Christmas in Florence 2026: Market, Dates and What to Book

Christmas in Florence starts in mid-November, when the market opens in Piazza Santa Croce, and runs to Epiphany on January 6, when the Cavalcata dei Magi parades to the Duomo. In between, the Uffizi and the Accademia close on a few key days, so it pays to plan the museums first and the evenings second. Here are the 2026 dates, the closures and what to book.

Updated September 2026. Market dates from Feel Florence, the City of Florence’s official tourism website; opening hours from the Uffizi Galleries, the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. All checked in September 2026. Where the 2026 program is not out yet, we give last year’s dates and say so.

Christmas in Florence 2026 at a glance

The Christmas market in Santa Croce

The market is the first sign of Christmas in Florence. It fills Piazza Santa Croce with more than fifty wooden stalls, selling European crafts, Christmas decorations and street food, with hot drinks and events for children. In 2026, it runs from November 14 to December 20, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday, and entry is free. Note that it closes before Christmas, so plan it for the first weeks of December.

The lights and the tree in Piazza del Duomo

Each December, the city lights its Christmas trees in a single evening, piazza by piazza. In 2025, it did so on December 6: first the courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio at 5:30 p.m., then Piazza del Duomo at 6 p.m., Piazza della Repubblica at 6:30 p.m., Piazza San Firenze at 7 p.m. and Piazzale Michelangelo at 7:30 p.m. The City of Florence had not announced the 2026 date as of September 2026.

Museums and the Duomo over the holidays

The Uffizi and the Accademia

Both galleries close on December 25, on January 1 and on every Monday. So over the 2026–27 holidays, expect both closed on Friday, December 25, Monday, December 28, Friday, January 1, and Monday, January 4, unless they announce a special opening. On the other days, the Uffizi opens from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David, from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.

The Duomo complex

The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore sets special hours for the holidays. For example, on January 1, 2026, all the monuments of Piazza del Duomo stayed closed, and on January 6, 2026, the Cathedral closed while the Dome opened from 12:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check the 2026–27 hours on the Opera’s website before you book a climb.

Epiphany: the Cavalcata dei Magi

On January 6, the Cavalcata dei Magi, the Parade of the Magi, closes the season. According to the City of Florence, about 700 people in costume, including the historical parade of the Florentine Republic, usually leave from Piazza Pitti, cross the center and reach Piazza del Duomo. There, the Magi lay their gifts at the living nativity scene.

What to book for Christmas in Florence

We chose the experiences below on Viator for a rating of 4.7 or higher across more than 400 reviews, checked in September 2026. They run all year, so check the holiday dates before you book.

An evening food tour in the Oltrarno

Affiliate link: Italy2Love earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

The Florence evening food tour with Florentine steak and Tuscan wine makes five stops in the Oltrarno and Santo Spirito, with 14 tastings and a sit-down Tuscan dinner, in about three and a half hours and in groups of up to 12. Travelers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 724 reviews, and prices start from about $79 (checked September 2026).

The Uffizi, the Accademia and the Duomo in one day

The small-group Florence in a Day tour with the David, the Uffizi and the Duomo combines entry to both galleries with a walk past the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, in about five hours. Travelers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 1,303 reviews, and prices start from about $147 (checked September 2026). Since both galleries close on Mondays and on December 25 and January 1, book it for another day.

A pasta and tiramisu cooking class

For a cold afternoon, the Florence pasta and tiramisu cooking class teaches fresh pasta and tiramisu with a chef in the historic center, with wine, in about two and a half hours. Travelers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 486 reviews, and prices start from about $35 (checked September 2026).

A day trip into Tuscany

The Tuscany day trip from Florence to Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa includes lunch at a Chianti winery, in about 12 hours. Travelers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 24,088 reviews, and prices start from about $110 (checked September 2026). Days are short in December, so expect part of the drive back after dark.

Beyond Christmas in Florence

For the rest of the city, start with our Florence travel guide, then compare the Uffizi guided tours and the Florence walking tour with the David and the Duomo. For trips out, see the best day trips from Florence. And if you are touring Italy for the holidays, read about Christmas events across Italy, Christmas in Rome, Christmas in Venice and New Year’s Eve in Rome.

Sources: Christmas market dates, hours and stalls from Feel Florence, the City of Florence’s official tourism website; Christmas tree lighting times for December 6, 2025, from the City of Florence’s official announcement; opening hours and closing days from the Uffizi Galleries and the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze; holiday hours for January 2026 from the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (notice of December 17, 2025); the Cavalcata dei Magi from the City of Florence’s culture website. All checked September 24, 2026. Experiences: ratings, review counts, prices and inclusions read on each Viator product page (product codes 24338P26, 15693P27, 5520996P1 and 5070TUSCANY), checked in September 2026. Featured photo: Freepenguin, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Christmas market in Florence in 2026?

The Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce runs from November 14 to December 20, 2026, according to Feel Florence, the city’s official tourism website. It opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and until 11 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Entry is free.

Is the Uffizi open on Christmas Day?

No. The Uffizi closes on December 25 and January 1, and every Monday. On the other days, it opens from 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday.

Can you see Michelangelo’s David at Christmas?

Yes, except on December 25, January 1 and Mondays, when the Galleria dell’Accademia is closed. On the other days, it opens from 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m., with last admission at 6:20 p.m.

When are the Christmas trees lit in Florence?

In 2025, the city lit its Christmas trees on December 6, with the tree in Piazza del Duomo at 6 p.m., according to the City of Florence. The 2026 date had not been announced as of September 2026.

What happens in Florence on January 6?

On Epiphany, the Cavalcata dei Magi, a historical parade of about 700 people in costume, usually leaves from Piazza Pitti and crosses the center to Piazza del Duomo, where the Magi lay their gifts at the living nativity scene.