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Brno Christmas Markets 2026: How the Squares Differ
Brno's Christmas markets open in stages, on November 13 and two weeks later. Here's how the squares differ, what's free, where to take kids and how to get there.
Brno isn’t opening its Christmas markets all at once this year. Zelný trh (Cabbage Market), Moravské náměstí (Moravian Square), part of náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square) and, new this year, Kapucínské náměstí (Capuchin Square) kick off on Friday, November 13. Dominikánské náměstí (Dominican Square), the rest of Freedom Square and the courtyard of the Stará radnice (Old Town Hall) follow two weeks later. If you want to see the trees light up, mark Friday, November 27 in your calendar. Here’s an overview of how the squares differ and where to take the kids.
The Markets at a Glance
The main market sites sit in the pedestrian zone and connect to each other, so you can walk them all in one evening. Altogether, more than 160 stalls await you downtown.
The squares differ in opening dates and atmosphere. A proven route starts at Moravian Square, continues across Freedom Square to Zelný trh and ends a short way down at Capuchin Square.
- Zelný trh: opens Friday, November 13, with the most stalls and the main cultural program.
- Moravian Square (the park and the area around the Jošt statue): opens Friday, November 13, with an ice rink.
- Capuchin Square: new this year, opens Friday, November 13.
- Freedom Square: some stalls from Friday, November 13, the rest two weeks later.
- Dominican Square and the Old Town Hall courtyard: open two weeks later.
- Římské náměstí (Roman Square): the Christmas Festival of Bad Habits starts here on December 1.
Zelný Trh and Music
Zelný trh is the heart of Brno’s Advent season and the place worth spending the most time. Zelný trh has the most stalls. Among the vendors you’ll also find craftspeople and keepers of folk traditions, so you’re not just buying food and drinks here.
Zelný trh also hosts the main part of the cultural program. Performers from Brno’s club scene, kids from elementary schools and kindergartens, and well-known Czech bands will take the stage, including Žlutý pes, Support Lesbiens and Lenny.
New this year are Christmas fanfares, played on Zelný trh on Advent Saturdays. If you want to hear them, plan your visit for a Saturday.
This year Zelný trh is decorated with a ten-meter spruce from Radostice in the Brno region. The baroque Parnas fountain in the middle of the square is also the best meeting point when your group splits up among the stalls.
Freedom Square in the Evening
Freedom Square opens gradually; some stalls stand from the opening day and the rest arrive later. The opening night starts right here. The band Game of Life plays on Freedom Square, then the program moves to Zelný trh, where the band Lucie takes the stage from 8 p.m.
The tree on Freedom Square is a silver fir from the forests of the Masaryk Forest Křtiny school forest enterprise. All the trees downtown, including this fir, light up on Friday, November 27.
Come early for the lighting so you’re standing close to the tree, not at the edge of the square.
Moravian Square with Kids
Moravian Square opens right from the start, with stalls in the park and by the Jošt statue. An ice rink is coming to Moravian Square.
For families, it’s the best way to start the evening. Kids burn off energy on the ice, and only then do you head to the stalls, where they’ll stay calm.
The equestrian statue of Margrave Jošt is a prominent landmark. Agree to meet there in case someone gets lost in the crowd.
Attractions and Views
From opening day, visitors can enjoy a Ferris wheel, a children’s village, a straw mountain and a light trail. The Ferris wheel is the most comfortable viewpoint over the illuminated downtown, with no stairs and no climbing.
If you want a view without the line, walk from Zelný trh a short way up Petrov to the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, or stroll through the park below Špilberk. From there, in the evening, you look out over the rooftops of the old town and its lit-up towers.
The organizer’s social media channels run contests where you can win prizes like a hot-air balloon ride or VIP tickets to the Ferris wheel.
A Free Program
All cultural activities are free for visitors. You only pay for what you buy at the stalls.
Vánoce Brno (Christmas in Brno) is organized by the Brno-střed (Brno-Center) city district. That’s why the programs on the individual squares connect, as the opening night with concerts on Freedom Square and Zelný trh shows.
Smaller Squares Downtown
Capuchin Square joins the markets for the first time this year and opens right from the start. It sits just below Zelný trh, right by the Kapucínská hrobka (Capuchin Crypt), so you can combine shopping with one of the best-known spots in Brno’s underground.
Dominican Square and the Old Town Hall courtyard join two weeks after Zelný trh. In the Old Town Hall passageway hang the Brno dragon and the wheel, both tied to legends that kids love hearing right beneath them.
Roman Square then hosts the start of the Christmas Festival of Bad Habits.
Getting There
The best way downtown is by streetcar. The closest stops to the markets are Hlavní nádraží (Main Station), Náměstí Svobody and Malinovského náměstí.
You can’t drive into the pedestrian zone, so leave your car in a parking garage on the edge of downtown and continue on foot or by streetcar. Between the squares you go everywhere on foot; distances are short and the route runs through the pedestrian zone.
A Game Between the Stalls
If you want more than a stroll among the stalls, play Treasure Hunt Brno. You see the treasures on a map on a tablet or phone with our GPS app, choose your own order and, at each of the treasures, answer a question tied to the location.
The number of treasures isn’t the main point; every game keeps a team busy for 2 to 3 hours. The afternoon belongs to the game, and in the evening you return to the lit-up trees.
If you’re staying in Brno longer, try Prýgl Hunt too, the Treasure Hunt at the Brno Reservoir.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Christmas markets in Brno start?
Zelný trh, Moravian Square, Capuchin Square and part of Freedom Square open on Friday, November 13; the other sites follow two weeks later.
When do the Christmas trees light up?
The Christmas trees downtown light up on Friday, November 27.
Do you pay for the cultural program?
No, the cultural program is free for visitors.
How many stalls will there be?
There will be more than 160 stalls downtown in total, with the most on Zelný trh.
Can you skate at the markets?
Yes, there will be an ice rink on Moravian Square.
You’ll get the most out of Brno’s Advent season by splitting your day. In the afternoon, explore downtown with Treasure Hunt Brno: the treasures on the map on your phone or tablet guide you through streets you’d otherwise just hurry along on your way to mulled wine. In the evening, head to Zelný trh, where Christmas fanfares play on Advent Saturdays, and finish with the view from Petrov over the illuminated city. Planning an Advent event for your company or a group of friends? Send us your date and headcount, and we’ll prepare a route between the markets so you still have the evening for the lit-up trees.
Treasure Hunt Brno
Our instructors run the game with tablets, or you start it yourselves on your phones. Tell us the number of people and the date, we will get back to you the same day.
Summary
- Brno's Christmas markets on Zelný trh, Moravian Square, Capuchin Square and part of Freedom Square open on Friday, November 13.
- Dominican Square, the rest of Freedom Square and the Old Town Hall courtyard open two weeks later than the first market sites.
- The Christmas trees in downtown Brno light up on Friday, November 27.
- More than 160 stalls operate downtown, with the most stalls and the main cultural program on Zelný trh.
- All cultural activities at the Brno Christmas markets are free, and Moravian Square has an ice rink for visitors.
Want to walk this route with your team as a game? Write to us or call and we will set it up for your date.
