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Get Festive: The Best Christmas Markets in Melbourne in 2026
Reindeer in the CBD, French pastries at the Convent and designer gifts beneath the Royal Exhibition Building's dome. Melbourne's Christmas markets are back.
Melbourne’s best Christmas markets for 2026 include the Alliance Française Christmas Market at Abbotsford Convent, The Big Design Market in Carlton and Queen Victoria Market’s after-dark festivities. There’s German gingerbread in Fitzroy North, First Peoples art at Fed Square and handmade wares beneath century-old trees at Cruden Farm. Between the mulled wine, the stalls and finding something special, Christmas shopping becomes an occasion in its own right. The trouble is remembering which presents are meant for other people.
Best Traditional and Cultural Christmas Markets in Melbourne
Alliance Française Christmas Market
The French have always understood that shopping is vastly improved by good food and a glass of wine. For one November weekend, Alliance Française puts the theory into practice at Abbotsford Convent, filling its nineteenth-century halls and Hospital Lawn with French delicacies, artisan gifts and live entertainment. Between buttery pastries and browsing, there are complimentary French classes for anyone hoping to graduate beyond bonjour, a children’s corner and a Christmas raffle. The architecture is already lovely; the addition of French pastries hardly seems fair.
Where: Abbotsford Convent, Abbotsford
When: Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 November 2026, 10am–4pm daily
Cost: $12 adults, $8 concession, free for children under 12
Best For: Cultural experiences, Food lovers, Families, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Book online to avoid the ticket queue. The market is wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly.
Deutsche Schule Melbourne German Christmas Market
At Deutsche Schule Melbourne, Christmas preparations involve an impressive amount of baking. Vanillekipferl, Lebkuchen, Stollen and jam-filled Berliner are among the traditional German specialities at the school’s annual Weihnachtsmarkt, alongside bratwurst, pretzels and steaming cups of Glühwein. More than 40 stallholders gather in Fitzroy North with glass ornaments, handcrafted decorations and gifts, while live music and children’s activities fill the evening. Much of the baking is a labour of love by school families, which makes choosing between the Stollen and another Berliner an entirely respectable dilemma.
Where: Deutsche Schule Melbourne, Fitzroy North
When: Friday 27 November 2026, 5pm–9pm
Cost: $3 adults, free for children under 16; children’s activity passes $20–$35
Best For: Families, Cultural experiences, Food lovers, Live music, Markets
Need To Know: Enter via Holden or Dean Street, not Barkly Street. The outdoor market proceeds in wet weather; public transport is recommended.
Koorie Krismas
A Polaroid-wielding elf is in charge of the Christmas photographs at Koorie Krismas, where Koorie Klaus himself will be making an appearance. Presented by the Koorie Heritage Trust, this annual Fed Square celebration puts First Peoples creativity at the centre of Christmas, with a market featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists alongside dance, storytelling, music and DJs. Children can take part in free creative activities before meeting Koorie Klaus, while the market is an opportunity to discover original work and support First Peoples makers directly.
Where: Fed Square, Melbourne CBD
When: Saturday 12 December 2026, 10am–3pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Cultural experiences, Families, Art lovers, Live music, Free events
Need To Know: No booking required. Children’s activities and the festive programme are free.
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Best Christmas Night Markets in Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market Christmas Night Market
It snows at Queen Victoria Market in November. Artificially, of course, but that’s a minor technicality when there are stilt walkers, Christmas choirs and a nine-metre tree involved. Across four Wednesday evenings, the Christmas Night Market turns the city’s historic sheds into a lively tangle of food traders, handmade gifts, festive decorations and entertainment. There’s free professional Christmas photography, a secondhand book market and even a reindeer encounter.
Where: Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne CBD
When: Wednesdays 25 November, 2, 9 and 16 December 2026, 5pm–10pm
Cost: Free entry; food and shopping extra
Best For: Families, Date night, Food lovers, Free events, Festival season
Need To Know: No bookings required. The market route is undercover and step-free; allow around two hours to explore.
Gasworks Night Market: Xmas in the Glade
The old gasworks in Albert Park has had an interesting second life, although its original workers might be surprised to find Christmas shoppers inspecting earrings where industrial machinery once stood. On 5 December, Gasworks Night Market fills the arts precinct’s red-brick surrounds and leafy grounds with independent ceramicists, jewellers, textile makers and artists. There’s live entertainment, something to eat between stalls and four hours of browsing as a summer Saturday slips into evening.
Where: Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park
When: Saturday 5 December 2026, 5pm–9pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Date night, Art lovers, Markets, Outdoor activities, Weekend plans
Need To Know: This is an outdoor event. Check the organiser’s updates in severe weather.
Northcote Christmas Night Market
Northcote’s Christmas shopping comes with a licensed bar and, on one evening, an ensemble of West African percussionists. Across two Thursdays in December, The Make It Collective gathers more than 50 Australian artists and designers beneath the grand ceilings of Northcote Town Hall. There are botanical creations, miniature terrariums, original artwork and handmade pieces from local creatives, with cocktails available for those approaching the Christmas list in a sociable mood. On 10 December, the festivities extend into neighbouring Civic Square for two free performances by Ausecuma Beats, whose musicians draw on the rich musical traditions of West Africa.
Where: Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, Northcote
When: Thursdays 10 and 17 December 2026, 5.30pm–9.30pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Date night, Art lovers, Markets, Free events, Group catch-ups
Need To Know: The number 86 tram stops nearby. Ausecuma Beats performs at Civic Square on 10 December, with sets at 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
Melbourne Makers’ Market: Twilight Christmas Edition
The last Friday before Christmas is an interesting time to be shopping for presents. At City Square, Melbourne Makers’ Market keeps the lights on until 9pm, gathering up to 40 independent artists and designers beneath the city’s ten-metre Christmas tree. Original prints, textiles and small-run creations are made by the people behind the stalls, with the deliberately compact line-up leaving room to meet the artists and hear about their work. A welcome alternative to the department-store scramble, with the added benefit of an evening in the city.
Where: City Square, Melbourne CBD
When: Friday 18 December 2026, 4pm–9pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Art lovers, Markets, Free events, Locals, Group catch-ups
Need To Know: City Square is directly accessible from Town Hall Station and Swanston Street trams.
Best Melbourne Christmas Markets for Design and Food Gifts
The Big Design Market
Some people are impossible to buy for. Fortunately, The Big Design Market has assembled more than 280 of Australia’s finest independent designers under the magnificent dome of Carlton’s Royal Exhibition Building. Three days of sculptural ceramics, extraordinary jewellery, original art, beautiful books and homewares that may test the limits of your carry bag. This year’s edition features a large-scale installation by Australian artist Em Hatton, coveted designer showbags and a dedicated creative space for children. More than 80 food and drink brands will be on hand for necessary sustenance. The only real danger is developing expensive tastes on somebody else’s Christmas present budget.
Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton
When: Friday 4 December 2026, 11am–7pm; Saturday 5 December, 10am–6pm; Sunday 6 December, 10am–5pm
Cost: $8 adults; free for children 12 and under
Best For: Art lovers, Markets, Families, Weekend plans, Unique experiences
Need To Know: Fully indoors and cashless at entry. Pets are not permitted.
Lygon Street Christmas Market
Christmas shopping is infinitely more agreeable when there’s a good Italian lunch waiting at the other end. On Sunday 6 December, Carlton’s Piazza Italia becomes an open-air Christmas market, courtesy of the Rose Street Artists’ Market, with independent Melbourne designers selling original artwork, jewellery and locally crafted gifts. There are festive treats, the leafy surrounds of Argyle Square and, just around the corner, enough trattorias and pasticcerie to turn a morning’s shopping into a thoroughly Italian affair. The cannoli can wait until after lunch.
Where: Piazza Italia, Carlton
When: Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am–3pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Markets, Art lovers, Food lovers, Weekend plans, Free events
Need To Know: No bookings required. The market has mobility access and accessible toilets.
Good Food & Wine Show: Christmas Edition
A Christmas hamper is only as good as what goes inside it, and this December, the Good Food & Wine Show has more than 200 producers making the case for a thoroughly edible Christmas. Its special festive edition takes over MCEC with artisan food, wine, tastings and a Festive Kitchen devoted to the business of Christmas cooking. This year’s programme includes an immersive experience inspired by The Great Australian Bake Off, hands-on classes and demonstrations from familiar baking faces. There’s a Little Bakers Corner for younger visitors, while the adults can investigate the wine pavilions and make some informed selections for the Christmas table.
Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf
When: Friday 4 December 2026, 4pm–9pm; Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am–5pm
Cost: From $34.95 Friday; from $39.95 Saturday and Sunday
Best For: Food lovers, Wine lovers, Families, Weekend plans, Unique experiences
Need To Know: Book tickets online. Cooking classes and some experiences require additional bookings or payment.
Best Christmas Markets in Melbourne’s Historic Gardens
Como House Christmas Makers Market
At Como House, the market stalls occupy the lawns of a nineteenth-century South Yarra estate, with the mansion’s elegant façade and established gardens as their backdrop. For one December Sunday, the Trust Market gathers local artists, designers and craftspeople with handmade wares, clothing, original artwork and plenty of Christmas gift possibilities. The gold-coin admission supports the National Trust, and the sprawling lawns are an attractive place to spread a picnic rug once the shopping is done.
Where: Como House, South Yarra
When: Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am–3pm
Cost: Gold-coin donation
Best For: Markets, Art lovers, Families, Outdoor activities, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Bring a picnic rug. The market takes place outdoors in the historic gardens.
Cruden Farm Christmas Market
More than a hundred lemon-scented gums line the driveway into Cruden Farm, an appropriately grand introduction to a Christmas market. The Langwarrin estate, which Dame Elisabeth Murdoch spent eight decades cultivating, opens its magnificent inner gardens for a December Sunday of artisan stalls, handmade gifts and good things to eat. There’s an Edna Walling-designed walled garden to explore, lawns made for picnicking and a Christmas wreath workshop led by the estate’s gardeners, using foliage gathered from the grounds. It’s all very civilised: nibbles and bubbles are included.
Where: Cruden Farm, Langwarrin
When: Sunday 13 December 2026, 10am–4pm
Cost: $10 adults, free for children under 16
Best For: Families, Markets, Outdoor activities, Weekend plans, Unique experiences
Need To Know: Enter via McClelland Drive. The Christmas wreath workshop begins at 1pm and costs an additional $140, with advance booking required.
Christmas Markets in Melbourne 2026: FAQs
Among the markets in this guide, Melbourne’s 2026 Christmas shopping season begins on Saturday 21 November with the Alliance Française Christmas Market at Abbotsford Convent. Queen Victoria Market follows with its first Wednesday night event on 25 November, and Deutsche Schule Melbourne holds its German market in Fitzroy North on Friday 27 November. The busiest weekend is 4–6 December, when The Big Design Market and Good Food & Wine Show Christmas Edition run alongside smaller neighbourhood events. Later dates include Koorie Krismas on 12 December and Melbourne Makers’ Market on 18 December.
Several of Melbourne’s Christmas markets are free to visit in 2026. Queen Victoria Market’s Christmas Night Market opens on four Wednesday evenings from 25 November to 16 December, while Gasworks Arts Park stages its Christmas night market on Saturday 5 December. The Northcote Christmas Night Market runs on 10 and 17 December, Koorie Krismas at Fed Square takes place on 12 December, and Melbourne Makers’ Market is at City Square on 18 December. Lygon Street Christmas Market is also free; Como House asks for a gold-coin donation, which supports the National Trust.
Two markets in this selection make a strong case for a European Christmas outing. On Friday 27 November, Deutsche Schule Melbourne’s Weihnachtsmarkt in Fitzroy North celebrates German traditions with Stollen, Lebkuchen, bratwurst, pretzels, mulled wine and handmade decorations. The Alliance Française Christmas Market at Abbotsford Convent takes place on 21 and 22 November, with French food and wine, artisan stalls, live entertainment and complimentary introductory French classes. The settings are very different: one is a lively school-community evening, the other a weekend gathering across a nineteenth-century convent and its grounds.
For handmade Christmas gifts in Melbourne, The Big Design Market is the largest event in this selection, with more than 280 independent designers at the Royal Exhibition Building from 4 to 6 December. Melbourne Makers’ Market is a smaller alternative at City Square on 18 December, with up to 40 makers selling their own work. Northcote’s two December night markets are useful for original art and botanical pieces, while Como House combines independent stalls with a garden outing. Koorie Krismas at Fed Square is another opportunity to buy work directly from First Peoples artists.
Families can find plenty beyond shopping at Melbourne’s Christmas markets in 2026. Queen Victoria Market’s Wednesday night series includes choirs, roaming performers, festive photographs and a reindeer encounter. The Alliance Française Christmas Market has a children’s corner and free admission for under-12s, while Deutsche Schule Melbourne runs a separately ticketed programme of children’s activities. Koorie Krismas at Fed Square has free creative activities and a visit from Koorie Klaus. The Big Design Market at the Royal Exhibition Building has a dedicated children’s creative space; children 12 and under enter free.
For more reasons to fill the diary, explore what’s on in Melbourne this month or browse our guide to Melbourne’s best markets all year round.
