Riga, Riga, Latvia
Riga Christmas Market
Wooden stalls on Dome Square in Riga's old town. 2026 dates not yet announced by the city.
The organiser has not yet confirmed this year's dates, and the dates circulating online are either estimates or carried over from a previous year — so we are not publishing them as fact. Riga City Council's event page still shows last season's dates (28 November 2025–4 January 2026). Dates quoted elsewhere for 2026 are not yet official.
- Address
- Dome Square (Doma laukums), Riga
Riga’s Christmas market fills Dome Square, the largest square in the old town, beneath the tower of Riga Cathedral. Riga also claims a special place in Christmas history: the city says the first decorated Christmas tree was put up here in 1510, and a plaque in Town Hall Square marks the spot. (Tallinn, across the Gulf, makes a rival claim.)
Why there are no dates here yet
Riga City Council’s event page still shows last season’s market, 28 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Some travel sites are already quoting 2026 dates, but none of them come from the city. We’re waiting for the official announcement.
What to expect
Based on recent years: wooden stalls selling Latvian crafts such as knitted mittens, amber, wooden toys and candles. There are piparkūkas (spiced gingerbread), smoked meats, and hot drinks made with Riga Black Balsam, the city’s famous herbal liqueur. Past markets have run through Christmas and New Year into early January, so Riga can be a good choice for a trip between Christmas and New Year.
Getting there
Riga’s old town is compact and walkable. The airport is around 10km from the centre, with buses into the city. Riga Central Station is on the edge of the old town, about ten minutes’ walk from Dome Square.
Make a day of it
Riga has one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, concentrated around Alberta iela. The Central Market, housed in vast former Zeppelin hangars beside the station, is worth a visit for its own sake. For another Baltic Christmas, Vilnius has confirmed its 2026 dates.
When will we know?
We check the official source every week and will update this page the day the dates are confirmed. In the meantime, our What’s open? tool shows the markets that have confirmed dates for any day you’re travelling.