Events
Christmas in Florence 2026
Christmas markets, the tree in front of the Duomo, light shows on the palazzi and New Year's Eve in the squares: everything you need to plan the holidays in Florence, with 2026 dates and the days museums are closed.
Updated 2 November 2026
In short: Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce from mid-November to about 20 December; the Duomo tree is lit around 8 December; city lights from early December to Epiphany; the Uffizi, Accademia and Duomo are closed on 25 December and 1 January; state museums are free on Sunday 6 December and Sunday 3 January. Book your hotel now for the 8 December long weekend and New Year.
The Santa Croce Christmas market
Florence's biggest Christmas market fills Piazza Santa Croce with German-style wooden huts: crafts, decorations, mulled wine, sweets and food from across Europe. The events calendar lists it from 14 November to 20 December 2026, daily from 10 am to 10 pm (11 pm at weekends). Official dates are confirmed by the organisers in the autumn, so check before you go.
The best time is a weekday towards evening, when the lights come on and crowds are thinner. From the square it's a ten-minute walk to the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.
The Duomo tree and nativity scene
The big Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo is usually lit on 8 December (8 December in 2024, 6 December in 2025) at around 6 pm; the trees in Piazza della Repubblica and Piazzale Michelangelo are lit the same evening. The 2026 date has not been announced yet.
On the cathedral steps the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore sets up a nativity scene with life-size figures that stays until after Epiphany. On the night of 24 December the Archbishop celebrates Midnight Mass in the Duomo.
The city lights
From early December to Epiphany the light festival (in recent years F-Light and Florence Lights Up) projects colour onto palazzi, churches and bridges: Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo and the riverbanks. It's free and starts at dusk, around 5 pm. Indicative 2026 dates are 6 December to 4 January, still to be confirmed.
A good evening walk: the Duomo, Via dei Calzaiuoli, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio, then along the river to Santa Croce and the market.
Other markets
- Fierucola di Natale: Tuscan artisans and producers in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, usually on 8 December and the following weekends.
- Parco delle Cascine: in recent years a Christmas village and Ferris wheel until Epiphany.
- Manifattura Tabacchi: design and craft markets on December weekends.
Museums over the holidays
Almost all museums and monuments are closed on 25 December and 1 January, including the Uffizi, the Accademia and the Duomo complex. On other days they usually keep normal hours, and some add special openings: check the official website.
| Day | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Sun 6 Dec | First Sunday of the month: state museums free (Uffizi, Pitti, Accademia). Long queues: go early. |
| Tue 8 Dec | Immaculate Conception: museums usually open, centre very busy. |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day: Uffizi, Accademia, Duomo closed. |
| Sat 26 Dec | St Stephen's Day: state museums usually open; the cathedral has been closed in recent years. |
| Thu 31 Dec | Museums open, some close early. |
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day: almost everything closed. |
| Sun 3 Jan | First Sunday of the month: state museums free. |
| Wed 6 Jan | Epiphany: museums usually open; the cathedral has been closed in recent years. |
On holidays the time slots at the Uffizi and Accademia sell out sooner, so book ahead. Read our guides to Uffizi tickets and the Accademia.
New Year's Eve in Florence
Florence celebrates in its squares, with free events. To welcome 2026 the programme was a big concert in Piazza Santa Croce, gospel in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, jazz in Piazza del Carmine and a countdown projected on Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria. The programme for 2027 is usually announced in December.
On the evening of the 31st the centre is closed to traffic: walk or take the tram, and book dinner well ahead.
Where to stay at Christmas
To enjoy the holidays on foot, stay in the centre, between the Duomo, Signoria and Santa Croce. The 8 December long weekend (5-8 December) and New Year are the most expensive and the first to sell out; between 9 and 20 December prices are often lower. All the areas are in our guide to where to stay in Florence.
Map of hotels in the centre
Pick your dates to see prices and availability for the holidays.
Hotels in the centre for the holidays →
Gifts to take home
The food shops in the centre and the Mercato Centrale are the place for edible gifts: Chianti in its straw flask, new olive oil (freshly pressed in December), Tuscan ham, finocchiona salami, pecorino, cantucci and panforte. Ask for vacuum packing if you're flying.
What to do on a December day
Winter days are short: museums in the morning, markets and lights from dusk. For a day out of town, the Chianti hills are lovely in winter too.
Chianti trips with wine tasting →
FAQ
When is the Florence Christmas market 2026?
In Piazza Santa Croce, indicatively from 14 November to 20 December 2026, 10 am to 10 pm (11 pm at weekends). Check the official dates.
When is the Christmas tree lit in Piazza del Duomo?
Usually on 8 December at around 6 pm (6 December in 2025). The 2026 date is not official yet.
Is the Uffizi open at Christmas?
No, the Uffizi is closed on 25 December and 1 January. It is usually open on 26 December and 6 January.
When are museums free in December?
Sunday 6 December 2026 and Sunday 3 January 2027, the first Sundays of the month, for state museums.
More guides
Event dates and times can change: always check the official channels of the City of Florence and the museums. Sources: City of Florence, Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore and local press.
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