Banff City Guide
The Banff Christmas Market fills the Banff Heritage Train Station with more than 200 vendors, mulled wine and a light show across four weekends in late 2026. This page lists the dates and hours, every ticket type in dollars, parking, the food and mug system, the kids' programme, and which ticket suits which visitor. For the wider season, see Christmas in Banff. The rest of the town is on Banff City Guide.
Quick answer Dates, prices and parking at a glance
The Banff Christmas Market runs Thursday to Sunday across four weekends, November 19 to December 13, 2026, at the Banff Heritage Train Station, 327 Railway Ave. Adult entry on a Saturday or Sunday costs $11.71 (C$16.50) plus 5% GST and fees. Thursday hours are 5pm-9pm, Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. There is a free parking lot for up to 500 vehicles at the station, which is a 5-minute walk from downtown.
Key takeaways
- Plan the whole season with Christmas in Banff.
- Add a horse-drawn sleigh ride before or after your market slot.
- Ride the Banff Gondola for the summit lights the same day.
- Driving? Read the parking lot details.
Tours to Pair With the Banff Christmas Market
The market takes an evening or an afternoon, which leaves time for a winter tour the same day. These are the winter picks that fit around a market slot, with tour prices as listed by the tour operators. For the rest of the day see things to do in Banff, every tour on Banff tours and the hotel areas on where to stay.
Listed at checkout
Banff Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride
A 40-minute sleigh ride through the snowy meadows below Cascade Mountain, wool blankets, then a fireside hot drink at the stables.
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Listed at checkout
Banff Christmas Foodie Walking Tour
A 3-hour guided walk through Banff at Christmas, tasting winter dishes, holiday treats and Christmas-spiced cocktails, ten guests at most.
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from $68.04
Banff Gondola Ride Admission
The ride up Sulphur Mountain to the ridge boardwalk, booked as a timed ticket; summit boardwalk and cosmic ray station included.
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from $79.45
Johnston Canyon Icewalk
The frozen canyon after dark or dawn: ice cleats, headlamps and a guide to the frozen Upper Falls.
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from $66.97
The Banff Stargazing Walking Tour
A two-hour walking tour under the dark-sky corridor with a guide telling the constellations and the park's night rules.
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from $85.23
Lake Louise Winterland from Banff
A guided day at frozen Lake Louise with free time on the ice, snowshoes, snacks and hotel pickup in Banff.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. Dollar figures are the listed prices. The platform bills in your account's currency.
2026 Dates and Opening Hours
The Banff Christmas Market runs 15 market days over four weekends in 2026, Thursday to Sunday each weekend. Hours differ by day, and there is no Thursday market in the second weekend. The times below come from the market's own FAQ page.
The first weekend opens with Twinkle Night on Thursday November 19 and runs to Sunday November 22. The second weekend has no Thursday market, so it runs Friday November 27 to Sunday November 29 only. On Thursday November 26 the station hosts a workshop but no market.
The third weekend runs Thursday December 3 to Sunday December 6 and the fourth runs Thursday December 10 to Sunday December 13. That is the end of the market. It does not run over Christmas itself.
| Weekend | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19-22 | Nov 19, 5pm-9pm (Twinkle Night) | Nov 20, 11am-9pm | Nov 21, 10am-9pm | Nov 22, 10am-6pm |
| Nov 27-29 | No market (Nov 26 workshop only) | Nov 27, 11am-9pm | Nov 28, 10am-9pm | Nov 29, 10am-6pm |
| Dec 3-6 | Dec 3, 5pm-9pm (Community Thursday) | Dec 4, 11am-9pm | Dec 5, 10am-9pm | Dec 6, 10am-6pm |
| Dec 10-13 | Dec 10, 5pm-9pm (Community Thursday) | Dec 11, 11am-9pm | Dec 12, 10am-9pm | Dec 13, 10am-6pm |
One detail matters for shoppers. The two indoor shopping zones inside the station close at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, even though the outdoor areas stay open until 9pm. If indoor browsing is your priority on a Friday or Saturday, arrive well before 8pm.
On Thursdays and Sundays the whole market closes with the posted hours.
Source: Banff Christmas Market FAQ.
Ticket Types and Prices Compared
The market sells seven ticket types plus two packages, and the cheapest way in depends on the day and time you want. All prices below are the market's own posted Canadian prices, shown in US dollars first. Every price is before 5% GST, processing fees and a $0.71 (C$1) environmental fee.
Single-day tickets use 20-minute arrival timeslots. Once inside you can stay as long as you like, but you cannot leave and come back on the same ticket.
- Age bands are Adult 11-64, Senior 65+, Youth 3-10 and Child 0-2 free.
- Family Friday Package: 2 adults plus 2 youth for $21.30 (C$30), online only.
- The More The Merrier: 8 adult tickets plus a $17.74 (C$25) food-and-drink voucher for $93.70 (C$132), Saturday or Sunday, online only.
- Registered caregivers enter free.
- Youth ticket proceeds go to Shine Foundation, Banff YWCA and Star 6 Ranch Foundation.
- Ticketing runs on Showpass.
| Ticket | When | Adult | Senior | Youth 3-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twinkle Night | Thu Nov 19, 5pm-9pm | $5.32 (C$7.50) | $4.26 (C$6) | $1.77 (C$2.50) |
| Community Thursday | Thu Dec 3 and Dec 10, 5pm-9pm | By donation, suggested $3.55 (C$5) per person | By donation | By donation |
| Friday Daytime | Fri 11am-3pm | $7.10 (C$10) | $5.68 (C$8) | $3.55 (C$5) |
| Friday Evening | Fri 3pm-9pm | $10.65 (C$15) | $8.52 (C$12) | $3.55 (C$5) |
| Saturday or Sunday | Sat or Sun, all hours | $11.71 (C$16.50) | $10.29 (C$14.50) | $4.97 (C$7) |
| Weekend Pass | Unlimited entry, one weekend, no timeslot | $28.40 (C$39.95) | $23.40 (C$32.95) | $4.97 (C$7) |
| Season Pass | All 15 market days | $70.30 (C$99) | $70.30 (C$99) | $4.97 (C$7) |
The packages work for two kinds of groups. Family Friday bundles two adults and two youth at $21.30 (C$30) and is sold online only, which undercuts buying the four tickets separately on a Friday. The More The Merrier bundles eight adult Saturday or Sunday tickets with a $17.74 (C$25) food-and-drink voucher for $93.70 (C$132), also online only.
On top of every ticket price the market adds 5% GST, Showpass processing fees and a $0.71 (C$1) environmental fee, so expect the checkout total to sit a little above the posted figures. Tickets go on sale through the market's official tickets page. Figures current for in Q3 2026.
Source: Banff Christmas Market tickets and FAQ.
A vendor hut with handmade ornaments and toques.
Which Ticket to Buy
The right ticket depends on when you want to come and how many times. The rules on timeslots, re-entry and changes matter as much as the price, so read them before you book on Showpass.
One Afternoon on a Budget
Friday Daytime at $7.10 (C$10) for adults is the cheapest paid single-day ticket, and it is also the low-crowd slot. If your budget is tighter still, the Community Thursdays on December 3 and December 10 ask only a donation, suggested at $3.55 (C$5) per person. Note that indoor shopping is closed on Community Thursdays, so those evenings are about the food, bars and lights rather than the vendor huts.
Couples on a Weekend Evening
A Saturday or Sunday ticket at $11.71 (C$16.50) gets you the full market with every vendor and the tree lighting at dusk. Pick a late-afternoon timeslot to be inside when the lights come on.
Families
The Family Friday Package costs $21.30 (C$30) for 2 adults plus 2 youth, online only. That matches four separate Friday Daytime tickets, and on a Friday evening the same four tickets cost $28.40 (C$40), so our sum puts the saving at $7.10 (C$10) for an evening visit. Children 0 to 2 enter free, and the Whoville KidZone keeps younger kids busy.
Coming Back Twice in a Weekend
Do the sum before buying a Weekend Pass at $28.40 (C$39.95). Saturday plus Sunday day tickets cost $23.40 (C$33), which is less than the pass. The pass pays off only if you want to leave and come back, which a day ticket does not allow, or if you come on three days of one weekend.
It also skips the timeslot booking.
Groups of 8
The More The Merrier costs $93.70 (C$132), exactly the price of 8 adult Saturday or Sunday tickets, and adds a $17.74 (C$25) food-and-drink voucher on top. For a group of eight it is our pick, online only.
Rules That Change the Decision
Single-day tickets are 20-minute arrival timeslots with one entry and no re-entry, so plan to stay. You can change your date or slot once through Showpass, but not within 24 hours of your slot. Single-day tickets transfer to another person once, while Twinkle Night, Friday Daytime, the packages, the Weekend Pass and the Season Pass do not transfer.
Tickets are non-refundable if the weather turns, and the market runs rain, snow or shine. Gate sales exist but the market recommends buying ahead, and entry at the gate is subject to capacity. Registered caregivers enter free.
Source: Banff Christmas Market FAQ and tickets.
Location, Getting There and Parking
The market sits at the Banff Heritage Train Station at 327 Railway Ave, a 5-minute walk from downtown Banff. It is easy on foot, easy by car, and the parking lot is free.
Walking From Downtown
Follow Lynx Street or Elk Street north to the roundabout at the station. The market's own directions call it a 5-minute walk from downtown.
Driving and Parking
Take the Mt Norquay Road exit, turn left onto Railway Ave and go through the roundabout to the free Train Station public parking lot. The lot holds up to 500 vehicles and there is no charge for it.
The Park Pass
Every visitor inside Banff National Park needs a park pass, market trip included. Park entry costs $8.69 (C$12.25) per adult per day. Longer stays and the annual pass are compared in our Parks Canada pass guide.
The station is a single address: open it in Google Maps for directions. Buses and winter driving are covered on getting around Banff.
Source: Banff Christmas Market location page and Parks Canada fees.
Food, Drinks and the Market Mug
More than 200 local and regional vendors sell across the four weekends, and the lineup changes every weekend. Two indoor shopping zones sit inside the station, and the bars and food stay open outdoors until closing.
What to Eat
Expect raclette, bratwurst, poutine, New Zealand meat pies, pretzels, sweets and gourmet hot chocolate. The drinks to look for are the flaming mulled wine and the new Feuerzangenbowle cocktail.
The Four Bars
The market runs four bars: the North Pole Station Bar, the Candy Cane Lane Hot Chocolate Bar, the Fire Lounge around an outdoor campfire, and the Ski Lounge with its Raclette Bar. Happy hour runs Fridays 3pm-5pm with $4.97 (C$7) festive drinks. A Friday Daytime ticket lets you in until 3pm and you can stay as long as you like, so a late daytime slot runs straight into happy hour.
The Mug System
Hot drinks come in a ceramic souvenir mug with a $3.55 (C$5) refundable deposit. Keep the mug as a souvenir or return it at a Mug Return Station for the full deposit. Kids' cups carry a $1.42 (C$2) deposit.
Paying
Vendors take cash, credit and debit, and there are ATMs on site.
Source: Banff Christmas Market plan your visit and FAQ.
Raclette at a market food stall.
Mulled wine in the market mug by the outdoor fire.
Santa, Shows and the Kids' Zone
The programme runs on a weekly schedule, and most of it, including photos with Santa, is free with admission. A handful of workshops and private sessions cost extra and book separately.
Free with Admission
Santa's House welcomes visits on Fridays and Saturdays 11am-6:30pm and Sundays 11am-4:30pm, with Mrs Claus on Sundays. Free professional photos with Santa run Fridays 2:30-6:30pm and Saturdays 11am-4pm. The Grinch appears Saturdays 12-6pm and Sundays 12-4pm.
The Bow Valley Chorus sings carols Saturdays 3-4pm and Sundays 1-2pm. The tree lighting and light show with Santa happen at dusk daily.
Country Christmas and the Whoville KidZone
Country Christmas runs December 11 and 12 from 5pm-9pm on the final weekend. The Whoville KidZone runs throughout, with letters to the North Pole, family games and campfire marshmallows.
Paid Add-ons
The add-ons below are booked separately and admission is not included in their prices. They suit families staying for the weekend or visitors who want a quieter session with Santa away from the queue.
| Add-on | When | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A Magical Moment with Santa | Private 10 minutes, Saturdays 10-11am, up to 5 people | $105.80 (C$149) per family |
| Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus | Fridays and Sundays at 4pm and 4:30pm | $14.20 (C$20) per child |
| Holiday Swag workshop | Nov 26 (workshop day, no market) | $53.20 (C$75) |
| Holiday Paint Night | Dec 3 | $42.60 (C$60) |
| Christmas Card-Making | Dec 10 | $28.40 (C$40) |
Source: Banff Christmas Market schedule and tickets.
Crowds, Weather, Dogs and Accessibility
The market is indoors and outdoors, it runs in any weather, and November in Banff is cold after dark. A few practical notes make the visit smoother.
Crowds
Friday 11am-3pm is the low-crowd slot, and the market sells it as the relaxed visit at the lowest paid price. Weekend timeslots are the ones to book ahead, because entry at the gate depends on capacity.
Weather and Light
The market runs rain, snow or shine, and tickets are non-refundable for weather, so dress for it. November in town averages a high of -1.8°C and a low of -10.4°C, and the outdoor areas can be snowy or icy, so wear boots with grip. Sunset comes around 4:30pm in December, so the evening slots are the ones with the lights.
Dogs and Accessibility
Leashed dogs are allowed, and the market suggests the quieter Friday 11am-3pm slot for pets. The site is wheelchair accessible with an accessible washroom, though outdoor surfaces can be snowy or icy. Stroller parking is free and unattended.
Source: Banff Christmas Market FAQ and historical climate data from Open-Meteo.
What Else Runs on Market Weekends
Two other Christmas events share the same weekends, so you can build a full festive day without changing your travel dates.
In Search of Christmas Spirit runs on the same Thursday to Sunday weekends, 4:30pm-9:30pm, at the Cascade of Time Garden less than 1 km from downtown. Entry is free but every guest over age 2 needs a reserved ticket, and tickets for December 10 onward release on November 30 at 10am. It pairs with an afternoon market slot the same day.
The Canmore Christmas Artisans Market runs November 21 and 22, 2026, from 10am-4pm at the Canmore Recreation Centre, 1900 8th Avenue. That is the same weekend as the Banff market's opening Saturday and Sunday, so a day trip to Canmore can be combined with an evening market slot back in Banff.
For the full seasonal picture, including other events across the season, see Christmas in Banff.
Source: Banff Lake Louise Tourism and The Banff Blog.
Banff Christmas Market Questions
Is there a Christmas market in Banff?
Yes. The Banff Christmas Market runs 15 market days over four weekends in 2026, from November 19 to December 13, at the Banff Heritage Train Station.
Where is the Banff Christmas Market?
At the Banff Heritage Train Station, 327 Railway Ave, a 5-minute walk from downtown Banff. Follow Lynx Street or Elk Street north to the roundabout.
How much are Banff Christmas Market tickets?
Adult Saturday or Sunday entry is $11.71 (C$16.50), before 5% GST, processing fees and a $0.71 (C$1) environmental fee. The cheapest paid adult ticket is Friday Daytime at $7.10 (C$10), and Community Thursdays are by donation.
Can I buy tickets at the gate?
Yes, gate sales exist, but the market recommends buying ahead because entry at the gate depends on capacity. A Showpass timeslot booked in advance fixes your arrival window.
Is there parking at the Banff Christmas Market?
Yes. The Train Station public parking lot is free and holds up to 500 vehicles. Reach it from the Mt Norquay Road exit, left on Railway Ave, through the roundabout.
Is the Banff Christmas Market open at Christmas?
No. The last market day is Sunday December 13, 2026, so there is no market over Christmas itself. See what else runs in town over the holidays in Christmas in Banff.
Are dogs allowed at the market?
Yes, leashed dogs are allowed. The market suggests the quiet Friday 11am-3pm slot for visitors with pets.
Is Banff too cold in December for the market?
November in town averages a high of -1.8°C and a low of -10.4°C. The market has indoor shopping zones and fire lounges, and it runs snow or shine. Dress in winter layers and wear grippy boots for the outdoor areas.
Is the Banff Christmas Market worth it?
Our pick is yes if you time it well. More than 200 vendors, four bars, free photos with Santa and the nightly tree lighting come with entry, and the Friday daytime slot is both the cheapest paid ticket and the low-crowd one.
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