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By Michael Gonzales · Updated October 21, 2026
Boston's biggest free Christmas event in 2026 is the Boston Common Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. For ticketed shows, Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker runs November 27 to December 31, Holiday Pops plays Symphony Hall December 3 to 24, and Midwinter Revels runs December 11 to 28 in Cambridge.
If you're coming for one of those, book the hotel first. Tree-lighting week and the weekends before Christmas fill early. You can check Boston hotels for December 3 to 5 on Expedia.
What Christmas events are on in Boston in 2026?
Here's everything the organizers have confirmed for this season, in date order. Each event links to our page with the full details.
| Dates (2026) | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 20 to Dec. 27 | SoWa Christmas Market | SoWa Power Station, South End | $10; kids 12 and under free |
| Nov. 23, 5 to 6 p.m. | Trellis lighting, Christopher Columbus Park | North End waterfront | Free |
| Nov. 27 to 29 | Handel and Haydn Society: Messiah | Symphony Hall | Ticketed |
| Nov. 27 to Dec. 31 | Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker | Citizens Opera House, Theatre District | Ticketed |
| Nov. 28, 5 to 6 p.m. | Lighting of the ship, Martin's Park | Fort Point Channel, Seaport | Free |
| Nov. 30, 5 to 6 p.m. | Copley Square Tree Lighting | Copley Square, Back Bay | Free |
| Dec. 3, 6 to 8 p.m. | Boston Common Tree Lighting | Boston Common, 139 Tremont St. | Free |
| Dec. 3 to 24 | Holiday Pops | Symphony Hall | Ticketed |
| Dec. 11 to 28 | Midwinter Revels | Sanders Theatre, Cambridge | $47 to $107 |
| Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve and First Night | Citywide | Mostly free |
Dates come from the City of Boston, Boston Ballet, the BSO, Handel and Haydn, Revels and SoWa (sources below). Times can change, so check the organizer's page before you go.
When is the Boston Common Tree Lighting in 2026?
Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., next to the Visitor Information Center at 139 Tremont Street. It's free. The City of Boston hosts it with the Province of Nova Scotia, which has sent Boston a tree every year to thank the city for its help after the 1917 Halifax Explosion.
At about 8:15 p.m., the lights along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall switch on too, from Arlington Street to Charlesgate. It's a short walk across the Public Garden, so you can see both in one night. Get there early if you want to be near the stage.
What holiday shows can you see in Boston?
Three shows are the classics, and all of them sell out the popular dates:
- The Nutcracker. Boston Ballet's production runs November 27 to December 31, 2026, at the Citizens Opera House on Washington Street. The Boston Ballet Orchestra plays every performance, and a show lasts about two hours with one intermission. Buy from Boston Ballet, which says it's the only official seller.
- Holiday Pops. The Boston Pops play 32 performances at Symphony Hall from December 3 to 24, most at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on bso.org.
- Midwinter Revels. This year's show, An American Celebration of the Solstice, runs December 11 to 28 at Harvard's Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. Revels lists tickets from $47 to $107, sold through the Harvard Box Office.
For something older, the Handel and Haydn Society performs Messiah at Symphony Hall over Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 to 29.
Getting to Symphony Hall? Symphony station on the Green Line E branch is closed for renovation until spring 2029. The BSO suggests Prudential or Northeastern on the E branch, or the Orange Line to Massachusetts Avenue.
Where are the Christmas markets in Boston?
The big one is the SoWa Christmas Market, indoors at the SoWa Power Station, 550 Harrison Avenue in the South End. It runs from November 20 to December 27, 2026, with more than 100 regional makers and food vendors.
Admission is $10, kids 12 and under get in free, and it's closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Re-entry isn't allowed, so eat before you go or plan to eat there.
Where can you see Christmas lights in Boston?
Start with the city's lightings. The trellis at Christopher Columbus Park lights on November 23, Martin's Park's ship on November 28, Copley Square on November 30 and the Common on December 3.
After that, the Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall stay lit, which makes an easy evening walk through Back Bay. Our December in Boston guide has more ideas for the month.
Where should you stay for Christmas events in Boston?
Pick the neighborhood by the event you care most about:
| If you're going to | Stay in | Hotels to look at |
|---|---|---|
| The tree lighting or The Nutcracker | Downtown / Theatre District | Omni Parker House, Revere Hotel Boston Common |
| Holiday Pops, Copley Square or the Comm Ave lights | Back Bay | Fairmont Copley Plaza, The Lenox |
| Waterfront lightings and the North End | Waterfront | Boston Marriott Long Wharf, Boston Harbor Hotel |
Live rates for the busiest dates:
- Tree-lighting night: Boston hotels, December 3 to 5
- Mid-December weekend: Back Bay hotels, December 11 to 13
- The weekend before Christmas: downtown hotels, December 18 to 20
Our Boston hotels by neighborhood guide compares the areas in more detail.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest Christmas event in Boston? The Boston Common Tree Lighting, on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. It's free and followed at about 8:15 p.m. by the Commonwealth Avenue Mall lights.
When does The Nutcracker run in Boston in 2026? Boston Ballet performs The Nutcracker from November 27 to December 31, 2026, at the Citizens Opera House.
When is Holiday Pops 2026? December 3 to 24, 2026, at Symphony Hall, with 32 performances, mostly at 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Are there free Christmas events in Boston? Yes. The tree lightings at Christopher Columbus Park (Nov. 23), Martin's Park (Nov. 28), Copley Square (Nov. 30) and Boston Common (Dec. 3) are all free.
Is there a Christmas market in Boston? Yes. The SoWa Christmas Market runs November 20 to December 27, 2026, at the SoWa Power Station in the South End. Admission is $10, and kids 12 and under are free.
What's open in Boston on Christmas Day? Many shows and the SoWa market close. Holiday Pops ends December 24, and The Nutcracker skips December 25. Check the restaurant or attraction directly before you plan the day.
Sources
City of Boston: Boston Common Tree Lighting · City of Boston: Copley Square Tree Lighting · City of Boston: Trellis Lighting · City of Boston: Lighting of the Ship · Boston Ballet: The Nutcracker · BSO: Holiday Pops 2026 · Revels: Midwinter Revels 2026 · Handel and Haydn Society: Messiah · SoWa Winter Festival. Checked October 21, 2026.