://unlockportugal.co/_astro/hero.BWT6WN-I_Z1yMlJl.webp) Travel ### Óbidos Vila Natal 2026: Dates, Tickets, Is It Worth It? ](https://unlockportugal.co/travel/obidos-vila-natal/)