NYC Holiday Markets 2026: Union Square, Columbus Circle, Grand Central and Bryant Park

Union Square Christmas Market (11599229803)

The short answer: New York's holiday market season starts early in 2026. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park open first, on October 28, 2026, and stay until January 3, 2027. The Grand Central Holiday Fair runs from November 9 to December 24, 2026, inside Vanderbilt Hall. The Union Square Holiday Market and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market are both confirmed to return in 2026, but their exact dates had not been published when we checked on October 9, 2026. Based on recent years, expect Union Square from mid-November to Christmas Eve and Columbus Circle through December.

Here's how the main markets differ, and how to see more than one in a day.

Which NYC holiday markets are open in 2026?

Four big ones, plus smaller pop-ups that come and go each year. Each has its own character:

Market2026 datesIndoor or outdoorBest for
Holiday Shops at Bryant ParkOctober 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027Outdoor, next to a free ice rinkMaking a night of it: shops, skating, food
Grand Central Holiday FairNovember 9 to December 24, 2026Indoor (Vanderbilt Hall)A rainy or freezing day; local artisans
Union Square Holiday Market2025 dates: November 13 to December 24; 2026 dates TBAOutdoorThe biggest selection of small makers
Columbus Circle Holiday Market2025 dates: December 2 to 31; 2026 dates TBAOutdoorPairing with a walk in Central Park

All four are free to walk into. You only pay for what you buy (and, at Bryant Park, for skate rentals).

When does the Union Square Holiday Market open in 2026?

The 2026 opening date isn't out yet. Urbanspace, which runs the market, says on its Union Square page that the market will be back in 2026, but it hadn't posted dates or hours as of October 9, 2026.

For planning, here's what the 2025 edition looked like, according to amNY (2025 dates; 2026 dates TBA):

  • 2025 dates: November 13 to December 24, 2025 (2026 dates TBA)
  • 2025 hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm
  • Size: about 185 vendors that year; Urbanspace describes the market as "nearly 200 vendors"

The market fills the south end of Union Square Park along 14th Street, right above one of the busiest subway stations in the city (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains). If you love browsing small makers, from jewelry and ceramics to knitwear and prints, this is the market with the most of them in one place. It also has a long row of food stalls, so you can graze instead of booking lunch.

When does the Columbus Circle Holiday Market open in 2026?

Also not announced yet. Urbanspace's Columbus Circle page says the market returns in 2026, without dates.

2025 dates; 2026 dates TBA. In 2025, the market opened on Tuesday, December 2 and ran through December 31, closed on Christmas Day, according to West Side Rag. 2025 hours were 11am to 7pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 8pm on Friday and Saturday.

It sits at the southwest corner of Central Park, right by the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station (1, A, B, C and D trains). It's smaller than Union Square, which some people prefer: shorter aisles, fewer crowds on weekdays, and the park right there for a walk afterward. If you're staying on the Upper West Side or near Midtown West, it's the easy one.

When is the Grand Central Holiday Fair 2026?

November 9 to December 24, 2026, in Vanderbilt Hall inside Grand Central Terminal, per the dates on Grand Central's 2026 vendor page. Check the official Holiday Fair page before you go, since details can change.

Grand Central hadn't posted 2026 hours yet when we checked. In 2025, according to the MTA, the fair kept daytime hours most days, closed on Thanksgiving, and featured dozens of local small businesses and artisans. Treat those as 2025 details, not 2026 ones.

This is the one to pick when the weather turns. It's indoors, it's compact, and it's inside one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Afterward, walk out to the Main Concourse and look up at the ceiling, which most people rush past.

What about Bryant Park's holiday market?

The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are part of the Bank of America Winter Village, and they open earliest of all:

  • Holiday Shops: October 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Monday to Friday 11am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm.
  • Ice rink: October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027, open daily. Bryant Park calls it New York's largest free-admission rink. Admission is free, but you need a reserved ticket even with your own skates, and skate rentals cost extra.

We cover the rink, the food and the best times to go in a separate Bryant Park Winter Village guide.

Can you see several NYC holiday markets in one day?

Yes, if you go in early to mid December, when all four overlap. Bryant Park and Grand Central are about a 5-minute walk apart along 42nd Street, so they pair naturally.

A simple route for a weekday:

  1. Late morning: Grand Central Holiday Fair. Indoors, quieter before lunch.
  2. Lunch: Bryant Park. Walk west on 42nd Street and eat from the food kiosks at the Winter Village.
  3. Afternoon: Union Square. Take the subway south (the 4, 5 or 6 from Grand Central goes straight to 14th Street-Union Square). Browse until it gets dark, when the stalls light up.
  4. Optional evening: back to Bryant Park to skate, or head to Columbus Circle on another day.

If you love the idea of skating under the skyline, book your Bryant Park rink slot before you plan the rest of the day.

What should you know before you go?

TopicWhat to know
CrowdsWeekday mornings are calmest. Weekend afternoons in December are the busiest.
WeatherOutdoor markets stay open in cold weather. Dress in layers; the aisles are narrow and you'll be standing still a lot.
PaymentMost vendors take cards, but a little cash helps at smaller stalls.
FoodEvery outdoor market has food stalls. Bring an appetite rather than booking a big lunch.
BagsBring a tote. Paper bags don't survive a rainy afternoon.
HolidaysCheck closures for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day before you go.
DatesUnion Square and Columbus Circle dates are usually posted in the weeks before opening. Check the official pages.

Checklist for a market day:

  • Confirm the 2026 hours on each market's official page
  • Reserve a Bryant Park rink ticket if you want to skate
  • Pick one indoor option (Grand Central) in case of rain
  • Plan your route by subway, not by taxi, in December traffic
  • Leave room in your suitcase if you're visiting from out of town

FAQ

When do the NYC Christmas markets open in 2026? Bryant Park's Holiday Shops open October 28, 2026, and the Grand Central Holiday Fair opens November 9, 2026. Union Square and Columbus Circle hadn't announced 2026 dates as of October 9; in 2025 they opened November 13 and December 2 (2025 dates; 2026 dates TBA).

Are NYC holiday markets free? Yes, entry to all four is free. At Bryant Park the ice rink is free too, but skate rentals cost extra.

Which NYC holiday market is indoors? The Grand Central Holiday Fair, in Vanderbilt Hall inside Grand Central Terminal.

Which NYC holiday market is the biggest? Union Square, with nearly 200 vendors, according to Urbanspace.

Are the NYC holiday markets open on Christmas Day? Generally no. Grand Central's fair ends December 24, and in 2025 Columbus Circle closed on Christmas Day. Check each market's page for 2026.

Sources

Cover photo: Mack Male, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source).

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