The Union Square Holiday Market 2026 opens on Thursday, November 12, and runs through Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, in Union Square Park in Manhattan. Entry is free, and the market brings together 185 vendors selling gifts made by local craftspeople, artists and entrepreneurs. The market is open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, and closes early, at 4 p.m., on Christmas Eve.
Key details
- Market: Union Square Holiday Market 2026, run by Urbanspace
- Dates: Thursday, November 12 to Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Hours: Sun-Wed 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thu-Fri 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26; Christmas Eve closes at 4 p.m.
- Location: Union Square Park, East 14th Street, Manhattan
- Admission: Free
- Vendors: 185 local makers, artists and food vendors
- Getting there: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains to 14th Street-Union Square
Union Square Holiday Market 2026 dates, hours and admission
The dates are the first thing to get right, because the market’s opening day is the day after this guide publishes. The season runs from November 12 to December 24, which gives shoppers six full weeks, including the Thanksgiving weekend and the final pre-Christmas rush. The one day to avoid is Thanksgiving itself, when the market is closed. Christmas Eve is the last chance to shop, with an early 4 p.m. close.
Hours follow a simple pattern that is worth memorizing before a visit. Weekday evenings run later on Thursdays and Fridays, when the market stays open until 9 p.m., while Sunday through Wednesday it closes at 8 p.m. Saturdays open earliest, at 10 a.m., and also run until 9 p.m. Admission is free, and there is no ticket or reservation to enter, which makes it an easy stop to add to a day that already includes other holiday sights.
Urbanspace, which has run New York City markets since 1993, describes Union Square as the city’s longest-running holiday market, and its official page notes that the market was named the best holiday market in America in 2023. That reputation rests on the mix of stalls rather than on size alone. The red-and-white kiosks fill the south side of Union Square Park, and most of what is sold there is made by small, independent businesses rather than national chains.
What is new at the Union Square Holiday Market in 2026?
The biggest change this year is a first-ever partnership with Made in NYC, the nonprofit initiative that supports local manufacturers and makers in New York City. Each week during the market, a different Made in NYC vendor takes a featured booth for a seven-day residency, so the lineup changes through the season and repeat visits turn up different makers. Silly Sketched Pets holds the first residency, from November 12 to 18, and SloGlo follows in week four, from December 4 to 10. The full rotation is set out in the Urbanspace holiday markets announcement.
Two other firsts are worth knowing about. Visitors can also find limited-edition merchandise designed in partnership with NYC Parks, and, for the first time at the Union Square market, wine and beer are available while shopping. Neither changes the character of the market, but both give regulars a reason to come back after opening week.
What to shop for at Union Square Holiday Market
The market is built for working through a gift list rather than for a single big purchase. Expect handmade jewelry, ceramics, prints and artwork, apparel and accessories, candles, home goods and toys, alongside seasonal food stalls. The food is part of the draw on a cold evening, with hot drinks and warming snacks among the stalls, and the aisles are at their most atmospheric after dark, when the lights come on.
A few highlighted vendors show the range. Hudson Valley Seed Company, rooted on an organic farm in the Hudson Valley, sells seeds and plant products for gardeners. Fan-Fan Donuts, a 2025 James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery, makes small-batch yeast donuts under Chef Fany Gerson, and this is its only location in Manhattan. Fro, a Brooklyn-based Danish bread company, is popping up at the market for the first time. The MB Edit, from former fashion editor Marybeth Schmitt, offers a curated selection of vintage finds, silk scarves, statement jewelry and accessories. Shoppers looking for the newest names should check the Made in NYC booth first, since its vendor changes every week.
A practical approach helps. Arrive with a short list of people to buy for, walk the full market once before buying anything, and then go back to the stalls that stood out. The best time for unhurried browsing is a weekday morning near opening, at 11 a.m., when the aisles are quietest. Weekends, especially Saturday afternoons and the final weekend before Christmas, are the busiest, and the stalls are close together, so a small bag and comfortable shoes make the visit easier.
How to get to Union Square Holiday Market and when to go
The market sits in Union Square Park at East 14th Street, on the south side of the park, and the simplest way to reach it is by subway. The 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains all stop at 14th Street-Union Square, directly under the park. Driving is not recommended: parking around Union Square is limited, and the streets fill up on holiday weekends.
Timing matters more than transport. Opening day, November 12, is a good day for a first look, before the crowds build, and weekday mornings are the calmest time to shop. Anyone visiting in the final week should expect lines at the food stalls and slower movement through the aisles, and should plan to arrive by late morning. The market is outdoors, so check the weather and dress for standing outside; a rainy day is quieter, but the stalls are open in most weather.
Union Square also works as the middle stop in a longer holiday day. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, with more than 180 holiday shops and free ice skating, is a short subway ride north, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, lit on December 2, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, running through January 4, are both in Midtown. Starting at Union Square in the morning and heading north in the afternoon covers three of the city’s biggest holiday draws in one day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Union Square Holiday Market free to enter?
Yes. There is no admission charge and no ticket is needed. Individual stalls set their own prices for gifts and food.
Is the Union Square Holiday Market open on Thanksgiving Day?
No. The market is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026. It reopens the following day on its regular hours.
What are the Union Square Holiday Market hours?
Sunday to Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Christmas Eve, December 24, the market closes early at 4 p.m.
The practical next step is to check the official Union Square Holiday Market page before visiting, confirm the hours for the day, and plan to arrive at Union Square Park, East 14th Street, by 11 a.m. on a weekday for the quietest first visit of the season.
