Boston Christmas Markets 2026: Seaport and SoWa

There are two markets worth your time here, and they couldn’t be more different. One’s outdoors on the harbour and free to walk into, the other’s tucked inside an old brick power station with a small entry fee. They’re a short ride apart, so you don’t have to choose. Browse the indoor one while it’s still light, then finish by the water after dark, when the lights are on and the bars are busy.

Boston Christmas and Holiday Markets 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Boston dates: 6th November to 27th December 2026 (dates vary by market, see below).
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in May. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

1. Seaport Christmas Market

Snowport fills a corner of the Seaport with more than 130 independent businesses, most of them from New England. It’s free to walk in every day, and on weekends there’s an optional paid fast pass if you’d rather skip the queue. Expect themed bars, including one where it snows indoors, a heated warming tent, iceless curling and around 17 food spots, with hot lobster rolls among them. There’s no skating at the market itself. It’s outdoors by the water, so dress for the wind, and weekday evenings are the quietest.

Status: Confirmed
Dates: 6th November to 27th December 2026

Read the complete Seaport Christmas Market guide.

2. SoWa Winter Market

Now called the SoWa Christmas Market, this one’s entirely indoors, inside a brick power station from the late 1800s in the South End. More than 100 New England makers and specialty food producers sell jewellery, prints, knitwear and pantry gifts, and most of them made what they sell. There’s a small entry fee, children 12 and under get in free, and it’s closed on Mondays. Bring cash, and leave time for dinner in the neighbourhood afterwards.

Status: Confirmed
Dates: 20th November to 27th December 2026

Read the complete SoWa Winter Market guide.

Recommended Tours

The Freedom Trail walk takes the revolutionary sites in the order they actually happened, in a small group, over two and a half hours. Boston’s holiday markets are scattered rather than clustered, so this gives the day a spine to hang them off. Morning walk, markets on the way back.

Additional Festive Events

Find winter travel inspiration at the Best Christmas Markets in Europe.

• Harvard Square Holiday Fair: One of the area’s longest-running fairs, held across two December weekends in Harvard Square, Cambridge. It’s juried, so the stalls belong to regional craftspeople and importers selling pottery, jewellery, prints, carved wood and handmade chocolate. Fair website.
• Winter on the Waterfront: Boston Harbor Now’s winter programme of harbour walks, cruises and skating events. Most of it runs after Christmas, from January to March. See what’s on.

See where Boston ranks among the best US Christmas markets this winter.

What to Expect

• Local makers: Most stalls at both markets belong to small New England businesses, and plenty of the sellers made what’s on the table.
• Outdoors or indoors: Snowport’s out in the open by the harbour, so wrap up for the wind. SoWa sits under one roof, which makes it the safer bet on a sleety night.
• Food and drink: Snowport has the bigger food line-up, from hot lobster rolls to dumplings, plus themed bars and a heated tent. At SoWa, look for small-batch sauces, sweets and other pantry gifts to take home.
• Gifts: Think jewellery, knitwear built for a New England winter, prints of the city and ceramics, rather than mass-made decorations.
• Crowds: Weekend evenings are the busiest at both markets. A weeknight after work gives you room to actually talk to the stallholders.

Responsible Travel Ideas

• Take the T: The Silver Line runs from South Station to the Seaport and along the South End, and the centre’s easy to walk, so there’s no need for a car. Parking near both markets is limited anyway.
• Buy from the maker: Most stalls at both markets are independent New England businesses, so your money goes straight to the person who made the thing.