Valencia in December means markets full of gifts and sweets, nativity scenes, lights and a big children’s fair between Christmas and the Three Kings. Some of the 2026 dates are already known; others the city has not announced yet. Here is everything available today.
The lights: date not announced yet
Last year the lights were switched on on 21 November at 19:30 on the town hall square, next to a 25-metre Christmas tree. This year the city planned to bring the ceremony forward to early November, but the town hall square was occupied by a protest camp until 12 November. There is no official date yet — keep an eye on the city council’s news.
Confirmed: Expojove
Expojove is a big fair for children and teenagers at the Feria Valencia exhibition centre. This season it runs from 26 December 2026 to 4 January 2027: games, sports, workshops and rides under one roof. A good plan for a rainy day.
Christmas markets
The city has not published the 2026 dates yet. To give you something to go on, here are last season’s dates:
- Plaza de la Reina, by the cathedral: 28 November to 6 January.
- Mercado de Colón: nativity figure fair from 29 November to 8 December, crafts fair from 17 December to 5 January.
- City of Arts and Sciences (paseo de los Arbotantes): 12 December to 6 January, 11:00 to 23:00, free entry.
- Calle Tapinería, the “Ho Ho Ho” market: 19 December to 5 January.
Nativity scenes
- The town hall nativity scene (Salón de Cristal): last season from 2 December to 3 January, free entry.
- The light nativity scene on calle del Hospital is put up by the provincial government (Diputación).
The Three Kings
Last season the Three Kings arrived in Valencia by sea: on 5 January at 16:30 they were welcomed at Marina Norte, followed by a parade in the evening. The programme for January 2027 will be published closer to the holidays.
Getting there from Torrevieja
On Sundays we take a small group to Valencia by minivan: the Holy Grail in the cathedral, the Miguelete bell tower, the old town — and free time that is easy to spend at a Christmas market. If you are already in Valencia (for example, off a cruise ship), our walking tour with an official guide is a good fit.
Sources: Valencia Urbana, Visit València, Valencia Plaza, Valencia Bonita. Information as of 13 November 2026.
