For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen, running from November 13 to January 3. Of these, 2 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Denmark.
The short version
- Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Copenhagen and Klampenborg: 7
- First: Christmas at Tivoli (Jul i Tivoli), Copenhagen, November 13
- Free events: Fairytale Christmas Market at Højbro Plads (Eventyrligt Julemarked på Højbro Plads) and Christmas at Bakken (Jul på Bakken)
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).
At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 7 confirmed for 2026
- Towns
- Copenhagen and Klampenborg
- Season
- November 13 to January 3
- Free events
- 2
- Last checked
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Free Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen
Christmas marketFree
Fairytale Christmas Market at Højbro Plads (Eventyrligt Julemarked på Højbro Plads)
- When: Nov 14 to Dec 20, 2026, daily
- Where: Højbro Plads, Højbro Plads 9, 1200 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free admission
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
The new Christmas market at Højbro Plads opens Nov 14 and runs until Dec 20, 2026. It has cozy stalls, music, entertainment and activities for the whole family, and the market brings together traditions from Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Families with kids can explore an interactive Christmas world where talking trees come to life and tell the Christmas fairy tale of Julius Kleine. There is also entertainment and activities on the square every day.
Parent tip: Opening hours are shorter on weekdays and longer on Friday and Saturday. Check the website for the day's program.
- Host
- Eventyrligt Julemarked på Højbro Plads (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Højbro Plads, Højbro Plads 9, 1200 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 6 more Copenhagen events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Copenhagen.
- Exclusive access to free events Be first to hear about new free events in Copenhagen.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
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Christmas events for kids in Klampenborg
Visit with SantaFree
Christmas at Bakken (Jul på Bakken) (Klampenborg)
- When: Weekends, Fri to Sun, Nov 21 to Dec 20
- Where: Dyrehavsbakken, Dyrehavevej 62, 2930 Klampenborg (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free admission, rides paid separately
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
The old amusement park in the Deer Park (Dyrehaven) is open for Christmas every weekend from Friday to Sunday between Nov 21 and Dec 20, 2026. The Deer Park is decorated with Christmas lights, and Bakken's winding streets turn into one big Christmas market.
Santa, Pjerrot and the singing reindeer perform shows for the whole family. Many of the rides are open, and there are cafés and restaurants serving a classic Danish Christmas lunch (julefrokost).
Parent tip: Friday opens at 2 pm, Saturday at noon and Sunday at noon with an earlier closing time. Rides are paid separately.
- Host
- Dyrehavsbakken (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Dyrehavsbakken, Dyrehavevej 62, 2930 Klampenborg (opens in maps) (near København)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
The #1 spot Event hosts: free events are listed first. One featured spot puts your event at the very top of this page.Ask about the #1 spot
Visit with Santa
Christmas at Tivoli (Jul i Tivoli)
- When: Fri, Nov 13, 2026 to Sun, Jan 3, 2027
- Where: Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: From kr 210 for adults and children ages 8 and up, kr 115 for children ages 3 to 7, free under age 3
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
Tivoli has its Christmas season from Nov 13, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027. The garden is decorated with lights, Christmas trees and Christmas stalls, and the youngest can take a ride on the Nisse-toget (the nisse, or Danish Christmas elf, train) and the Skovkarrusellen (Forest Carousel) or meet the animals of the forest.
Santa's house (Julemandens hus) is open for a large part of the period, and the visit is included in the entrance fee. The light installations are also included in the price. Rides cost extra, unless you have a ride pass. Opening hours change from day to day, so check the calendar before the trip.
Parent tip: Prices vary from date to date, and rides require a pass or tickets. Check the opening hours at tivoli.dk before you go.
- Host
- Tivoli (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Tree lighting
Lighting of the Tivoli Christmas Tree
- When: Fri, Nov 13, 4:30 pm
- Where: Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: Included in Tivoli admission
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
On Friday, Nov 13, Tivoli opens for Christmas at 11 am, and at 4:30 pm the gardens' big Christmas tree is lit. It is a cozy way to start the Christmas season with the kids.
The gardens are decorated with light installations, which are included in admission. After the lighting you can walk on to the Christmas market or look for Santa's house (Julemandens hus).
Parent tip: It can be crowded at the opening, so arrive early.
- Host
- Tivoli (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Visit with Santa
Santa's House at Tivoli (Julemandens hus i Tivoli)
- When: Nov 13 to Dec 23, 2026
- Where: Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: Included in Tivoli entry
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
During the Christmas season, children can visit Santa (Julemanden) in his own house at Tivoli. The visit is a regular part of Christmas in the garden and does not require an extra ticket beyond the entrance fee.
The house is open from Nov 13 to Dec 23, 2026. Feel free to combine the visit with the Nisse-toget (Elf Train) and the Skovkarrusellen (Forest Carousel), which are made for the youngest.
Parent tip: You need an entrance ticket to Tivoli. Come early in the day if the kids want to fit in several things.
- Host
- Tivoli (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Christmas show
The Nutcracker (Nøddeknækkeren) at Tivoli
- When: Nov 26 to Dec 20, 2026
- Where: Tivoli Concert Hall (Tivolis Koncertsal), Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: kr 265 to 735, including Tivoli admission
- Ages: Recommended for ages 6 and up
Expand to see the parent tip
Tivoli's Christmas ballet The Nutcracker is performed in the Concert Hall from Nov 26 to Dec 20, 2026. The classic story of Clara and the nutcracker is a popular family outing in December.
The ticket includes admission to Tivoli, so you can make a longer day of it with the lights, the Christmas market and the rides. The performance is recommended for children ages 6 and up.
Parent tip: Book tickets early, as popular evenings can sell out. Check the times in Tivoli's calendar.
- Host
- Tivoli (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tivoli Concert Hall (Tivolis Koncertsal), Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
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Santa Claus parade
Lucia Procession at Tivoli (Luciaoptog i Tivoli)
- When: Sun, Dec 13, 5:30 pm
- Where: Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Cost: Included in Tivoli entry
- Ages: The whole family
Expand to see the parent tip
On Sunday, Dec 13 at 5:30 pm the Lucia procession (Luciaoptoget, the Saint Lucia procession) goes through Tivoli. It is a Danish Christmas tradition, where light and song create atmosphere in the Christmas-decorated garden.
The procession is a good chance to experience Lucia with the kids without having to be out late. The garden is decorated with lights, so the trip can be combined with the Christmas market and Santa's house.
Parent tip: Arrive in good time to get a spot with a view. Bring warm clothes, since the procession is outdoors.
- Host
- Tivoli (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, 1630 Copenhagen (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New events in Copenhagen every week
Rally looks for new Christmas events in Copenhagen every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.
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A story for the trip home
Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon.com (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen: questions parents ask
What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen?
For 2026, we confirmed 7 Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen, each on its host’s own page: Christmas at Tivoli (Jul i Tivoli), Fairytale Christmas Market at Højbro Plads (Eventyrligt Julemarked på Højbro Plads), Christmas at Bakken (Jul på Bakken) (Klampenborg) and 4 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Copenhagen?
Yes, 2 of the 7 events here are free: Fairytale Christmas Market at Højbro Plads (Eventyrligt Julemarked på Højbro Plads) and Christmas at Bakken (Jul på Bakken) (Klampenborg). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa this year in Copenhagen?
Where to see Santa: Christmas at Tivoli (Jul i Tivoli), Christmas at Bakken (Jul på Bakken) (Klampenborg) and Santa's House at Tivoli (Julemandens hus i Tivoli). Check the listings above for times and booking.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Copenhagen
The first Christmas tree in Copenhagen was lit on Christmas Eve 1811 at Ny Kongensgade 221, according to tradition. Today the city has a tree about 20 meters tall on City Hall Square and a Tivoli with more than a thousand Christmas trees. Here is the story, plus practical tips for a family visit.
How Copenhagen celebrates Christmas
Christmas in Copenhagen is about lights, trees and small traditions that kids can join. The biggest tree stands on City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen), where a tree of about 20 meters from the Gribskov forest has been put up since 1914. In 2025 Santa arrived from Nyhavn in a parade of fire trucks to light it.
Tivoli, the amusement park in the middle of the city, turns Christmas into a whole season. It held its first Christmas in 1994, with 33 stalls, 107 trees and one Santa. Today it has 1,007 Christmas trees, roasted almonds, æbleskiver (little round pancakes) and a market, and about 25 million guests have visited over the years.
For a visiting family, that means you can do Christmas in two very different ways: a big tree on a city square, and a ticketed, cozy park with kid-sized rides and Santa's house.
Nisser, hearts and the Danish Santa
Danish Christmas has its own cast. In the 1800s, it was the nisse, a small Christmas helper, who gave children their gifts. When Santa, called julemand in Danish, arrived, he took over that job and the nisse became his helper. Some children still put out a bowl of rice porridge for the nisse on Christmas Eve.
The word julemand was first used in Danish in Louis Moe's Julemandens Bog in 1898, a Danish version of the German word Weihnachtsmann. The book placed Santa far to the north, which is why many Danes think of Greenland as his home.
Trees in the 1800s were decorated with homemade things: paper roses, woven paper hearts and paper cones filled with candy, called kræmmerhuse. Those woven hearts are still a classic, and the City Hall Square tree got 100 of them in 2025.
Planning a Christmas visit to Copenhagen with kids
This season, Tivoli's Christmas starts on Friday, November 13, 2026 and runs through Sunday, January 3, 2027, with the Tivoli tree lit at 4:30 pm on opening day. Santa's house in Tivoli is open from November 13 to December 23 and is included in the entrance ticket. On Sunday, December 13 at 5:30 pm, Tivoli holds its traditional Lucia procession with candles and song.
Outside Tivoli, a free Christmas market on Højbro Plads runs daily from November 14 to December 20, with an interactive kids' world. Bakken, an amusement park, opens on weekends from November 21 to December 20 with free entry and a Christmas market.
Several events are free, and Tivoli and the ballet are paid. Most events are in Danish, but many are made for families with little need for language, so check with the host if you need English.
A fun fact: how the word julemand traveled
At the end of the 1800s, Danish emigrants in the United States sent Christmas cards home, and that is how Danes first saw what Santa looked like. He is based on Saint Nicholas, a bishop in Myra, in today's Turkey, in the 300s. The Dutch brought Sinterklaas to America, where he became Santa Claus.
Traditions today
- The tree on City Hall Square: A tree of about 20 meters from Gribskov has stood here since 1914, and Santa arrives from Nyhavn when it is lit.
- Christmas in Tivoli: Since 1994 the park has held a Christmas season with stalls, trees, roasted almonds and æbleskiver.
- The Christmas market on Nytorv and Gammeltorv: Wooden stalls sell decorations, gifts and crafts, with æbleskiver and roasted almonds. The market moved to Nytorv in 2025.
- Paper hearts and candy cones: Woven paper hearts and cones filled with candy hang on many Danish Christmas trees. The City Hall Square tree had 100 hearts in 2025.
- Christmas Eve on December 24: In the evening the family eats a Christmas dinner, dances around the tree and opens the gifts.
- The nisse and the rice porridge: The nisse is Denmark's little Christmas helper, and some children put out a bowl of rice porridge for him on Christmas Eve.
A fact for kids
When Tivoli held its first Christmas in 1994, it had only one Santa. Today the park has 1,007 Christmas trees.
Questions about Christmas in Copenhagen
Is Copenhagen worth visiting at Christmas with kids?
Yes. Tivoli turns into a Christmas park with Santa's house, lights and gentle rides, and there are free markets and a tall tree on City Hall Square. Kids also get to meet the nisse, Denmark's little Christmas helper, and see woven paper hearts and candy cones on the trees.
When does Tivoli open for Christmas in 2026?
Tivoli's Christmas season runs from Friday, November 13, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027. The Tivoli tree is lit on opening day at 4:30 pm. Santa's house is open from November 13 to December 23.
How much does Tivoli cost at Christmas?
Entry starts at 210 kroner for adults and children from age 8, 115 kroner for children aged 3 to 7, and children under 3 are free. Santa's house is included in the ticket. The Nutcracker ballet costs more but includes entry.
What can young kids do at Tivoli at Christmas?
They can visit Santa's house and tell him their wishes, ride gentle rides such as the Elf Train and the Forest Carousel, browse the Christmas market and take part in the Lucia procession on December 13. Tivoli's decorations include more than a thousand Christmas trees.
When is the Tivoli Christmas tree lit?
On opening day, Friday, November 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm. The tallest tree in the park stands by the ice rink, 13 meters tall with 50,000 bulbs. In all, Tivoli puts up 1,007 Christmas trees in the season.
Where can kids meet Santa in Copenhagen?
At Santa's house in Tivoli, from November 13 to December 23, where children can tell him their wishes. It is included in the Tivoli ticket. Bakken also has Santa on weekends, with shows with Pierrot and singing reindeer.
What is the Lucia procession at Tivoli?
Tivoli's traditional Lucia procession takes place on Sunday, December 13 at 5:30 pm, with candles and song for the whole family. It is included in the Tivoli entrance ticket.
Can kids see The Nutcracker in Copenhagen?
Yes, in the Tivoli Concert Hall from November 26 to December 20, recommended for children from age 6. Tickets cost 265 to 735 kroner and include entry to Tivoli.
What is Christmas at Bakken in Copenhagen?
Bakken, the amusement park, opens every weekend from Friday to Sunday, November 21 to December 20, with a Christmas market, lights and shows with Santa, Pierrot and singing reindeer. Entry is free and rides are paid separately.
What is the Christmas market at Højbro Plads?
A free market in central Copenhagen, open daily from November 14 to December 20. It has an interactive kids' world where talking trees tell the story of Julius Kleine.
Are there free Christmas events in Copenhagen?
Yes, a handful. The market at Højbro Plads and Bakken's weekend entry are free, though Bakken's rides cost extra. Tivoli and the Nutcracker require a ticket.
Are Christmas events in Copenhagen in English?
Most events are in Danish, but markets, rides and Santa's house do not depend much on language. For shows and stories, check with the host if you need English.
Is there a Christmas market in Copenhagen city center?
Yes. The Christmas market on Nytorv and Gammeltorv has wooden stalls with decorations, gifts and crafts, plus æbleskiver and roasted almonds, and Santa drops by. It stood on Kongens Nytorv for many years, moved to Thorvaldsens Plads in 2024 and to Nytorv in 2025. Check this page for dates.
How old is the Christmas tree on City Hall Square?
A big Christmas tree has stood on City Hall Square since 1914. It is about 20 meters tall and still comes from Gribskov. In 2025, Santa lit it together with the lord mayor and it was decorated with 100 paper hearts from Børnenes Kontor, the Children's Office.
How does Santa arrive when the City Hall Square tree is lit?
In 2025, Santa came from Nyhavn in a parade with fire trucks, arriving at 3:45 pm. He handed out candy before the tree was lit at 4 pm, and the city's school orchestra played Christmas music. Dates for this season's lighting are not confirmed yet.
When was the first Christmas tree lit in Copenhagen?
According to tradition, on Christmas Eve 1811 at Ny Kongensgade 221, at the home of a young doctor named Martin Lehmann. He was a pastor's son from Holstein and knew the custom from home. The story is not fully confirmed, but many see it as the start of modern Danish Christmas.
How did Danes decorate Christmas trees in the 1800s?
With homemade things: paper roses, woven paper hearts and paper cones for candy. Some decorations were edible. In 1848 the gifts hung in the tree itself.
What is a kræmmerhus on a Danish Christmas tree?
A cone-shaped paper bag, often decorated, that hangs on the tree and is filled with candy. In the 1800s families made them at home along with paper roses and woven hearts, and many Danish families still hang them today.
Why is Santa called julemand in Denmark?
The word julemand was first used in Danish in Louis Moe's Julemandens Bog in 1898, a Danish version of the German word Weihnachtsmann. Before Santa, the nisse gave the children their gifts.
Why do many Danish kids think Santa lives in Greenland?
Because Louis Moe's 1898 book placed Santa far to the north. It was the first book to use the word julemand in Danish, and that is how a book character became part of the story of where Santa lives.
What is a nisse?
A nisse is Denmark's little Christmas helper. In the 1800s the nisse gave children their gifts, and when Santa took over the role, the nisse became his helper. Some families still put out a bowl of rice porridge for him on Christmas Eve.
What do Danish families eat on Christmas Eve?
On December 24 the dinner is roast pork, duck or goose with potatoes and red cabbage. Dessert is risalamande, cold rice pudding with cherry sauce, with a whole almond hidden in it. Whoever finds the almond gets the almond gift, traditionally a marzipan pig. After dinner the family dances around the tree, sings and opens the gifts.
What can kids eat at Tivoli at Christmas?
Æbleskiver, roasted almonds and hot cocoa. Tivoli uses about a ton of almonds in a season, and guests ate more than three tons of æbleskiver with 156 kilos of jam. In the Christmas village Bjældevang on the Lawn, more than 55,000 cups of cocoa were served.
Sources
- Sådan så juletræet ud for 200 år siden, Videnskab.dk
- Kom med, når det store juletræ tændes på Rådhuspladsen, Københavns Kommune
- Copenhagen's Tivoli has grown into an international Christmas icon, Dontt.dk
- Julemanden blev sendt til Danmark på postkort, Videnskab.dk
- Julemarked Nytorv & Gammeltorv, Storyhunt
- Yule and Christmas in Denmark, Wikipedia