Galway Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Opening Hours and What to Pair It With
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The Galway Christmas Market is in Eyre Square, and Galway Tourism lists it from Friday 6 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Entry to the market is free; rides, food, drinks and gifts are paid for separately. The Big Wheel and vintage amusements are listed as running until 3 January 2027.
Opening hours
Galway Tourism gives these hours:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Wednesday | 12 noon to 8 pm (bar until 10 pm) |
| Thursday to Saturday | 10 am to 10 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am to 8 pm |
Other listings online give a later closing date than 22 December, and some mention stalls reopening after Christmas. Treat the dates above as the ones to plan on, and confirm them on the Galway Tourism market page shortly before you travel, particularly if you are coming between Christmas and New Year.
What the market is, and what it is not
It is a market with stalls, a bar and a wheel in a city square, not a full day out. Plan an hour or two, longer on a Thursday to Saturday evening when it stays open until 10 pm. There is no ticket to book, so there is nothing for us to compare; what the booking sites can add is something to do before or after.
Two walks that fit
Eyre Square is where the Welcome to Galway walking tour starts: €15 per person, 75 minutes, 4.8 stars from 922 reviews. Do it in the afternoon and finish at the market.
For a darker evening, the Dark History walking tour runs after dark in the winter months, according to its booking page. It lasts 1.5 hours, costs €20 per person and lists children under 16 as not suitable. It also starts at 9 Eyre Square.
Both listings show free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The full comparison is in Walking tours in Galway, and all tours in the city are on the Galway city tours page.
Day trips in winter
Daylight is short in December, so part of a full-day coach tour runs in the dark. The boat-based trips to the Aran Islands and the cliffs depend on the sailing season, so see Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher in one day before you book one.
