As the days grow shorter, Vienna shows one of its most atmospheric sides: illuminated shopping streets, the scent of punch and roasted chestnuts, Advent concerts in Baroque churches. Here are our personal tips for Advent 2026, with the dates of the Christmas markets, concerts, exhibitions and a few gift ideas from Vienna. The first Sunday of Advent this year is 29 November.
Christmas markets 2026
- Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz: 13 November to 26 December, daily 10 am to 10 pm, on 24 December until 6.30 pm. The ice rink in front of City Hall stays open until 6 January.
- Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung: 14 November to 23 December, daily 10 am to 9 pm.
- Spittelberg: 13 November to 23 December, Monday to Friday 2 pm to 9.30 pm, weekends 11 am to 9.30 pm. Our tip for crafts in the Biedermeier lanes.
- Schönbrunn Palace: 6 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 10 am to 9 pm, on 24 December 10 am to 4 pm, from 25 December 10 am to 7 pm.
- Belvedere: with a new organiser and concept this year as the “K&K Weihnachtsmarkt”, 20 November to 31 December.
- Art Advent on Karlsplatz: 13 November to 23 December, daily 12 noon to 8 pm.
- Am Hof: 13 November to 23 December.
- Maria-Theresien-Platz: back after a year’s break with a new concept, 20 November to 26 December. New this year: a market on Schwarzenbergplatz, 13 November to 26 December.
The markets are loveliest at dusk, when the lights come on, and on weekdays, when it is quieter. All details according to the organisers, as of September 2026.
Advent concerts
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral: Advent concerts by the Harmonia Ensemble from 27 November to 20 December, Friday to Sunday, plus 23 December. On 16 December the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Elim Chan performs its “Wiener Advent”.
- Vienna Boys’ Choir at MuTh: “Gute Hirten” on 4 to 6 and on 21 and 22 December.
- Konzerthaus: “Christmas in Vienna” on 16 and 17 December.
- Musikverein: Handel’s Messiah on 8 December, and Concentus Musicus with a Bach programme on 3 and 5 December.
- International Advent singing in the City Hall ballroom: on the Advent weekends from 27 November to 20 December, Friday to Sunday.
You will find more concert tips for every season in our Vienna tips for concerts.
Exhibitions in Advent
When it turns cold outside, Vienna’s museums are a wonderful refuge. At the Albertina, Picasso and Bacon meet until 31 January, and “Her Story” presents women artists from the collection. From 6 November the Albertina Modern is devoted to Franz West, and the Wien Museum also shows “Franz West und Wien” from 6 November, alongside the fashion exhibition “Farbenspiel”, four centuries of fashion. At the Kunsthistorisches Museum, “Tatort Ephesos. Kleopatra und Rom” invites you to follow the clues, and from 2 December the Theatermuseum shows “Bernini. Malerei und Marmor”. From 13 November the Leopold Museum turns to photography of the 1920s and 1930s with “NEU. SACHLICH.”, the Belvedere shows Erika Giovanna Klien until 31 January, and at the Museum Judenplatz “Heimatlos. Wiener Juden im Exil” tells of flight and exile.
We are also happy to accompany you to the museum privately, for example on our tours of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Leopold Museum or the Belvedere.
Gifts from Vienna
If you would like to give something from Vienna, you will find it at our favourite addresses, all recommended from conviction. Genuine Viennese snow globes come from the Original Viennese Snow Globe Manufactory in Hernals, where Erwin Perzy invented the snow globe around 1900; from the first Sunday of Advent the shop and museum are open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. For beautiful fashion, visit Consches or Lena Hoschek, for hats Mühlbauer. We buy sweets at Altmann & Kühne or at Leschanz, the chocolate king, wine and delicacies at Porta Dextra. And at the Österreichische Werkstätten on Kärntner Strasse, founded by Josef Hoffmann in 1948, there is Viennese design for every taste.
For reading, I recommend my books: “Grüne Glücksorte in Wien”, with 80 parks, gardens and green courtyards, and the brand-new “Mit dem Rad durch Wien”, both in German. And if you would like to give time together, we recommend a voucher for a private Vienna tour.
We look forward to showing you Vienna in Advent, for example on our Advent tour of the Christmas markets, which begins at dusk on Rathausplatz. Wishing you a wonderful Advent season, Martha Tretter and the artemezzo team.
