Austria's Christmas markets open on 6 November 2026 in Vienna and on 13 November in Innsbruck, and the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert is on Friday 1 January 2027 at 11:15. Those dates are published. Most other programmes for the 2026/27 winter are partly published, and where we found a conflict between sources, this guide says so. Vienna and Salzburg have their own detailed guides on this site, covering Vienna's Christmas markets, Salzburg's Christmas markets and Vienna's New Year's Concert and ball season. This page covers the rest of the country: Innsbruck, Graz, the lakes, the Silent Night chapel, Krampus, shop opening and the ski season.
Innsbruck: markets under the Golden Roof
According to Austria's national tourist board, Innsbruck's markets run on these dates in 2026/27:
- Old Town, in front of the Golden Roof, and the family market on Marktplatz: 13 November to 23 December 2026, daily 11:00 to 21:00. One summary of the city's own site gave 15 November for the Old Town start, so confirm the first day.
- Maria-Theresien-Strasse: 25 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 11:00 to 21:00.
- Hungerburg, reached by funicular: 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with shorter hours: weekdays 13:00 to 19:00, weekends and holidays 12:00 to 19:00, and shorter on 24 and 31 December.
- Hall: 20 November to 24 December. Seefeld: 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.
The Golden Roof and the Christmas market in Innsbruck's Old Town. Image: Arquus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Graz: sixteen markets and an ice nativity scene
Graz Tourism lists Advent in the city from 20 November to 24 December 2026, with 16 markets in the centre. Most close on 23 December, but those on Hauptplatz, Franziskanerviertel, Freiheitsplatz, Glockenspielplatz, Mehlplatz and Kleine Neutorgasse stay open on 24 December. The ice nativity scene in the Landhaus courtyard runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, daily 08:00 to 21:00. The Winter World ice rink runs from 13 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. On Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December, public transport in Graz fare zone 101 is free.
Wolfgangsee and Hallstatt
The Wolfgangseer Advent opens on Friday 20 November 2026 in St. Wolfgang, 11:00 to 19:30, with free entry. We could not load the full list of further dates, so check the Salzkammergut tourism site. Hallstatt's Christkindlmarkt is listed for one day only, Tuesday 8 December 2026, 10:00 to 18:00 (another listing says 18:30), and it is free. Around it, the Salzkammergut listings give a children's Krampus run on Friday 4 December from 17:00 and a Krampus run on Saturday 5 December from 18:00.
Silent Night in Oberndorf
"Silent Night" was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 in Oberndorf, a short trip north of Salzburg. The original church is gone, and a small chapel now stands on the site. The Stille-Nacht-Gedächtnisfeier, the memorial ceremony in front of the chapel, is held at 17:00 on 24 December and, according to the Salzburgerland tourist board, has taken place without a break since 1953. The 17:00 time is the standing tradition, not a 2026 announcement. Contact the Oberndorf office to confirm.
The Silent Night chapel in Oberndorf, near Salzburg. Image: Michael Burgholzer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Krampus and Perchten
Around 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, groups dressed as Krampus, the horned companion of St. Nicholas, run through towns across Austria. They are loud and can frighten small children. Salzburg24 has published a 2026 list of the runs. In Salzburg city on 5 December it gives 13:00 at the Christkindlmarkt, 14:00 in Schallmoos, 17:00 in Linzer Gasse and 17:30 in Getreidegasse. In the Pongau, Altenmarkt and Großarl both have runs at 20:00. Perchten, the winter spirits, run at New Year in some villages: Goldegg on 1 January at 08:30 and Pfarrwerfen the same evening at 18:00. Tirol lists Innsbruck runs on 3 and 4 December.
Krampus figures with St. Nicholas and an angel in Salzburg. Image: MatthiasKabel, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
What is open
Sunday shopping is generally closed in Austria, with regional and tourism exceptions. 24 December is not a public holiday, but in practice supermarkets, drugstores and most shops close around 13:00, florists and confectioners later. This is common practice, not a legal rule. 8 December, the Immaculate Conception, is a public holiday, and many shops open under a special rule, with hours that vary by region, so check before you plan to shop. 1 and 6 January are public holidays; 6 January 2027 falls on a Wednesday. We did not find official closing rules for 25 and 26 December or 31 December, so confirm opening hours for museums and restaurants on those days.
Ski season openings
Austria's tourist board lists these opening dates for 2026/27, which depend on snow:
- Sölden: 12 November
- Kitzbühel: 21 November, with partial weekend opening. (Another source says 6 November, so check.)
- Ischgl: 26 November, with the opening concert on 28 November
- St. Anton: 2 December, with the Stanton Ski Open on 4 to 6 December
- Lech: 2 December
- Zell am See: Schmittenhöhe 4 December. Kitzsteinhorn glacier from 10 October if snow permits.
- Schladming: opening events on 11 and 12 December
New Year's Eve outside Vienna
Programmes for the end of the year are only partly announced. For Graz, a regional listing gives a Silvesterspektakel on Hauptplatz on 31 December from 17:30. Innsbruck's tourism board lists a children's New Year's Eve on 30 December and a party street on 31 December. We found nothing confirmed for Linz. For Vienna, see our New Year's Concert guide, which covers the free Silvesterpfad trail.
Krampus figures on stage with fire at a run near Salzburg. Image: MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Plan your trip
For the best-documented Christmas week, Vienna and Salzburg have the most complete dates. For a smaller town, the Hallstatt market is a single day, and Innsbruck and Graz make good bases. Book ski accommodation early, and treat all opening dates as snow dependent.
