Helsinki Christmas Market brings sustainable gift shopping and festive programme to Senate Square

The atmospheric Helsinki Christmas Market will once again open at Senate Square on 28 November and invites visitors to enjoy its offerings every day until 22 December. A diverse group of Finnish small entrepreneurs provides sustainable gift ideas, and there is a wide selection of traditional and modern Christmas delicacies to enjoy on site. The programme ranges from Christmas carols to swinging jazz evenings.

Located once again in Helsinki’s prime location at Senate Square, Helsinki Christmas Market is the city’s most traditional and impressive open-air Christmas market. As always, the market focuses on delicious food experiences, unique and sustainable gifts, and an unhurried Christmas atmosphere. At the heart of the market are the free horse carousel, a favourite among children, and the heated Restaurant and Deli Yards. The extensive programme includes, in addition to visits by Santa Claus, a circus adventure for children and music ranging from jazz to a cappella.

The Restaurant Yard, equipped with heated dining shelters, has been expanded so that even more visitors can enjoy the market’s abundant offerings. The Deli Yard, located among the gift stalls, also features cosy covered seating areas and a wide selection of sweet and savoury bites as well as a variety of Christmas drinks.

The nearly 30 restaurants and cafés offer favourites such as spiced Christmas porridges, handmade lörtsy pastries and khachapuris, tasty fish and game dishes, Korean corn dogs, sweet bubble waffles, croffles and cookies, as well as mulled wines and glühweins in various flavours – plus more unusual specialties like spruce shoot and chaga lattes. The food selection at Helsinki Christmas Market highlights organic and locally produced options, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and special diets, and many portions are available for takeaway.

At the gift stalls, visitors can once again discover sustainable and distinctive alternatives to mass-produced gift items, from beloved classics to brand-new ideas. The selection is expanded by over 20 new vendors, and some stalls are reserved for weekly rotating sellers. New highlights include jewellery made from parts of vintage watches damaged in Ukraine, Finnish designer fragrances, marmalades and jellies made from Finnish wild herbs as well as apple products and fermented hot sauces from Åland.

Each week, both traditional and more unexpected programme enhance the Christmas spirit at Helsinki Christmas Market. A relaxed atmosphere is created by, for example, We Jazz DJs’ jazz evenings and live broadcasts by Aito Iskelmä radio channel, while children can get excited about the “Pakettipaniikki” circus adventure by Circus Kolmen Kopla.

Christmas songs and melodies will be performed by, among others, the a cappella groups Flok and Club for Five, the Töölö Brass ensemble and the Sing it Out Loud choir. The beloved Santa Claus will greet visitors several times a week, and the market will also host the traditional Student Torchlight Procession on 6 December and the Lucia procession on 13 December.

On the opening day, Friday 28 November, the Mayor will officially open the Christmas market and the lights on the Christmas tree will be switched on at 18:00. Santa Claus will be present from 15:00 to 19:00, and the a cappella group Flok invites visitors to pause and enjoy new Christmas music at 17:30 and 18:30.

Helsinki Christmas Market is open at Helsinki’s Senate Square from 28 November to 22 December 2025, Sunday–Thursday 11:00–19:00 and Friday–Saturday 11:00–20:00. Admission to the market is free. On Independence Day, 6 December, the students’ Torchlight Procession ends at the square, and on Lucia Day, 13 December, the procession departs from the square.

The partners of Helsinki Christmas Market are Saarioinen and Aito Iskelmä.

Image: Vessi Hämäläinen