Milan does Christmas with style. From early December the Duomo gains a giant tree, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II glitters, and the city celebrates its patron saint with the historic Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair and the glamorous opening night at La Scala. It is also the home of panettone, the tall, light Christmas cake that Milan gave the world. Here is what to expect in December 2026 and early January 2027.

Christmas markets

  • Piazza del Duomo market. Wooden chalets around the cathedral sell crafts, decorations and seasonal food from 1 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. In 2025 the stalls opened daily from 9am to 9pm.
  • Oh Bej! Oh Bej! Milan’s oldest and most Milanese Christmas fair, held around the Castello Sforzesco from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December 2026. Hundreds of stalls sell antiques, books, toys, flowers, sweets and roast chestnuts. Look for firunatt, strings of smoked chestnuts.
  • Artigiano in Fiera. A huge crafts fair at Fiera Milano in Rho, from 5 to 13 December 2026, reached by Metro line M1.

Sant’Ambrogio and La Scala, 7 December

The feast of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan’s patron saint, on 7 December is a city holiday, and in 2026 it falls on a Monday, followed by the national holiday of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday 8 December. The long weekend is the busiest of the season, with the Oh Bej! Oh Bej! fair at its liveliest.

The same evening, Teatro alla Scala opens its opera season. The 2026/27 season begins on Monday 7 December 2026 at 6pm with Verdi’s Otello. Tickets for the premiere are among the hardest to get in Europe, but later performances are easier, and the La Scala museum offers special guided tours of the theatre on 8 December 2026.

Lights and the Duomo tree

A tall Christmas tree stands in Piazza del Duomo through the season; for 2026 the city has asked for a natural tree at least 26 metres high. The lighting ceremony is usually held in early December, but the 2026 date had not been announced when this guide was written. Another tree usually rises beneath the dome of the Galleria, and the lights along Via Montenapoleone and the fashion district are worth an evening stroll.

Palazzo Marino, the city hall opposite La Scala, traditionally displays a single masterpiece free of charge over the holidays, a popular Milanese ritual.

Panettone and Christmas food

Panettone was born in Milan, and in December every pastry shop competes to sell the best. Try it from one of the historic bakeries near the Duomo or on Corso Magenta, and look out for the city’s Christmas sweet markets. At the table, Milanese families eat dishes such as risotto, cappone (capon) and mostarda, a spicy fruit relish.

Museums and opening hours over the holidays

  • The Last Supper, the Pinacoteca di Brera, the Castello museums and the Museo del Novecento close on 25 December and 1 January.
  • La Scala museum closes on 7, 25 and 26 December and 1 January, and closes at 3pm on 24 and 31 December.
  • The science museum opens extra days on 7 and 8 December, from 26 to 31 December 2026 and from 2 to 6 January 2027.
  • The Duomo stays open, but tourist access is limited during the main Christmas services.
  • Many restaurants close on 24 and 25 December or offer set menus, so book ahead.

New Year and Epiphany

Crowds gather in Piazza del Duomo on New Year’s Eve. On 6 January, Epiphany, the Befana, a kindly witch, brings sweets to children, and a costumed procession of the Three Kings traditionally walks from the Duomo to the Basilica of Sant’Eustorgio, where relics of the Magi were once kept. The Duomo market closes the same day.

Tips for a December visit

  • Book hotels early for the 5 to 8 December weekend.
  • Pack warm layers: Milan can be cold, damp and foggy in winter.
  • Reserve the Last Supper and the Duomo rooftop well ahead, as holiday visitors fill slots fast.
  • Combine the city with a quiet winter day at Lake Como, where the villages are peaceful out of season.