Austria Advent Markets 2026: Salzburg, Innsbruck, Wolfgangsee and Hallstatt, with Krampus Run Dates

Have you ever dreamed of an Advent market with snowy mountains all around it? Salzkammergut is one of my favourite regions in Austria. I keep returning there for cycling, hiking and swimming in the lakes. After our very first trip I wrote that I would love to return at Christmas, as it must look even more magical. So I've looked into the 2026 Advent season in Salzburg, Innsbruck and around Lake Wolfgang in detail, with official dates, Krampus runs and tips on getting there by train.

Dates and opening times checked on official sites in November 2026.

Quick answer

• Salzburg Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz runs from 19 November 2026 to 1 January 2027. The tree is lit on 19 November from 6 pm.
• Innsbruck has seven Christmas markets between 13 November 2026 and 6 January 2027. The Old Town market runs from 13 November to 23 December.
• Wolfgangsee Advent (St Gilgen, St Wolfgang and Strobl) runs from 20 November to 20 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, plus 7 and 8 December.
• Krampus runs: Salzburg Domplatz on Saturday 5 December 2026 (around 7 pm). Innsbruck Old Town on Thursday 3 December 2026 (6:30 pm).
• Hallstatt holds its one-day Christmas market on Tuesday 8 December 2026, 10 am–6 pm.

Dates at a glance

Sources: the organisers' websites for Salzburg, Hellbrunn, Innsbruck and Wolfgangsee, and the Salzkammergut tourist board for Hallstatt. Innsbruck also has the Kaiserweihnacht market at Bergisel on Advent weekends.

Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

Salzburg's Christmas market fills Domplatz and Residenzplatz, right in front of the cathedral and below the Hohensalzburg Fortress. On our cycling trip from Salzburg to Budapest we took a photo in front of the fortress. I can only imagine how pretty it is with the stalls and lights!

The market is open from 19 November 2026 until 1 January 2027, which is longer than many others. On New Year's Eve the stalls are open until at least 6 pm, and selected food stalls stay open until 1 am.

Programme highlights in 2026

• Opening and tree lighting: Thursday 19 November 2026, from 6 pm.
• Choirs: Monday to Friday at 5 pm. Children's choirs sing in front of the cathedral on Fridays at 2 pm. At weekends choirs sing at 3 pm and 5 pm.
• Sing along: free open singing on Tuesdays 24 November and 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 December 2026, 6–8 pm.
• Tower blowing (Turmblasen): traditional brass music from above Residenzplatz on Thursdays (26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December) and Saturdays (21 and 28 November and 5, 12 and 19 December) at 6:30 pm. The young tower blowers play on Domplatz on Wednesdays at 6 pm.
• The Salzburg Christkind: reading for children on Wednesdays 25 November and 2, 9, 16 and 23 December 2026 at 4 pm, by the Christmas tree. The Christkind and two angels also visit Domplatz on the Advent Sundays at 4 pm.
• Concerts in the cathedral: "Musica Coelestis" on 27 November and 5, 12 and 19 December 2026 at 4 pm, about 45 minutes each.

Hellbrunn Advent Magic

Just south of the city centre, Hellbrunn Palace hosts a family-focused Advent market from 19 November to 24 December 2026. There is a Children's World of Christmas, artisan stalls, an Advent café and the "Krampuswelt". The 2026 opening hours and prices were not on the website yet when I checked, so look again before you go.

Krampus and Perchten runs in 2026

The Krampus is the scary, horned companion of St Nicholas in the Alps. Krampus runs are loud, smoky and wild. Older kids usually love them, but they can frighten little ones, so keep a safe distance and hold hands. These are the officially announced 2026 dates:

• Salzburg, Domplatz: Krampus run on Saturday 5 December 2026, around 7 pm, on the big stage.
• Salzburg, Domplatz: Nikolo and Kinderkrampus (the gentler children's version) on Sunday 6 December 2026, 3:30 pm.
• Salzburg, Domplatz: Perchten run on Monday 21 December 2026 (the first Rauhnacht), 7 pm.
• Innsbruck, Igls: St Nicholas procession on Sunday 29 November 2026 at 5 pm, followed by a Krampus run at 5:45 pm.
• Innsbruck, Old Town: East Tyrolean Krampus parade on Thursday 3 December 2026, 6:30 pm.
• Innsbruck, Hungerburg: St Nicholas and Krampus procession on Sunday 6 December 2026, 5 pm.
• Innsbruck, Maria-Theresien-Straße: Perchten parade on Monday 7 December 2026, 6 pm.

Innsbruck Christmas markets

Innsbruck has seven Christmas markets, and the mountains of the Nordkette rise right behind the city. The season runs from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, but each market has its own dates.

• Old Town (Altstadt): the classic one, in the medieval lanes around the Golden Roof. Open daily from 13 November to 23 December 2026.
• Marktplatz: by the river Inn, with the most fun for families. Same dates as the Old Town.
• Maria-Theresien-Straße: a more modern market on the main shopping street. It stays open until 6 January 2027.
• Hungerburg: up the hill, with panoramic views over the city. You can get there on the Hungerburgbahn funicular. It runs until 6 January 2027.
• St Nikolaus and Wilten: two small neighbourhood markets that open in the late afternoon.
• Kaiserweihnacht Bergisel: open on Advent weekends only, between 13 November and 20 December 2026.

Wolfgangsee Advent: St Gilgen, St Wolfgang and Strobl

Lake Wolfgang is right in the area we love for summer hikes. We climbed Filbling above Fuschlsee and explored Schwarzensee, a quiet lake near St Wolfgang. So this is the Advent market I'd most like to visit!

Three lakeside villages share the Wolfgangsee Advent. In 2026 it runs from 20 November to 20 December, Wednesday to Sunday, plus Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December. Entry is free. On Wednesdays only a small selection of stalls opens on the promenade in St Gilgen.

• The Peace Lantern: the 16-metre Peace Lantern in front of St Wolfgang is the symbol of the Wolfgangsee Advent.
• By boat: the Wolfgangsee boat service links all three markets. It is such a lovely way to hop from village to village.
• Advent Train up the Schafberg: runs Thursday to Sunday during the Advent season.
• Zwölferhorn cable car: from St Gilgen, about 11 minutes to the top for winter views over the lake.

Read about our hikes in the area: On top of Filbling and Exploring Schwarzensee.

Hallstatt Advent

Hallstatt looks like it is from a fairy tale, as I wrote after our cycling trip. Its Christmas market is a one-day event on the Marktplatz, on Tuesday 8 December 2026 from 10 am to 6 pm. There is music, handicrafts, biscuits, mulled wine and punch, a 3D nativity scene and a big illuminated tree. Entry is free and payment is in cash. Hallstatt is very busy all year, so please arrive early, by public transport if you can, and be respectful of the people who live there.

What to eat, drink and buy

• Glühwein and Punsch: mulled wine and hot fruit punch. Many stalls also sell Kinderpunsch for children.
• Bosna: a Salzburg speciality. It is a spicy bratwurst in a bread roll with onions and curry powder.
• Kiachl: a Tyrolean fried dough, served with sauerkraut or with jam.
• Kasnocken and Kaiserschmarrn: cheesy dumplings and fluffy shredded pancakes. My post about Austrian food to try on your ski holiday has more dishes.
• Lebkuchen and Kletzenbrot: gingerbread and a dark fruit bread with dried pears.

Mug deposit: hot drinks usually come in a market mug with a deposit. The organisers had not published 2026 deposit amounts when I checked, so look at the board on the stall. Return the mug for your money back, or keep it as a souvenir.

What to buy: hand-carved wooden figures and nativity scenes, felt, Loden wool, beeswax candles, glass ornaments and local schnapps.

Things to do nearby

• Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf: Oberndorf bei Salzburg, north of the city, is the birthplace of "Silent Night". We passed it on a cycle ride along the Salzach. Read Exploring the Salzburg Lake District.
• Winter walks: Salzburg's Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg are small hills right in the city, with great views over the Christmas lights.
• Skiing: combine the markets with a few days on the slopes. See why we chose Kitzsteinhorn and our guide to ski holidays by train from the UK.
• Vienna: see our guide to the Vienna Christmas markets 2026.

Practical tips

Getting there from the UK

By train: ÖBB's Nightjet runs daily from Amsterdam to Innsbruck, so you can take the Eurostar to Amsterdam and wake up in the Alps. For Salzburg by train, see our guide to Christmas market breaks by train from the UK and train travel to Europe.

By plane: Salzburg and Innsbruck both have airports with flights from the UK, mostly in the ski season. Munich is a bigger alternative with more flights.

Getting around: since 1 May 2025, everyone staying overnight in the province of Salzburg gets a Guest Mobility Ticket at check-in. It covers public transport in the whole province, including Salzburg city and buses to St Gilgen and Strobl. St Wolfgang is just across the border in Upper Austria. In Innsbruck, most markets are within walking distance, and the Hungerburgbahn takes you up to Hungerburg.

Best time to visit

Weekends in December are the busiest, especially Saturdays and the 8 December public holiday. For a calmer visit go on a weekday in late November or early December. Remember that the Wolfgangsee markets are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cash, toilets, pushchairs and dogs

• Cash or card: carry euros in cash. Hallstatt's market is cash only.
• Toilets: the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt lists its toilet locations and accessibility information on its website.
• Pushchairs: the squares in Salzburg and Innsbruck are flat but cobbled and busy. A sturdy pushchair or a carrier works best.
• Dogs: the markets are outdoors, but crowds and Krampus runs are stressful for dogs.

Budget for a weekend

Entry to the markets is free. Accommodation in Salzburg and Innsbruck gets expensive on December weekends, so book early or stay outside the centre. In the province of Salzburg the Guest Mobility Ticket saves you the cost of buses and trains. A good budget trick is to stay in a lakeside village, like St Gilgen, and take the bus into Salzburg.

Entry rules

Austria is in the Schengen area. UK travellers now register their fingerprints and photo under the EU's Entry/Exit System. Read our guide to EES and ETIAS for UK travellers.

FAQ

When does the Salzburg Christmas market open in 2026?

On Thursday 19 November 2026 at 10 am. The opening ceremony and tree lighting start at 6 pm that evening. It closes on 1 January 2027.

When are the Krampus runs in Salzburg and Innsbruck?

Salzburg's Krampus run on Domplatz is on Saturday 5 December 2026, around 7 pm. Innsbruck's East Tyrolean Krampus parade in the Old Town is on Thursday 3 December 2026 at 6:30 pm.

Is the Innsbruck Old Town Christmas market open after Christmas?

No. In 2026 the Old Town and Marktplatz markets close on 23 December. Maria-Theresien-Straße and Hungerburg stay open until 6 January 2027.

When is the Hallstatt Christmas market in 2026?

On Tuesday 8 December 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm, on the Marktplatz. It is the only date listed.

Which Austrian Advent market would you choose: Salzburg, Innsbruck or the lakes? Let me know in the comments!