© Daniele Fiorentino
© Daniele Fiorentino
© Daniele Fiorentino
© Daniele Fiorentino
© Daniele Fiorentino
From 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, Italy’s oldest Christmas market returns to Bolzano. A special anniversary featuring 120 wooden stalls, light installations, South Tyrolean flavours, charity initiatives and activities for all ages. And for those wishing to extend their holiday, snow-covered landscapes and spectacular Dolomite scenery are just minutes away from the city.
At Christmas, Bolzano has an unmistakable aroma: cinnamon, mulled wine and freshly baked strudel. From 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, the South Tyrolean capital transforms into a magical Christmas village for the 35th edition of its famous Christkindlmarkt, Italy’s oldest Christmas market, which attracts thousands of visitors from across Europe every year.
The official opening will take place on Thursday 26 November at 5 pm, with the lighting of the Tree of Wishes: a 20-metre-high fir tree illuminated by 1,300 lights and decorated with creations made by children and teenagers receiving treatment in Italian hospitals. The decorations were produced during ceramic therapy workshops organised by the Lene Thun Foundation. A symbol of solidarity and hope, the tree will mark the beginning of a particularly special edition.
An anniversary filled with new attractions, lights and traditions
To celebrate its 35th anniversary, the market has several special initiatives in store. These include a commemorative postmark dedicated to the occasion and a new Christmas photography competition on the social media channels of Bolzano Tourism, with a panel of experts selecting and rewarding the three best festive photographs.
One of the most impressive new features will be a special light projection on the walls of Bolzano Cathedral, highlighting the architecture of the building and its finest details.
As always, the heart of the Christmas Market will be Walther Square (Piazza Walther), together with the area around the railway station, where approximately 120 wooden stalls will offer a wide range of traditional crafts and gifts. Visitors can browse felt and boiled-wool creations, blown glass, ceramics, wooden decorations, musical boxes, embroidered tablecloths, little angels and nativity scenes. The charming THUN-style mountain chalet in Piazza della Mostra is also well worth a visit.
Traditional craftsmanship will also be showcased in Cathedral Square (Piazza Duomo) and along Via Isarco, while Piazza Municipio will host an impressive sculptural nativity scene depicting the Holy Family.
Christmas with a purpose: Bolzano Mondo Comune
Christmas in Bolzano is also a time for solidarity. Alongside the traditional Charity Market in Piazza del Grano, where local associations sell handmade products to support people experiencing vulnerable circumstances, this year sees the launch of the “Bolzano Mondo Comune” project.
The initiative will also involve the Christmas Market stalls. Participating vendors can mark selected products with a special label, and €1 from every item sold will be donated to charity.
South Tyrolean flavours and music in the squares
A stroll among the Christmas stalls is also an invitation to discover the flavours of local tradition. Apple fritters and strudel are served alongside South Tyrolean speck and cured meats, while traditional Christmas biscuits provide plenty of sweet temptations. Wine lovers can enjoy Santa Maddalena and Lagrein, as well as sparkling wines, grappa and local spirits at the Wine Lounge. Beer enthusiasts can head to the Beer Lounge to sample beers from Bolzano and across South Tyrol.
Alpine horns and Christmas carols will provide the soundtrack to the celebrations. The “Advent in Music” programme will bring concerts and musical performances to the squares, streets and churches of the historic town centre.
Events not to miss
The programme of events will accompany visitors throughout the Advent season. On 12 December, the awards ceremony for the Artisan Christmas Beer – Christmas Beer competition will take place, while an electric tourist train will offer a fun way to explore the city, running from Walther Square to Gries Square and back.
Contemporary art will also feature prominently with “Angelus Loci”, part of the “Bolzano, City of Angels” programme, bringing site-specific installations to various locations around the city.
Those wishing to rediscover old traditions can take part in “Greetings with a Pen”, an initiative hosted at the Renon School Museum and the Civic Museum. Visitors will have the opportunity to write and send a postcard using traditional inkwells, recreating the atmosphere of classrooms from the past.
Children will have their own dedicated area along the avenue near the railway station, featuring workshops, games, magicians, storytellers, carousels, a little train and puppet theatre. Highlights include the arrival of Saint Nicholas and his little angels on 6 December, as well as the spectacular Krampus parade.
The popular “Find&Win” initiative also returns, inviting visitors of all ages to explore Bolzano’s museums through quizzes and fascinating discoveries. Participating venues include Museion, the Mercantile Museum, the Cinè Museum, Runkelstein Castle, the Antonio Dalle Nogare Foundation, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, the School Museum, the Civic Museum and the South Tyrol Museum of Natural Science.
A wooden disc bearing a QR code will be hidden in each museum. Visitors simply need to find it, scan the code and answer the question correctly to enter the final prize draw, with the chance to win one of three prizes.
A stay combining the Christmas Market, museums and festive atmosphere
For visitors wishing to enjoy Bolzano at a leisurely pace, the Bolzano Tourism Board offers the “Advent Magic at the Bolzano Christmas Market” package, available from 26 November to 6 January.
The offer includes three nights for two people with breakfast, a guided tour from the weekly programme, free admission to the Mercantile Museum and Runkelstein Castle, a collectible Christmas Market cup and a selection of traditional Bolzano Christmas biscuits waiting in the room. Prices vary according to the participating accommodation.
From Christmas markets to ski slopes: winter magic in the Dolomites
A Christmas holiday in Bolzano can also be the perfect opportunity to experience the mountains in winter. Just a few minutes from the city, visitors will find snow-covered landscapes, ski resorts and scenic trails where they can alternate days on the slopes with snowshoe hikes and outdoor experiences.
On the Renon plateau, the Rittner Horn welcomes skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts with wide, sunny slopes. Snow-covered trails also offer wonderful opportunities for snowshoeing, surrounded by spectacular views of the Dolomites.
In San Genesio, on the Salto plateau, winter reveals a different kind of beauty: snow-covered larch forests, open white landscapes and a peaceful atmosphere. It is the ideal destination for those who prefer to explore at a slower pace, with snowshoe hikes, panoramic walks and charming horse-drawn sleigh rides, all set against the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.
Ski enthusiasts can reach Obereggen, part of the Ski Center Latemar, in approximately 20 minutes. The resort offers 48 kilometres of slopes, increasing to 111 kilometres with the Val di Fiemme/Obereggen ski pass, within the extensive Dolomiti Superski network. Alongside alpine skiing, visitors can also explore the snowy landscape on foot or with snowshoes. And for those who want to make the most of their time on the slopes, night skiing is available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 pm to 10 pm, with the ski slope, Nightpark and toboggan run illuminated.
From the festive atmosphere of the historic town centre to the breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains, Bolzano is the ideal starting point for a holiday combining culture, traditions, sport and nature, with all the charm of winter in South Tyrol.
