Christmas 2026 is Friday 25 December, with Christmas Eve on Thursday 24 December. It marks the birth of Jesus in Christian belief. Church services are free, Christmas markets are free to enter, and visitors are welcome at most public services and markets.
When is Christmas 2026
Christmas 2026 is Friday 25 December. Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December, and Boxing Day is Saturday 26 December. Advent, the season of preparation before Christmas, begins on Sunday 29 November 2026 and ends on 24 December. The twelve days of Christmas run from 25 December to 5 January. Some churches that follow the older Julian calendar mark Christmas on Friday 7 January 2028, and Armenian churches mark it on 6 January. See the Britannica guide to why Christmas falls on 25 December for how the date was set.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November 2026 | Advent begins: four Sundays of preparation before Christmas. |
| Thursday 24 December 2026 | Christmas Eve: Midnight Mass in many churches, last day of Advent. |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day: church services, family meals, gifts. |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | Boxing Day: a public holiday in the UK and some other countries. |
| 25 December to 5 January | The twelve days of Christmas. |
| 6 January 2028 | Armenian Christmas and Epiphany. |
| Friday 7 January 2028 | Christmas for churches on the Julian calendar. |
What is Christmas
Christmas is the Christian festival that marks the birth of Jesus, also called the Nativity. Nativity means the birth of Jesus. The Bible does not give a date for the birth, and the early church did not mark it. Rome began to mark 25 December in the year 336, under the emperor Constantine. One theory links the date to the Roman winter festival of Saturnalia, but that link is a theory, not a proven fact. Christmas is a public holiday in many countries, though not in all of them. Japan, for example, does not mark it as a public holiday. See the full list of religious festivals in this category.
What happens at Christmas
Advent opens the season. Many churches light one candle each Sunday of Advent, and families open one window of an Advent calendar each day. On Christmas Eve, many churches hold Midnight Mass, a late-night service that welcomes Christmas Day with carols and readings. On Christmas Day itself, churches hold morning services, families share a festive meal, and gifts are exchanged. Carols, songs about the Nativity, are sung in churches, at home, and by carol singers in streets and squares. Nativity scenes, small figures showing the birth of Jesus in a stable, appear in churches and homes. Read the Hallow guide to Advent, its candles, and how it is kept for how the season works.
Christmas markets
Christmas markets are one of the best-known parts of the season. Stalls sell gifts, ornaments, sweets, and hot food and drink. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt in Germany has its first record in 1628 and is one of the oldest and best known. Markets run in towns and cities across Europe through December, and many stay open until Christmas Eve. Most markets are free to enter, and you pay per item for food, drink, and gifts. See the Accor guide to Christmas markets in Europe, including Nuremberg for where to go.
Tickets
There is no ticket for Christmas itself. Church services are free and open to all. Christmas markets are free to enter, and you pay per item for food, drink, and gifts. Concerts and special events may charge entry, so check listings for anything ticketed.
| What | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Church services, including Midnight Mass | Free | No booking needed at most churches. Arrive early for a seat at popular churches. |
| Christmas markets | Free entry | Food, drink, and gifts paid per item. |
| Concerts and special events | Varies | Check listings. Some need advance booking. |
Trees, Santa, and how the customs began
The Christmas tree grew out of Germany in the 1500s. A tree was recorded at Strasbourg Cathedral in 1539. The story that Martin Luther added candles to a tree is a legend, not a proven fact. Trees spread from Germany across Europe and then the world, and decorating them with lights and ornaments is now part of the season in many countries. Read the National Geographic history of the Christmas tree for how the custom spread.
Santa Claus traces back to St Nicholas of Myra, a bishop known for giving gifts in secret. Dutch settlers carried the custom to America as Sinterklaas, and the modern Santa took shape in the 1800s, helped by the 1823 poem "A Visit from St Nicholas", which gave him a sleigh, reindeer, and a chimney entrance. Churches that follow the Julian calendar mark Christmas later: see the University of Illinois note on Orthodox Christmas and the Julian calendar for why the date differs.
The other great Christian festival is the Easter date, Holy Week, and how it is marked. For the full list of festivals across the world, go back to the World Festival and Holiday Calendar.
Safety and visiting tips
- Respect the service: stand, sit, and sing along as others do, or sit quietly if you prefer. Do not talk, take calls, or take flash photos during prayers.
- Dress: wear neat, modest clothes for church. Shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice in most churches.
- Crowds: famous churches and markets fill fast at Christmas. Arrive early, keep your bag closed and in front, and agree a meeting point with your group.
- Closures: Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries. Shops, banks, and offices close. Check local listings before you travel.
- Travel: roads and flights are busy over the Christmas weekend. Book travel and stays early, especially in market cities.
- Weather: late December in Europe is cold. Bring warm layers and a rain layer for outdoor markets.
- Children: markets are family events, but church services are long and quiet. Explain what to expect so children know when to sit still.
- Photography: ask before photographing people at prayer, and never photograph during the most solemn moments of a service.
Sources
- Britannica: Christmas, why 25 December, and the Saturnalia theory
- National Geographic: Why we decorate Christmas trees
- Hallow: Advent guide, candles, and how Advent is kept
- Accor: Christmas markets in Europe, including Nuremberg
- University of Illinois: Orthodox Christmas and the Julian calendar