In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in Helsinki: Senate Square, Christmas Street and the Lucia procession
In the short days of a Nordic winter, Helsinki turns to light. Aleksanterinkatu becomes Christmas Street, a carousel turns in front of the white cathedral on Senate Square, Lucia leads a candlelit procession on 13 December, and the season closes with Lux Helsinki’s light art at the turn of the year.
Updated October 2026
The Christmas market on Senate Square
Helsinki’s oldest outdoor Christmas market, Tuomaan Markkinat, fills Senate Square from 27 November to 22 December 2026, open 11am–7pm Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, and to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the city’s events listing. Wooden huts sell Finnish crafts, wool and candles, a vintage carousel turns at the centre, and the cathedral looks down from its steps.
In past years Manta’s Christmas market around the Havis Amanda statue on the Esplanade and weekend markets at Teurastamo and Hakaniemi have added to the season; their dates are published by the city in the autumn.
Christmas Street
Helsinki’s Christmas season officially begins with the lighting of Christmas Street on Aleksanterinkatu in late November, when the lights are switched on along the street to Senate Square and the Esplanade park lights up too. The opening, with a parade and music, draws thousands into the centre; the 2026 date is announced by the city in the autumn.
Lucia, glögi and the sauna
On Lucia Day, 13 December, Helsinki’s Lucia, crowned with candles, leads a procession from Helsinki Cathedral through the city centre, a Finnish tradition since the 1950s. In the cafés and restaurants, December means glögi, the spiced mulled drink, gingerbread and the Christmas table, and many of the city’s best restaurants serve special Christmas lunches through the month.
Our advice: end a cold afternoon at one of Helsinki’s public saunas, which stay open through the holidays.
New Year’s Eve and Lux Helsinki
Helsinki has welcomed the New Year on Senate Square since the 1930s, with music, greetings and fireworks at midnight. The season then ends in light: Lux Helsinki, the city’s festival of light art, spreads across landmarks, parks and streets over eight days at the turn of the year, finishing on 6 January 2027. For the first time it begins before New Year’s Eve, so you can see the New Year in among the installations; the programme is announced late in the year.
Questions and answers
When is the Helsinki Christmas Market 2026?
Tuomaan Markkinat is on Senate Square from 27 November to 22 December 2026.
When is Lucia Day in Helsinki?
On 13 December, with a candlelit procession from Helsinki Cathedral.
When is Lux Helsinki 2027?
Over eight days at the turn of the year, ending on 6 January 2027.
Join the conversation
Spent Christmas in Helsinki? Share your favourite market, sauna or Christmas lunch.
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Dates are from the City of Helsinki, Helsinki Partners and Lux Helsinki, read in October 2026. Check the official sites before you travel.