🎡 Village de Noël Liège
Site map, getting there and the programme of the biggest market.
👉 See official website & info
villagedenoel.be
Christmas markets in the Ardennes 2026
Five markets with dates and times for 2026, straight from the organisers.
Photo above: Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · via Wikimedia Commons · all photo credits
Home › Winter › Christmas markets
🎄 Christmas markets in and around the Ardennes 2026
Five Christmas markets within reach of the Ardennes have already announced their dates for 2026: Durbuy, Liège, Malmedy, Monschau in Germany and Eupen. They are quite different: Liège is big and busy, Monschau and Eupen are small and only open briefly, Durbuy runs until after New Year.
By Arjan Zuur · reference date 23 October 2026 · sources below
Below you will find the dates, opening times and things to do per market, as published by the organisers for 2026. Markets for which we have not yet found official 2026 dates, such as Namur and Bastogne, are not (yet) included.
Snow, cross-country skiing, skiing and the winter rules for your car are on our overview page Winter in the Ardennes.
⚡ Sorted quickly for your Christmas market visit
Four things to check just before you set off. All buttons lead to the official source.
🚌 Parking in Monschau
Monschau relies on park-and-ride shuttle buses from Imgenbroich, Höfen and Haag.
👉 See official website & info
monschau.de
⛸️ Ice skating in Malmedy
The Cité de Noël ice rink stays open after the market until early January.
👉 See official website & info
citedenoel.be
🕕 Durbuy on 24 and 31 December
On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve the market closes at 6 pm.
👉 See official website & info
VISITWallonia
🛏️ Find accommodation right away
🏨 Hotel in Durbuy
Hotels in and around Durbuy on Booking.com, so you do not have to drive after the Christmas market.
👉 See current prices & availability
Ad · affiliate link
booking.com · Durbuy
🏨 Hotel in Malmedy
Hotels in Malmedy on Booking.com, for the Cité de Noël and a trip to Monschau or Eupen.
👉 See current prices & availability
Ad · affiliate link
booking.com · Malmedy
💛 If you book through our Booking.com links, we receive a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps us keep this research free. You can recognise these links by the label “Ad · affiliate link”. More in our disclaimer.
📌 Overview
The Christmas markets at a glance
If you want the biggest market, go to Liège (± 200 huts). For small-town atmosphere: Monschau or Durbuy. If you still want to go after Christmas, only Durbuy has something: until 3 January 2027.
| First market | Durbuy, from Friday 20 November 2026 (VISITWallonia) |
|---|---|
| Biggest | Liège: ± 200 huts, 27 November–30 December 2026 (VISITWallonia) |
| Shortest | Eupen: only 11–13 December 2026 (eupenlives.be) |
| Open longest | Durbuy: up to and including 3 January 2027 |
| With ice rink | Durbuy, Liège and Malmedy |
| Admission | The organisers do not state an admission price; see each market's official website |
🚗 Getting there from London
From London you reach the Ardennes via the Channel Tunnel or the Dover–Calais ferry and Belgium; Liège is on the way to Malmedy and close to Durbuy, while Eupen and Monschau lie between Liège, Aachen and the High Fens. We worked out the drives to Durbuy and Malmedy; for Liège, Eupen and Monschau we do not (yet) have our own route calculation.
| To | Distance from London (via LeShuttle) | Driving time (excl. crossing) | Fuel return (BE–UK) | Route from Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malmedy | ± 467 km | ± 5 h 45 min | ± €122–127 | A16 → E40 → R0 → E42 … |
| Durbuy | ± 433 km | ± 5 h 28 min | ± €113–117 | A16 → N225 → A25 → A27 → E42 … |
Route: OSRM/OpenStreetMap (fastest route), calculated on 24 October 2026 from London St Pancras, without breaks, traffic or the Channel crossing. Fuel: 6.5 l/100 km (assumption), petrol: BE €2.002/l (FOD Economie, official Belgian maximum price petrol 95 RON E10, valid from 24.10.2026) to UK 174.57 p/l = €2.085/l (UK DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, unleaded (ULSP) average pump price, week commencing 19.10.2026; ECB euro reference rate 23.10.2026: €1 = £0.83728). Channel crossing: LeShuttle 35 min (leshuttle.com), ferry Dover–Calais ± 1 h 30 to 1 h 40 (P&O Ferries, DFDS); fares not included, check current fares. Explanation and sources in the cost guide.
📅 All Christmas markets 2026 side by side
Dates and opening times as published by the organisers for 2026.
| Market | Dates 2026 | Opening times | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durbuy (BE) | 20–22 Nov, 27–29 Nov, 4–6 Dec, 11–13 Dec; then daily 18 Dec 2026–3 Jan 2027 | Weekends: Fri 4–11.30 pm, Sat/Sun 11 am–11.30 pm; from 18 Dec daily 11 am–11.30 pm; 24 and 31 Dec until 6 pm | VISITWallonia |
| Liège, Village de Noël (BE) | 27 Nov–30 Dec 2026; ice rink 27 Nov–2 Jan | see official website | VISITWallonia |
| Malmedy, Cité de Noël (BE) | 26–29 Nov, 3–6 Dec, 10–13 Dec, 17–20 Dec 2026 | Thu 5–10 pm, Fri 5 pm–midnight, Sat 2 pm–midnight, Sun noon–10 pm; 20 Dec until midnight | citedenoel.be |
| Monschau (Germany) | 27–29 Nov, 4–6 Dec, 11–13 Dec, 18–20 Dec 2026 | Fri and Sat 11 am–9 pm, Sun 11 am–8 pm | monschau.de |
| Eupen (BE) | 11–13 Dec 2026 | Fri and Sat 2–9 pm, Sun 11 am–8 pm | eupenlives.be |
🎁 The 5 Christmas markets
What to expect per market. None of the organisers states an admission price.
🎯 Durbuy Christmas market
Location: Durbuy Type: Christmas market · ice rink
Spread over four locations in the town: an ice rink in the Parc Roi Baudouin, children's attractions on the Avenue Philippart and a Christmas train at the Anticlinal. Open the longest of them all.
🎯 Village de Noël, Liège
Location: Liège Type: Christmas market · ice rink
The oldest Christmas market in Belgium, with ± 200 huts on the Place du Marché and the Place Saint-Lambert. With a Ferris wheel and an ice rink on the Place de la Cathédrale.
🎯 Cité de Noël, Malmedy
Location: Malmedy Type: Christmas market · ice rink
Around 20 huts on the esplanade of the Malmundarium, for four weekends. The big ice rink stays open until early January.
🎯 Monschau Christmas market
Location: Monschau (Germany) Type: Christmas market
± 35 stalls in the half-timbered town, with St Nicholas every Saturday, an elves' workshop for children (Sat 11 am–5 pm) and a historic carousel. Park at the shuttle buses.
🎯 Eupen Christmas market
Location: Eupen Type: Christmas market
The 54th edition, with ± 90 stalls in the town centre around the Klötzerbahn: the oldest Christmas market in the Euregio. Open for only three days, with St Nicholas and children's activities.
🛏️ Staying near the Christmas market: our 3 favourites
One hotel in the middle of Durbuy, within walking distance of the market, and two in Malmedy, also handy for Monschau and Eupen. We have not yet picked addresses for Liège, Monschau and Eupen themselves. The rating is the Booking.com rating on the reference date; you can see prices and availability for your dates at the accommodation.
🎯 Le Sanglier des Ardennes
Location: Durbuy Type: hotel
Hotel on the Place aux Foires in the old town. The wellness area has a Finnish sauna and an infrared sauna, a salt cave and an outdoor jacuzzi, and is not included in the room price.
Find out more
Other wellness packages: Escale Zen € 170 pp (3 h 15 min), Escale Alpine € 200 pp (1 h 40 min).
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays the wellness area only opens from 2 pm.
👉 See current prices & availability
Ad · affiliate link
🎯 MY Hotel
Location: Malmedy Type: hotel
Wellness area of over 120 m². 52 m² pool, sauna and hammam.
Find out more
Open 8 am–10 pm. The Nordic baths are temporarily out of service.
👉 See current prices & availability
Ad · affiliate link
🎯 Daft Hotel
Location: Malmedy Type: design hotel
30 °C indoor pool with underwater music. Sauna.
Find out more
Private sessions possible.
👉 See current prices & availability
Ad · affiliate link
💛 If you book through our Booking.com links, we receive a small commission. You pay nothing extra, and it helps us keep this research free. You can recognise these links by the label “Ad · affiliate link”. More in our disclaimer.
🧾 Rules and tips for your visit
Practical rules and times per market, with source.
📋 Good to know
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Durbuy on 24 and 31 December | Market closes at 6 pm | VISITWallonia |
| Parking in Monschau | Park & ride with shuttle buses from Imgenbroich, Höfen and Haag | monschau.de |
| Ice skating in Liège | Ice rink on the Place de la Cathédrale, 27 Nov–2 Jan | VISITWallonia |
| Ice skating in Malmedy | Ice rink open longer than the market, until early January | citedenoel.be |
| Christmas at a castle | Reinhardstein open 28–29 Nov, 5–6 and 12–13 Dec and 19 Dec–3 Jan, 10 am–6 pm | reinhardstein.net |
| Vignette | In 2026 no toll and no vignette in Belgium; check the current rules | wallonie.be |
💶 Costs at a glance
The amounts on this page together.
| Topic | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Admission to Christmas markets | see each market's official website | VISITWallonia |
| Fuel return London–Durbuy (via LeShuttle) | ± € 113 (fill up in BE) to ± € 117 (fill up in the UK); Channel crossing not included, check current fares | Route calculation above |
| Fuel return London–Malmedy (via LeShuttle) | ± € 122 (fill up in BE) to ± € 127 (fill up in the UK); Channel crossing not included, check current fares | Route calculation above |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When is the Durbuy Christmas market 2026?
From 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: first on four weekends, daily from 18 December. On 24 and 31 December until 6 pm.
When is the Liège Christmas market in 2026?
From 27 November to 30 December 2026, on the Place du Marché and the Place Saint-Lambert. The ice rink is open until 2 January.
When is the Cité de Noël in Malmedy?
On four weekends: 26–29 November, 3–6, 10–13 and 17–20 December 2026.
When is the Monschau Christmas market in 2026?
At weekends from 27 November to 20 December 2026: Friday and Saturday 11 am–9 pm, Sunday 11 am–8 pm.
When is the Christmas market in Eupen?
Only from 11 to 13 December 2026 inclusive.
Which Christmas market is still open after Christmas?
Of these five only Durbuy, up to and including 3 January 2027. In Liège and Malmedy you can still go ice skating after the market.
Sources
All prices and rules on this page come from the official websites below, with the date we retrieved them. Prices can change in the meantime; check again just before you leave.
- VISITWallonia: Village et marché de Noël de Durbuy 2026 (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- VISITWallonia: Village de Noël de Liège 2026 (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Village de Noël de Liège (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Cité de Noël Malmedy: the market (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Monschau: Christmas market (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Eupen lives: 54th Eupen Christmas market (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Reinhardstein: visits and Christmas opening (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Wallonia: road vignette from 2027 (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- UK DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, unleaded (ULSP) average pump price, week commencing 19.10.2026
- FOD Economie, official maximum price petrol 95 RON E10, tariff no. 2026/204, valid from 22 October 2026 (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Vlaanderen.be: road vignette from 1 May 2027 (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Wallonie.be: Vers la mise en place d'une vignette routière en Belgique (updated 11 September 2026) (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Brussels LEZ: zone and registration of foreign vehicles (retrieved 23 October 2026)
- Slim naar Antwerpen: LEZ, frequently asked questions (R1 ring outside the LEZ) (retrieved 23 October 2026)