Christmas in Alicante 2026: Market, Lights, Belén & What's Open

Christmas in Alicante is more about lights, nativity scenes and lunch in the sun than a big German-style market. The Christmas market is small, a couple of dozen wooden stalls on Paseo de Federico Soto, but the city goes all in on lights, and the giant Belén in Plaza del Ayuntamiento is genuinely worth the trip. Days are around 17°C, so you can do most of it in a jumper.

Quick facts

• Christmas market: Paseo de Federico Soto. Dates TBD. Based on last year, expect it to open around early December and run until about 6 January
• Lights switch-on: Date TBD. Last year it was Friday 21 November, so expect around Friday 20 November 2026 (the third Friday of the month). Not confirmed yet
• Giant Belén: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Guinness record holder for the largest nativity figures
• New Year's Eve: free street party where the Rambla meets Portal de Elche. Programme TBD, last year it ran 23:00 to 04:00
• Three Kings parade: evening of 5 January. Start time TBD, last year it set off at about 19:00
• Weather: December averages 17.7°C by day and 7.4°C at night (AEMET). Our winter packing guide has what to bring

The 2026-27 programme isn't out yet, so every date below is TBD and based on last year's (the 2025-26 programme). The new one usually comes out in November, so check the council's Christmas page before you travel.

Alicante Christmas market 2026: where, when, and is it any good?

The main market is on Paseo de Federico Soto in the city centre. Dates for 2026 are TBD. Based on last year, expect it to open around early December and run until about 6 January. Last season it had 24 stalls selling handmade crafts, costume jewellery, leather goods and second-hand books. Opening hours are TBD too. In the 2024-25 programme they were 10:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 23:00.

The same paseo also hosted the Mercat de la Cascarrutja with the Porrat Nadalenc, a traditional Christmas market, from 20 to 24 December last season. The 2026 dates are TBD.

Honest verdict: it's small. If you're expecting Christmas markets like Germany or Manchester, with mulled wine and food stalls everywhere, you'll be done in twenty minutes. One stallholder told El Español that foreign visitors are their best customers, which tells you something. Treat it as a nice stop on a walk round the lights, not the reason for the trip. For proper present shopping, El Corte Inglés is the big department store in town.

The Christmas lights

This is where Alicante makes the effort. In 2025 the city switched on 2.6 million LED lights across 130 locations, with 557 arches, 1,800 metres of garlands and an 18-metre tree on Avenida de la Constitución. The centre was lit in a warm champagne colour, with new arches on Avenida Alfonso el Sabio. The switch-on was on Friday 21 November at 19:00 and drew about 4,000 people, according to the council. The 2026 switch-on date is TBD. Based on last year, expect it around Friday 20 November, but that's a guess until the council announces it.

Giant angel figures also mark the routes into the centre, including on Avenida General Marvá and at Plaza de Toros, and there were three snowy-looking giant fir trees on General Marvá.

Best walk: start at Avenida de la Constitución after dark, cut through to the Rambla, then down to Plaza del Ayuntamiento for the Belén. Allow an hour, more if you stop for a drink.

The giant Belén (nativity scene)

Alicante's Belén Monumental has held the Guinness World Record for the largest nativity figures since 2020. When Guinness measured them, San José was 18.10 metres tall, the Virgin Mary 10.58 metres and the baby Jesus 3.32 metres. A grown adult comes up to about San José's ankle. Details are on the council's Guinness announcement.

It stands in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which was closed to traffic from 23 November to 7 January last season. Closure dates for 2026 are TBD, so expect something similar. It was inaugurated with a light and sound show. Pop into the town hall entrance hall too, where the local belenistas association builds a more traditional nativity, and check out the scenes at La Montañeta.

Is there an ice rink?

Not one you can count on. There's been a rink down by the port in some past years, but the council's 2025-26 programme didn't list one. If one appears for 2026, it'll be in the programme in November.

Christmas with kids

• Casita de San Nicolás: Santa's house in Plaza Séneca, Dates TBD. Last year it was open from late November to 24 December. You book a slot on the council website and they go fast. Last year 5,471 of the 5,950 slots went within four hours.
• Christmas tree ride: a 13-metre tree in Parque de Canalejas that you float around on, open 28 November to 7 January last season. 2026 dates TBD.
• Funfairs: a children's fair in Plaza Séneca, and the bigger "caballitos" fair in Rabasa, which ran until 18 January last year. 2026 dates TBD.
• Campamento Real: the Royal Camp of the Kings' messengers in Plaza de Gabriel Miró. Dates TBD. Last year it ran from 26 December to 4 January. Also bookable online.

Other Christmas dates to know

• 6 December: procession for San Nicolás, the city's patron saint, plus a Moors and Christians parade. Times TBD.
• Mid-December: carol contest on Avenida de la Constitución, and "Fogueres en Nadal", a Christmas bonfire monument in Plaza de la Montañeta. Dates TBD. Last year it was burned on 21 December.
• December weekends: "Tardeos Navideños", live music and DJs at the bullring. Days and times TBD. Last year it was Thursday to Sunday.
• Late December: a special Christmas bus line linking the main sights. Dates TBD. Last year it ran from 22 December until 6 January, every ten minutes or so from 9:00 to 22:30.
• 31 December: New Year's Eve party at the Rambla and Portal de Elche, with free grapes. Times TBD. Last year it ran 23:00 to 04:00. See our New Year's Eve guide.
• 5 January: the Three Kings parade. Start time TBD, last year it set off at about 19:00. Our Three Kings parade guide has the route.

What's open on Christmas Day?

25 December is a public holiday, so most shops close, and so does the Mercado Central. Restaurants are mixed. Many open for Christmas lunch, often with a set menu, but book ahead and don't assume. The 24th, Nochebuena, is the big family night in Spain, so some places close early that evening.

Some Christmas attractions do run on the day. In the 2024-25 programme the children's fair in Plaza Séneca opened from 17:00 to 21:30 on Christmas Day. Hours for 2026 are TBD. If you want a pint and some company, an Irish pub like O'hara Irish Pub is a decent bet, but check it's open first.

Where to eat and drink

A long December lunch is the best bit of Christmas here. Nou Manolín is the classic place to take visitors, and Racó del Pla is a good shout for rice and seafood. Book both for December weekends. Stay in Alicante centre and everything here is walkable, or use the tram if you're based up the coast. Flying in? The airport bus gets you into the centre in about half an hour, and our airport to city centre guide has the times and fares (or see airport to Torrevieja if you're staying down the coast).

If you're torn between here and Benidorm for the holidays, our Christmas in Benidorm guide is the noisier alternative, and Benidorm or Alicante? compares the two properly. It's an easy day trip either way: the tram to Benidorm takes about 75 minutes.

FAQ

Where is the Christmas market in Alicante?

On Paseo de Federico Soto in the city centre. The 2026 dates are TBD. Based on last year, expect it to open around early December and run until about 6 January. Last season it had 24 stalls of crafts, jewellery, leather and books.

Is the Alicante Christmas market worth visiting?

It's worth a look on a walk round the lights, but it's small. Don't plan a trip around it.

When are the Alicante Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

The date is TBD. In 2025 they went on on Friday 21 November at 19:00 on Avenida de la Constitución, so expect around Friday 20 November in 2026. That's a guess until the council announces it.

Is Alicante busy at Christmas?

The centre is busy in the evenings, especially at weekends, with locals out for the lights. It's lively, not overwhelming.

Is anything open on Christmas Day in Alicante?

Most shops are shut. Many restaurants open for lunch but book ahead, and some kids' attractions run in the afternoon.

Come for the lights and the lunches, not the market.

Planning the rest of the winter? See December · January · February