Christmas Events for Kids in Vienna (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

15 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

For 2026, we confirmed 21 Christmas events for kids in Vienna, running from November 6 to January 6. Of these, 3 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Austria.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Vienna: 21
  • First: Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace (Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn), Vienna, November 6
  • Free events: Christmas World at the Vienna Christkindlmarkt (Weihnachtswelt am Wiener Christkindlmarkt), Puppet Theater Raumschiff: Kasperl, Krampus, Nikolo (Puppentheater Raumschiff) and Kids Baking Organic Cookies (Kinder Bio-Kekse backen)

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 Vienna

Kids’ Christmas events
21 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Vienna
Season
November 6 to January 6
Free events
3
Last checked

Free 3Ticketed and paid 18

Free Christmas events for kids in Vienna

Christmas marketFree

Christmas World at the Vienna Christkindlmarkt (Weihnachtswelt am Wiener Christkindlmarkt)

Expand to see the parent tip

Beside the stalls on Rathausplatz, the Rathauspark turns into a Christmas world of its own for children. There is plenty to discover at 17 stations: the birdhouse village, the nutcracker with a dancing ballerina, the fairy-tale book tower with well-known stories, a bakery in the gingerbread house, the Saint Nicholas sack (Nikolosack) with riddles and the nativity path. All signs are labeled in German, English and Braille.

At the stand opposite the Herzerlbaum (heart tree), you pick up free quiz sheets and pencils for the riddle trip from station to station. Children can also make Christmas cards there and write their wishes to the Christkind (the Christmas gift-bringer in Austria), which then go into the Christmas tree mailbox. The youngest practice ice skating on the children's rink with figures that roll along with them, and there is also a twelve-meter-high double-decker carousel and a nostalgic Ferris wheel.

Parent tip: To rent skates at the children's rink you need a valid ticket and a deposit or photo ID; double-blade skates and children's helmets are lent out free. The best way to get there is the U2 to Rathaus or tram lines 1, 71 and D.

Host
Wiener Christkindlmarkt (stadt wien marketing) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Rathausplatz and Rathauspark (City Hall Square and Park), 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Wiener Christkindlmarkt (stadt wien marketing) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 20 more Vienna 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 Vienna.
  • Exclusive access to free events Be first to hear about new free events in Vienna.
  • 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.

Coming up on this page

  • 11 Shows
  • 8 Crafts
  • 8 Markets
  • 8 Zoos and museums
  • 3 Free

Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Vienna every week.

Free. One email a week with new events in Vienna. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy

Christmas showFree

Puppet Theater Raumschiff: Kasperl, Krampus, Nikolo (Puppentheater Raumschiff)

Expand to see the parent tip

In the children's program of the Spittelberg Christmas market, the Puppentheater Raumschiff performs the play 'Kasperl, Krampus, Nikolo' on three Wednesday afternoons. The little Krampus, the horned companion of Saint Nicholas, would like to join in, but the Nikolo finds him too naughty. Then, though, Kasperl suddenly needs exactly his help, and things get funny and turbulent until the presents are back in the right place.

Krampus is a lovable character here and not a scary figure, so it also suits younger children. It is performed at the Kulturzentrum im Amerlinghaus on Stiftgasse, in the middle of Spittelberg. Admission is free for children and adults, and no registration is required. No further dates have been announced, so if you want to see the play, it is best to note one of the three Wednesdays.

Parent tip: No registration, so it is better to come a bit early. The theater answers questions at info@theaterraumschiff.at. Expect the show to be in German.

Host
Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)
Where
Kulturzentrum im Amerlinghaus, Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas craftsFree

Kids Baking Organic Cookies (Kinder Bio-Kekse backen)

Expand to see the parent tip

Baking cookies is simply part of Advent in Austria, and at Spittelberg the kids get to do it themselves. Nutrition scientist Christina Lachkovics-Budschedl leads an organic cookie baking workshop at the Bezirksmuseum Neubau on two Advent Sundays. Whatever the children bake, they can of course take home right away.

The workshop runs from 3 pm to 6 pm each day and is part of the children's program at the Spittelberg Christmas market. Admission is free, but the organizer asks for registration. Afterward, a walk through the lanes of the Christmas market is a nice idea, and on weekends it is open from the morning. The Bezirksmuseum Neubau is at Stiftgasse 8, at the corner of Schrankgasse, in the middle of the market area.

Parent tip: Register by email at forum@spittelberg.at. It does not hurt to bring a tin for the finished cookies. Expect the workshop to be in German.

Host
Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bezirksmuseum Neubau (Neubau District Museum), Stiftgasse 8, 1070 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Vienna

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

Christmas market

Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace (Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn)

Expand to see the parent tip

The Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace runs this year from Nov 6 to Jan 6, making it one of the few markets that are still open after Christmas. More than 90 decorated huts offer crafts, Christmas ornaments and regional food, and countless lights set the right mood in the late afternoon.

For families there is a lot on offer: a traditional craft workshop, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and the Glice ice rink, a synthetic ice surface that children may use for free. There are also curling lanes (Eisstockbahnen) for the grown-ups. It is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm until Dec 23, on Dec 24 until 4 pm, and afterward until Three Kings' Day (Jan 6) from 10 am to 7 pm.

Parent tip: Take the U4 to Schönbrunn. A visit combines well with the Children's Museum or the Marionette Theater in the palace.

Host
Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Ehrenhof, Schönbrunn Palace (Main Courtyard), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas market

Christmas Exhibition and Christmas Market 2026 at the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens (Blumengärten Hirschstetten)

Expand to see the parent tip

For the 23rd time, the Wiener Stadtgärten (Vienna city gardens) stage their Christmas exhibition 'Im Zauber der Weihnachtszeit' (In the Magic of Christmastime) at the Blumengärten Hirschstetten. In Glasshouse 1, 15 scenes with more than 900 poinsettias tell of customs and stories, with nutcrackers, angels, Santa figures, a Christmas train and a winter forest with animals. Outside, new light installations such as comets, a reindeer sleigh and a gift tower transform the grounds.

For children there is a Christmas craft station in Glasshouse 2, where children ages five and up decorate Christmas cards. For a materials fee, sand pictures are also made with Herr Haunzwickl. Two Ringelspiele (carousels) and a glowing train provide variety, and a photographer takes Christmas photos on request. The Advent market has more than 50 stands. The net proceeds of a punch stand of its own go to the animal shelter TierQuarTier Wien.

Parent tip: Open only Thursday to Sunday, plus Dec 7 and 8. Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the grounds, except assistance dogs.

Host
Wiener Stadtgärten (City of Vienna) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Blumengärten Hirschstetten, Quadenstraße 15, 1220 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Wiener Stadtgärten (City of Vienna) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas market

Art Advent at Karlsplatz: Children's Program (Art Advent am Karlsplatz: Kinderprogramm)

Expand to see the parent tip

The Art Advent at Karlsplatz is a crafts market with fully organic-certified food, and it has a particularly extensive daily offering for children. According to WienTourismus there is a straw landscape to romp in, the Draisinenexpress (a little rail-bike train), the carousel of lost property and barrel organ music from the Werkelmann.

In the big yurt by the pond area, creative crafting is supervised in the Sternenwerkstatt (star workshop), and in the Himmelszelt (sky tent) storytellers tell tales. The market is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm from Nov 13 to Dec 23 and sits right at the Karlsplatz subway station, so it is also easy to reach with a stroller. Besides the children's offer, there are art installations, demonstration workshops where you can watch the craft being made, and live bands.

Parent tip: The stories in the sky tent and the crafting in the star workshop are the quieter offers, good for a break from the bustle. Take the U1, U2 or U4 to Karlsplatz. Expect the storytelling to be in German.

Host
Art Advent Kunst & Handwerk am Karlsplatz (opens in a new tab)
Where
Art Advent am Karlsplatz (in front of the Karlskirche), 1040 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Art Advent Kunst & Handwerk am Karlsplatz (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas market

Christmas Village at Uni Campus Vienna: Children's Program in the Josefinialm (Weihnachtsdorf Uni Campus Wien)

Expand to see the parent tip

The Christmas village at Uni Campus in the Altes AKH has existed since 1999, and it is one of the most family-friendly Advent markets in the Alsergrund district. According to the organizer, besides crafts and food there are Christmas rides, a fairy-tale forest and a stage with entertainment for young and old.

The heart of it for families is the Josefinialm: on weekends there is a colorful program with Kasperl and Strolchi, a magician, a Christmas workshop and a bakery. The market is open from Nov 13 to Dec 23, Saturdays from 11 am and Sundays from 11 am to 9 pm. During the week it opens only at 2 pm, and no children's program is announced for those days.

Parent tip: Weekend afternoons are best for families; evenings and Tuesdays (Student X-Mas Tuesday) get more crowded. Take tram 43 or 44 to Lange Gasse or the U2 to Schottentor. Expect the shows to be in German.

Host
Weihnachtsmarkt.at (opens in a new tab)
Where
Weihnachtsdorf Uni Campus Wien (Altes AKH), Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Weihnachtsmarkt.at (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas market

Advent Cinema at Filmhaus Spittelberg (Adventkino Filmhaus Spittelberg)

Expand to see the parent tip

As part of the children's program at the Spittelberg Christmas market, Filmhaus Spittelberg invites families to Advent cinema. Family films are shown, several with a Christmas theme: 'Auf der Suche nach der Weihnachtswerkstatt' (Looking for the Christmas Workshop) after Thorbjørn Egner, 'Ein Weihnachtsfest für Teddy' (A Christmas for Teddy, ages 3 and up) and 'Mission Mäusejagd: Chaos unterm Weihnachtsbaum' (ages 6 and up). There are also classics such as 'Kikis kleiner Lieferservice' (Kiki's Delivery Service), 'Ronja Räubertochter' (Ronja the Robber's Daughter) and 'E.T.'.

Shows run on Fridays at 3:30 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm. Admission is free for children and teens up to age 18, and adults pay €9. Afterward you can head straight out into the lanes of the Christmas market. The Filmhaus is at Spittelberggasse 3, just a few steps from the stalls.

Parent tip: Check briefly which film plays on which day, since the age recommendations differ. Box office contact: 01 890 72 86 or kassa@filmhaus.at.

Host
Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)
Where
Filmhaus Spittelberg, Spittelberggasse 3, 1070 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kulturverein Forum Spittelberg (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas crafts

Poldi's Christmas Craft Workshop (Poldis Bastelwerkstatt zu Weihnachten)

Expand to see the parent tip

At the Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn, the palace ghost Poldi has again come up with Christmas crafts this year. You can choose a funny reindeer, a tin with a wintry snowman motif and a Tontopfengerl (little clay pot figure). If you prefer to tinker at home, you can buy a craft bag to take along, available until Jan 6.

The workshop is open from Nov 21 to Dec 24, on weekdays in the afternoon from 1 pm to 5 pm, and on weekends, holidays and Christmas Eve from 10 am to 5 pm. Last entry is at 4 pm. Crafting is for ages four and up and only with an adult, and each craft costs €6. The museum's Christmas program also includes the winter riddle rally and the search game 'Chaos in der Wichtelwerkstatt' (Chaos in the Elf Workshop), both included in the museum admission.

Parent tip: Tickets are sold right at the box office in the Children's Museum. If a craft runs out, the museum offers an alternative. Expect the workshop to be in German.

Host
Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Children's Museum Schönbrunn Palace (Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

Christmas in the Winter Forest (Weihnacht im Winterwald)

Expand to see the parent tip

At the Figurentheater LILARUM in the third district, 'Weihnacht im Winterwald' runs in Advent, based on the book of the same name by Friedl Hofbauer. The icy wind blows a red wool sweater from the forester's balcony into the winter forest. The forest mouse moves in right away, but soon the squirrel, hare, cat, wild boar and bear also want into the warm sweater house, and on Christmas night there is finally room for everyone.

The play is meant for children ages three and up and lasts around 45 minutes plus a break. According to WienTourismus it is performed from Nov 28 to Dec 24. On the theater's website there is also a read-aloud story and coloring pages to download to go with it. The figures and stage are by Traude Kossatz, and the play premiered back in 2004.

Parent tip: The individual afternoon dates and tickets are in the schedule at lilarum.at; contact at 01 710 26 66. Expect the show to be in German.

Host
Figurentheater LILARUM (opens in a new tab)
Where
Figurentheater LILARUM, Göllnergasse 8, 1030 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Figurentheater LILARUM (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

Schönbrunn Advent Play (Schönbrunner Adventspiel)

Expand to see the parent tip

The Schönbrunner Adventspiel is an in-house production of the Marionettentheater in Schönbrunn Palace. Children playing in front of the Gloriette meet a mysterious woman who takes them through a gate into another time. There they meet three wise men following a star, the pregnant Mary and Joseph searching for an inn, and shepherds whose sheep are especially restless that night. The children decide to help themselves.

The play lasts about 40 minutes, is performed in German and, according to WienTourismus, is suitable for children ages four and up. Music, an angel choir and the finely made marionettes make it an atmospheric start to Advent, and it combines well with the Christmas market in front of the palace.

Parent tip: The exact start times are in the theater's ticket shop; info at +43 1 817 32 47.

Host
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace Marionette Theater), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Family Christmas event

Kids' Advent Tour (Kinder-Adventführung)

Expand to see the parent tip

Schönbrunn Zoo offers its own children's tour with a changing theme on all four Advent Sundays. On Nov 29 it goes to the 'Giants': elephants, hippos and rhinos. On Dec 6, under the motto 'Was frisst denn du?' (What do you eat?), it is all about the food of tigers, onagers and penguins. On Dec 13 it is 'Hoch aus dem Norden, da komm' ich her' (From high in the north I come) with the polar bear, Arctic wolves and reindeer, and on Dec 20 the nativity animals sheep, goats and cattle are the focus.

The tours start at 2:30 pm at the Infocenter by the Kassa Hietzing ticket office and last one hour. No registration is needed, the tour itself is free, and you only pay the normal zoo admission. Children need an adult companion.

Parent tip: The meeting point is the Infocenter by the Kassa Hietzing; if you have an annual pass, you skip the line. Pack warm clothes, as the route runs through the zoo outdoors. Expect the tour to be in German.

Host
Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schönbrunn Zoo, meeting point Infocenter at the Kassa Hietzing ticket office, Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas market

Children's Program at the Old Vienna Christkindlmarkt: Kasperl Puppet Theater (Kasperltheater)

Expand to see the parent tip

The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (Old Vienna Christmas market) on the Freyung is one of the oldest Christmas markets in the city and has its own stage on the market square. In December there is a children's puppet theater program there on several mornings at 10 am. The Puppenbühne Träumeland shows, for example, 'Kasperlinchen und das Weihnachtsfest der Tiere' and 'Kasperlinchen und der kleine Engel im Tannenwald', the Kasperlbühne des Hilfswerks plays 'Rentier Dancer sucht das Christkind' and 'Weihnachtshexe Befana zu Besuch in Kasperlhausen', and Puppet Inge comes with 'Kasperl und der gestohlene Weihnachtsbaum'. Kasperl is the classic Austrian hand puppet, similar to Punch.

The market is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm and offers crafts, nativity scenes and glass ornaments. The shows are held outdoors, so it is ideal for a morning with kindergarten-age children, followed by a stroll through the market.

Parent tip: Take the U3 to Herrengasse or the U2 to Schottentor; buses 1A and 2A stop right at the Freyung. The current day's program is also available as a folder to download on the website. Expect the shows to be in German.

Host
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (opens in a new tab)
Where
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung, 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Carol concert

KLASSIK COOL! Zuckerfee und Sternenstaub (Sugar Fairy and Stardust)

Expand to see the parent tip

In “Zuckerfee und Sternenstaub” from the KLASSIK COOL series, there is storytelling, singing and music-making. In autumn the hunter loses his red mitten, and soon an ant, a hare and some frogs settle in it for a cozy stay while winter turns the world quiet and white. Reflective pieces and Christmas songs round it out, to listen to, sing along with and join in.

The concert lasts 45 minutes and is for children ages 2 and up. It features storytelling, singing, recorders, percussion and piano, and afterward interested children may try the instruments themselves. A ticket costs €16 per person, and children need their own ticket from their second birthday.

Parent tip: Tickets are available at the box office at Haus der Musik or at wien-ticket.at. An earlier performance in this series sold out, so it pays to book in good time. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Haus der Musik (opens in a new tab)
Where
Haus der Musik, HdM Saal, Seilerstätte 30, 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Haus der Musik (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Carol concert

Bernhard Fibich: New Advent and Christmas Songs (Neue Advent- und Weihnachtslieder)

Expand to see the parent tip

Bernhard Fibich is a familiar name to many families in Vienna, and in Advent he comes back to the Haus der Musik. Instead of traditional holiday music, he brings songs he composed himself about Advent and Christmas, for singing along and joining in. The children are expressly invited to come up on stage.

The concerts take place on four Advent dates, each at 4 pm in the HdM Hall. According to the Haus der Musik, children of any age are welcome. A ticket costs €13, and children need their own ticket from their second birthday. Earlier Fibich concerts were often sold out, so it is worth booking early. The Haus der Musik is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, so the concert combines well with a museum visit.

Parent tip: Tickets at the box office in the Haus der Musik (daily 10 am to 10 pm) or via wien-ticket.at, plus a presale fee; no refunds or exchanges. Expect the concert to be in German.

Host
Haus der Musik (opens in a new tab)
Where
Haus der Musik, HdM Hall, Seilerstätte 30, 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Haus der Musik (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Saint Nicholas visit

Saint Nicholas Is Coming (Der Nikolaus kommt!)

Expand to see the parent tip

On Dec 6, Saint Nicholas comes to the Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn. Under the motto 'Kennst du die Geschichte vom Nikolaus?' (Do you know the story of Saint Nicholas?), children learn who Saint Nicholas was and get to meet him in person. According to WienTourismus, the Nikolo (as Austrians call him) drops by the museum that day, and the program runs from 10 am to 4 pm.

The offer is included in regular admission, which costs €12 each for adults and children ages three and up. Around the visit you can also do the winter riddle rally in the Children's Museum, play the search game 'Chaos in der Wichtelwerkstatt' or craft something Christmassy at Poldi's craft workshop for an extra charge. On weekends and holidays, according to WienTourismus, there is also the themed tour 'Wintergeschichten aus Schönbrunn' (Winter Stories from Schönbrunn) about imperial balls and sleigh rides.

Parent tip: The Children's Museum works with fixed entry times, so it is best to secure tickets online beforehand. Expect the program to be in German.

Host
Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Children's Museum Schönbrunn Palace (Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

Kasperl, Krampus, Saint Nicholas (Nikolaus) with a Visit from Saint Nicholas Afterward

Expand to see the parent tip

On the day after Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag), a particularly fitting play is on the program on the stage of the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt: Puppet Inge performs 'Kasperl, Krampus, Nikolaus'. Krampus is the horned companion of Saint Nicholas in Austrian tradition. According to the program, Saint Nicholas drops by in person afterward, a nice moment for all the children who still want to meet him this year.

The show begins at 10 am on the stage on the market square, so outdoors. Afterward you can stroll through the market with its crafts, nativity scenes and glass decorations, open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. For families looking for a quieter morning in the city center, Monday morning is a good choice. At 4:30 pm that day, the Tulbinger Turmbläser (tower brass players) perform on the same stage. If you stay longer, you can hear some Advent music too.

Parent tip: Dress warmly, because the stage is outdoors. Easy to reach with the U3 to Herrengasse, the U2 to Schottentor or buses 1A and 2A to Freyung. Expect the show to be in German.

Host
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (opens in a new tab)
Where
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung, 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Altwiener Christkindlmarkt (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

Advent Nativity Play: The Almtal Shepherd Ensemble Guest at Schönbrunn Palace (Advent Krippenspiel)

Expand to see the parent tip

On Dec 8 at 4 pm, the Almtaler Hirtenensemble (Almtal Shepherd Ensemble) from Scharnstein in Upper Austria is a guest at the Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn. For 26 years the group has performed its nativity play, which is spoken in dialect, humorous and expressly family friendly. Scenes from the Schönbrunner Adventspiel with marionettes and music by Christian Brandauer complement the story of the search for the Messiah.

The music of the old shepherd instruments is special and makes the play a real sound experience. At the end, blessed Advent bread is handed out to guests. It is a nice, quiet item for the holiday if you are planning an outing to Schönbrunn anyway. The theater is in Schönbrunn Palace, and the Christmas market in front of the palace is open that day too.

Parent tip: Tickets through the theater's website; info at +43 1 817 32 47. The holiday is usually busy at Schönbrunn, so arrive in good time. Expect the play to be in German dialect.

Host
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace Marionette Theater), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

Die Weihnachtshexe (The Christmas Witch)

Expand to see the parent tip

In the bright, pleasantly heated crypt of St. Peter's Church in the middle of the old town, the concert agency In höchsten Tönen presents the children's opera “Die Weihnachtshexe” with music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. It tells the Italian Christmas story of the Befana, the kindly witch who brings gifts on January 6. Here she arrives too late for the birth of the baby Jesus and meets the Three Kings, who are already on their way home.

Children experience opera in a small, cozy setting, and an introduction to the work prepares them for the adventure beforehand. According to WienTourismus, the piece is performed on Dec 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 26, so also on Christmas Eve and on St. Stephen's Day (Stefanitag, Dec 26). The crypt lies beneath St. Peter's Church on Petersplatz, just a few steps from the Graben.

Parent tip: Start times and tickets are in the schedule at inhoechstentoenen.com or by phone at +43 680 318 33 11. Expect it to be in German.

Host
In höchsten Tönen! (Oper in der Krypta) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Krypta der Peterskirche (Crypt of St. Peter's Church), Petersplatz 1, 1010 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with In höchsten Tönen! (Oper in der Krypta) (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas show

The Holy Night (Die heilige Nacht)

Expand to see the parent tip

The small Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum in Neubau performs 'Die heilige Nacht' (The Holy Night) at Christmastime, based on a story by Selma Lagerlöf. A man goes from house to house in the deep of night to borrow fire, because his wife has just given birth to a child, and both are meant to be warm. The quiet, touching story is told for children ages four and up.

It plays on several days just before Christmas, including Dec 24 at 11 am and 2 pm, handy for bridging the wait for the Christkind (the Christmas gift-bringer in Austria). Admission is €9 per person, and the plays usually run about 45 minutes with no break. Doors open ten minutes before the start. In January the theater shows 'Es klopft bei Wanja in der Nacht' (Someone Knocks at Wanja's Door at Night) again, a wintry animal story for ages three and up.

Parent tip: Reserve by email at apfelbaum@maerchenbuehne.at (Tue to Fri, 9 am to 1 pm) or by phone on weekends at +43 676 909 66 83; pick up reserved tickets up to 15 minutes before the start. Expect the show to be in German.

Host
Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum (opens in a new tab)
Where
Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum (The Apple Tree Fairy-Tale Theater), Kirchengasse 41, 1070 Vienna (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Christmas crafts

Christmas Eve at the Children's Museum (Heiliger Abend im Kindermuseum)

Expand to see the parent tip

The morning of Christmas Eve drags on endlessly for many children. That is why the Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn has its own Christmas program on Dec 24 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, meant to make the wait for the Christkind (the Christmas gift-bringer in Austria) easier, and at no extra cost on top of museum admission.

On this day Poldi's craft workshop is also open from 10 am to 5 pm, where for €6 per craft you can make a reindeer or a snowman, for example. The winter riddle rally and the search game in the elf workshop also run during this time. Admission is €12 each for adults and children ages three and up. The Children's Museum is easy to reach with the U4 to Schönbrunn, and the palace park is open that day too.

Parent tip: Book tickets with a fixed entry time online in advance. Afterward a walk through the Christmas market in front of the palace is a good idea, open until 4 pm on Dec 24.

Host
Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)
Where
Children's Museum Schönbrunn Palace (Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn), Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kindermuseum Schloss Schönbrunn (opens in a new tab)

New events in Vienna every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Vienna every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in Austria

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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

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.de (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Vienna: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Vienna?

For 2026, we confirmed 21 Christmas events for kids in Vienna, each on its host’s own page: Christmas Exhibition and Christmas Market 2026 at the Hirschstetten Flower Gardens (Blumengärten Hirschstetten), Christmas World at the Vienna Christkindlmarkt (Weihnachtswelt am Wiener Christkindlmarkt), Children's Program at the Old Vienna Christkindlmarkt: Kasperl Puppet Theater (Kasperltheater) and 18 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Vienna?

Yes, 3 of the 21 events here are free: Christmas World at the Vienna Christkindlmarkt (Weihnachtswelt am Wiener Christkindlmarkt), Puppet Theater Raumschiff: Kasperl, Krampus, Nikolo (Puppentheater Raumschiff) and Kids Baking Organic Cookies (Kinder Bio-Kekse backen). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Vienna?

Where to see Santa: Saint Nicholas Is Coming (Der Nikolaus kommt!). 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.

The story of Christmas in Vienna

Vienna's first Christmas stalls date back to 1626, and every year the giant tree in front of City Hall arrives from a different part of Austria. For families, the season has plenty of free and low-cost fun: a hands-on Christmas world, puppet shows, Saint Nicholas visits and children's concerts. This guide explains the traditions, the best-known events and how the 2026 season is laid out.

How Vienna celebrates Christmas, and what is different for a visiting family

Vienna does Christmas in many places at once. The best-known market, the Vienna Christkindlmarkt, stands in front of City Hall on Rathausplatz, with a tall tree in the middle. Other markets are spread around the city: in front of Schönbrunn Palace, at Karlsplatz, on the Freyung and at the old university campus. A child can visit a different one every weekend.

The market has deep roots. In 1626 the first Christmas stalls stood at the Graben and the Brandstätte, near St. Stephen's Cathedral. Bakers, gingerbread makers and confectioners sold their goods there. The market moved around the city for centuries, and it has been at Rathausplatz since 1975, after an underground garage was built at its old spot. In 2025 it celebrated its 50th Advent there.

For a visiting family, the big difference from some other cities is how much is made just for children: a market area with kid-height tables and children's punch, and a free children's ice rink at the City Hall market, plus puppet theaters and museums with their own programs.

What a child will meet at a Vienna Christmas: the Christkind, Saint Nicholas and Kasperl

The Christkind, which means Christ Child, is the figure Austrian children write wish letters to and wait for on Christmas Eve. The Christmas world at Rathausplatz even has a wish-letter box for it.

Saint Nicholas, called Nikolo or Nikolaus, is celebrated on December 6. In Vienna's old days he was the gift bringer: in the Josephine era he even brought children a green tree with small burning candles, and only later did the gifts move to Christmas Eve. In puppet shows he often appears with Krampus, a helper character, and with Kasperl, the cheerful hand puppet who stars in children's theater. Kasperl is similar to the Punch and Judy puppet.

There is also a nativity scene, a crib, beside the tree at City Hall. Brass players play from its roof every evening in the Advent season, and each year the Herzerlbaum, a lit tree in the Rathauspark, sends glowing hearts across the square.

As for food, the early market sellers were bakers and gingerbread makers, and today kids can get children's punch at the market's kid-sized tables.

Planning a Christmas visit to Vienna with kids

The 2026 season on this page opens early. The Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace starts on November 6 and the Christmas world at Rathausplatz on November 13, running to December 26. Most of the Advent events then run through December, and a few go on to Christmas Eve and just after, such as the children's opera on December 26.

Many events here are free. At Rathausplatz the hands-on stations, quiz sheets and children's ice rink cost nothing, though the carousel and Ferris wheel cost extra. There are free puppet shows at the Amerlinghaus, free baking for kids at the Bezirksmuseum Neubau, and free children's films at the Filmhaus Spittelberg. Others are ticketed, such as puppet theater, concerts at the Haus der Musik, and the Schönbrunn Palace marionette theater.

The mix is wide: markets, puppet shows, craft workshops, Saint Nicholas visits, concerts and a children's opera. Most events are in German, so check with the host if you need English. The Saint Nicholas days cluster around December 6 and 7, and the Christmas Eve programs are good for a family waiting for the Christkind.

The Christmas tree stories

A few fun tree facts for children. The first documented Christmas tree in Vienna, in 1814, stood in the home of a banker named Arnsteiner, and his wife Fanny is said to have introduced the custom in her salon. The tallest tree ever at Rathausplatz came from Styria in 1971 and was 39.4 meters high. In 1986 the square stayed without a tree on purpose, to draw attention to forests dying.

The Rathausplatz tree has come from a different Austrian state or from South Tyrol every year since 1959. In 2025 it was a 28 meter spruce from Hopfgarten in Tyrol that weighed 4.6 tons and was decorated with about 1,000 baubles and 2,000 lights. In 2026 the tree comes from Damüls in Vorarlberg and is 31 meters tall.

Traditions today

  • The Christmas tree at Rathausplatz: Since 1959 a different Austrian state, or sometimes South Tyrol, sends the tree every year. In 2026 it comes from Damüls in Vorarlberg and is 31 meters tall.
  • Vienna Christkindlmarkt at City Hall: The market has stood in front of City Hall since 1975. It has its own children's market with kid-height tables and children's punch.
  • The Herzerlbaum: A lit tree in the Rathauspark that, after dark, sends glowing hearts over the square every half hour.
  • Brass music from the nativity roof: In the 2025 program, brass players performed every evening at 7 and 8 pm for half an hour from the roof of the nativity scene by the tree.
  • Advent singing at City Hall: In 2025 the International Advent Singing took place for the 43rd time, with many choirs from Austria and abroad singing in the festival hall on Advent weekends.
  • Kasperl and Nikolo on the Freyung: At the Old Viennese Christmas Market there are puppet shows in the morning, and after a Kasperl, Krampus and Saint Nicholas play, Saint Nicholas himself visits.

A fact for kids

The Christmas tree in front of Vienna's City Hall travels from a different part of Austria every year. The tallest one ever was 39.4 meters high, taller than a building of ten floors.

Questions about Christmas in Vienna

Is Vienna worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes. Vienna has several markets with their own children's programs, puppet theaters, Saint Nicholas visits and children's concerts, and many of the events on this page are free. A hands-on Christmas world and a free children's ice rink at City Hall make it easy for families to plan a day.

When do the Christmas markets in Vienna open in 2026?

The Christmas market at Schönbrunn Palace opens on November 6, and the Christmas world at Rathausplatz and in the Rathauspark opens on November 13. The Rathausplatz world runs to December 26, daily from 10 am to 10 pm, and on December 24 until 6:30 pm. The Schönbrunn market continues until January 6.

Where can kids meet Santa or Saint Nicholas in Vienna?

Saint Nicholas, or Nikolo, visits the Schönbrunn Palace children's museum on Sunday, December 6, from 10 am to 4 pm, included with museum admission. On Monday, December 7 at 10 am he visits after a puppet show at the Old Viennese Christmas Market on the Freyung. He also appears in puppet shows at the Amerlinghaus.

Are there free Christmas events in Vienna?

Yes, many. At Rathausplatz the hands-on stations, quiz sheets and children's ice rink are free. There are also free puppet shows at the Amerlinghaus, free cookie baking for kids at the Bezirksmuseum Neubau (registration requested) and free children's films at Filmhaus Spittelberg. Zoo tours are free, but you pay the zoo's admission.

Are Christmas events in Vienna in English?

Most events are in German. Puppet shows and children's plays rely on the spoken word, so check with the host if you need English. Markets, ice rinks and lights are easy to enjoy in any language.

What is the Christkind?

The Christkind, or Christ Child, is the figure children in Austria write wish letters to and wait for on Christmas Eve. The Christmas world at Rathausplatz has a wish-letter box for it, and the Schönbrunn children's museum runs a Christmas Eve program to help kids wait.

Who are Nikolo and Krampus?

Nikolo is Saint Nicholas, and his day is December 6. Krampus is a helper character who appears with him in puppet shows. At the Old Viennese Christmas Market, for example, there is a play called Kasperl, Krampus and Saint Nicholas, followed by a visit from the saint.

What is Kasperl?

Kasperl is the cheerful hand puppet star of Austrian children's puppet theater, similar to Punch and Judy. Several Advent shows feature him, including puppet shows on the Freyung and at the Amerlinghaus.

What can kids do at the Christmas world at Rathausplatz?

Kids can do hands-on activity stations, fill in quiz sheets, put a wish letter in the box for the Christkind and skate on a free children's ice rink. The carousel and Ferris wheel cost extra. The market also has a children's area with kid-height tables and children's punch.

What can children do at Schönbrunn Palace at Christmas?

The Christmas market in front of the palace has a craft workshop, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and a synthetic ice rink that is free for children. The children's museum offers a Christmas craft workshop for 6 euros per piece, a Saint Nicholas visit on December 6 and a Christmas Eve program. The marionette theater has an Advent play for children from 4.

Where does the Christmas tree at Rathausplatz come from?

Since 1959 it comes from a different state of Austria, or from South Tyrol. In 2025 it was a 28 meter spruce from Hopfgarten in Tyrol, and in 2026 it comes from Damüls in Vorarlberg and is 31 meters tall. The very first one, in 1959, came from Carinthia and was 16 meters tall.

What is the Herzerlbaum?

It is a lit tree in the Rathauspark that is part of the Vienna Christkindlmarkt. After dark it sends glowing hearts across the square every half hour, and there is a photo spot called the Bussiplatz in front of it. In 2025 it was switched on together with the big tree on November 15.

How old is the Christmas market in Vienna?

The first documented Christmas stalls date to 1626 at the Graben and Brandstätte near St. Stephen's Cathedral. The market has been at Rathausplatz since 1975, and in 2025 it celebrated its 50th Advent there. The city says there was no medieval Christmas market in Vienna.

Why did the Vienna Christmas market move to Rathausplatz?

In 1975 an underground garage was built at the Messepalast, where the market had stood, so it moved to Rathausplatz. Before that it had moved many times, including the Freyung, Am Hof, the Neubaugürtel and in front of the cathedral.

When did Vienna get its first Christmas tree?

Police records mention a tree at the banker Arnsteiner's home in 1814, and his wife Fanny is said to have introduced it in her salon. In 1816 a princess set one up in a palace, and the emperor then had a tree with candles decorated at the Hofburg.

Why was there no Christmas tree at Rathausplatz in 1986?

The square stayed without a tree on purpose in 1986, to draw attention to the dying of forests. It is a good way to talk about forests with kids. In every other year since 1959 a tree has come from a different state or from South Tyrol.

What happens to the Rathausplatz tree after Christmas?

The city's history wiki says the trees are not simply thrown away. They are used to produce electricity and district heating, so the tree that lights up Advent also helps heat Vienna homes afterward.

What is the tallest tree ever at Rathausplatz?

The record tree came from Styria in 1971 and was 39.4 meters tall. For comparison, the 2025 tree from Tyrol was 28 meters, and the 2026 tree from Vorarlberg is 31 meters.

Are there puppet shows for kids in Vienna at Christmas?

Yes. There are Kasperl puppet shows at the Old Viennese Christmas Market on several December mornings, a puppet version of The Holy Night for children from 4 at the Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum for 9 euros, and a puppet play from age 3 at Lilarum. The Amerlinghaus has free puppet shows.

Are there Christmas concerts for kids in Vienna?

Yes. At the Haus der Musik, Austrian children's songwriter Bernhard Fibich gives sing-along Advent concerts on December 6, 12, 13 and 20 at 4 pm for 13 euros. A 45 minute interactive Christmas concert, Sugar Plum Fairy and Stardust, plays on December 5, 12 and 22 for 16 euros. Children need their own ticket from their second birthday.

What is the Befana?

The Befana is a Christmas witch from an Italian legend. A children's opera set to Mendelssohn's music tells her story in the crypt of the Peterskirche on December 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 and 26, 2026. It is a different kind of Christmas story for kids who already know the Christkind.

What can we do in Vienna on Christmas Eve with kids?

The Rathausplatz Christmas world is open until 6:30 pm on December 24. The Schönbrunn children's museum has a Christmas Eve program from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, the Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum plays The Holy Night at 11 am and 2 pm, and the Christmas Witch opera is on that day too. The Lilarum puppet show runs until December 24.

Can kids bake Christmas cookies in Vienna?

Yes. A free organic cookie baking workshop for kids takes place at the Bezirksmuseum Neubau on Sundays, December 6 and 13, from 3 pm to 6 pm. Registration is requested. It is part of the Spittelberg market program.

Sources

  1. Weihnachtsbaum für den Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz kommt 2025 aus Tirol, vienna.at
  2. Christkindlmarkt am Wiener Rathausplatz: Programm und Highlights 2025, vienna.at
  3. History of the Christmas market, Stadt Wien
  4. Weihnachtsbaum, Wien Geschichte Wiki (Stadt Wien)
  5. Altwiener Christkindlmarkt auf der Freyung, Altwiener Markt
Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Christmas Events for Kids in Warsaw (2026)
Next

Christmas Events for Kids in Verona (2026)