Winter Glow and the Christmas markets

When is Winter Glow in Bruges in 2026?

From Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027. The Christmas markets and the ice rink are part of it but finish on 3 January.

Think of it as two halves. Late November to early January is the classic festive stretch: markets, the rink, lights and car-free shopping streets. January is quieter, with the Winter Giant, winter events in the neighbourhoods (the Uitwijken Winter programme) and emptier streets.

For the full festive set, come between 20 November and 3 January. For the giant's parade, keep the weekend of 30 and 31 January free.

When are the Bruges Christmas markets open?

From 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, on the Markt and the Simon Stevinplein. They open at 11 a.m. every day and close at 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

There are two markets, five minutes apart on foot. The one on the Markt is the big one, under the Belfry. The Simon Stevinplein market sits on a smaller square off the Steenstraat and feels more relaxed.

On New Year's Eve the markets stay open until 3 a.m. Visit Bruges lists no special closing days over Christmas. Weekend evenings are the busiest; a weekday afternoon is calmer, and the chalets look best once the lights come on in the late afternoon.

Where is the Bruges ice rink and how much does it cost?

The IJsgloed ice rink is in King Albert I Park, open from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. A ticket costs €9 for children and adults, and children up to 3 skate free.

The rink opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on most days. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve it closes at 5:30 p.m., and on Christmas Day and New Year's Day it opens at noon. You pay by Bancontact, Payconiq or cash. Visit Bruges does not mention skate hire, so ask at the rink.

Next to the ice is the IJsgloed Winter Bar, open over the same dates under a ceiling of lights with a view of the skaters. King Albert I Park is on the station side of the centre, handy if you arrive by train.

What is the Winter Giant in Bruges?

A brand-new winter legend for Bruges: a giant built over three months with the French street theatre company L'Homme Debout, which parades through the city on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January 2027.

The idea is that the city builds it together. You can drop in at the open workshop at House of Time, Komvest 45, on set weeks: 17 to 22 November, 1 to 6, 8 to 13 and 15 to 20 December, and 19 to 24 January. It opens Tuesday to Friday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visit Bruges lists no ticket price for the workshop or the parade.

If you are in Bruges for the last weekend of January, this is the one Winter Glow event you cannot see at any other time.

When are the shopping days and the MAKERSmarkt?

The festive shopping days are every Saturday and Sunday from 21 November to 3 January, plus every day from 21 to 25 December. The Handmade in Brugge MAKERSmarkt runs from 18 to 20 December at the City Halls.

On those shopping days the Steenstraat is car-free every afternoon between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and parts of the Katelijnestraat, Geldmuntstraat and Zuidzandstraat are low-traffic. On Christmas Day only a limited number of shops open.

The MAKERSmarkt fills the Jan Garemijnzaal at Markt 7 with handmade gifts and local produce. It opens Friday 18 December between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Entry is free.

The cheap bus is the useful part for visitors. On shopping days a De Lijn return ticket within Bruges and to the surrounding towns costs €1, bought in the De Lijn app or on its website. The free P+R car parks at Coiseaukaai and Waggelwater have buses to the centre about every 10 minutes.

Can you take a canal boat during Winter Glow?

Yes. From November to February at least one of the five jetties sails every day by rotation, at the same 2026 price of €15 for adults and €9 for children 4 to 11. The boats are open, so dress warmly.

Tickets are sold only at the jetties, by Payconiq or cash; individual visitors cannot book ahead. On busy market weekends, go in the late morning before the crowds reach the canals. The rotation, the rain rules and which tours still include the boat are all in our winter boats post.

Coming for the markets on a day trip? The day trip from Brussels and the day trip from Amsterdam both add the canal boat with their boat options and leave free time for the chalets. In town already, the boat, chocolate and walking tour has the boat in its $44 from-price.

A licensed local guide, a chocolate tasting and the canal boat in the price: a warm-up before the markets.

★ 4.8 · 2 hours 30 minutes · from $44

Explore the boat, chocolate and walking tour → Tour details

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