# Christmas Markets Near Albuquerque 2026

> 5 Christmas markets within 40 miles of Albuquerque, closest first. Closed days, admission and a map, checked against each organizer.

Source: https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/near/albuquerque/

5 Christmas and holiday markets within 40 miles of downtown Albuquerque, closest first, 3 of them within 5 miles. Every one has 2026 dates, read on the organizer's own page.

## 2026 Dates, Closest to Albuquerque First

| Market and Distance | Dates | Closed | Admission |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Albuquerque Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-rail-yards-holiday-market/) Albuquerque, NM · under a mile from downtown | Dec 12 to 20, 2026 | Open Saturdays and Sundays only | Not published |
| [New Mexico Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-new-mexico-artisan-market/) Albuquerque, NM · 2 miles northwest | Nov 27 to 29, 2026 | Open every day of its run | Not published |
| [Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Festival](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-rio-grande-holiday-festival/) Albuquerque, NM · 4 miles east | Nov 27 to 29, 2026 | Open every day of its run | Ticket |
| [Placitas Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/placitas-holiday-market/) Placitas, NM · 19 miles northeast | Nov 21 to 22, 2026 | Open every day of its run | Not published |
| [Belen Outdoor Christmas Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/belen-outdoor-christmas-market/) Belen, NM · 30 miles south | Dec 12, 2026 | One day only | Not published |

Distances are as the crow flies from downtown Albuquerque; the drive is longer.

## Christmas Light Shows Near Albuquerque

| Light Show | Dates | Type | Tickets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Albuquerque River of Lights](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/holiday-lights/albuquerque-river-of-lights/) Albuquerque, NM | Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Botanical garden lights | Ticket |

Zoo lights, garden trails and drive-through shows within 40 miles. [Every light show we list](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/holiday-lights/).

## Staying Over?

To see a few markets in one trip, a hotel downtown puts most of them within a drive. [See Hotels in Albuquerque](https://www.stay22.com/allez/roam?aid=bobbleventures&lat=35.0841&lng=-106.651&address=Albuquerque%2C%20NM%2C%20USA&checkin=2026-11-21&checkout=2026-11-22&currency=USD&campaign=bcmus_near_albuquerque) [affiliate](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/affiliate-disclosure/)

## Worth the Drive From Albuquerque

The most searched Christmas markets between 40 and 90 miles out.

[Santa Fe Christmas Market  Santa Fe, New Mexico  Dec 5 to 6, 2026  58 miles northeast of Albuquerque](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/santa-fe-winter-spanish-market/) [SWAIA Winter Indian Market  Santa Fe, New Mexico  Nov 28 to 29, 2026  58 miles northeast of Albuquerque](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/santa-fe-winter-indian-market/)

## Christmas Markets Near Albuquerque: Questions

### What is the closest Christmas market to Albuquerque?

[Albuquerque Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-rail-yards-holiday-market/), under a mile from downtown, is the closest with 2026 dates (Dec 12 to 20, 2026).

### When do Christmas markets near Albuquerque open in 2026?

[Placitas Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/placitas-holiday-market/) opens first, on Saturday, November 21, 2026. [Albuquerque Holiday Market](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-rail-yards-holiday-market/) is the last to close, on Sunday, December 20, 2026.

### Which Christmas markets near Albuquerque charge admission?

[Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Festival](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/markets/albuquerque-rio-grande-holiday-festival/) charges for entry. The rest are free to walk around; each page gives the price where the organizer has published it.

By state: [Christmas markets in New Mexico](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/states/new-mexico/). Starting somewhere else? [Find the markets closest to your ZIP code](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/#finder). [How we check dates](https://bestchristmasmarketsusa.com/how-we-check/).