Prague City Hall has officially set the dates for its 2025/26 Christmas-market season: the flagship stalls in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square will trade from 29 November 2025 through 6 January 2026, with an early preview market at Náměstí Míru opening on 20 November. The confirmation is more than a festive footnote; it is a green light for airlines, hotels and MICE organisers to finalise winter capacity plans.
Last December the Czech capital welcomed a record 730,000 foreign visitors—an 18 % increase on 2023—thanks in part to new direct flights from Abu Dhabi and Bilbao. Airport officials expect similar or higher numbers this winter, citing upcoming route launches to Chicago, Sanya and Marrakech. Hotel occupancy for the first half of December already stands at 82 %, with four-star properties in the historical core quoting average daily rates 12 % above last season.
![Prague Confirms 2025/26 Christmas-Market Calendar, Fuelling Corporate Travel Demand]()
Corporate-incentive travel is a key driver. German and Israeli firms are bundling Christmas-market tours with year-end sales conferences, while UK-based SMEs see Prague as a lower-cost alternative to Vienna for client entertaining. Travel-management companies advise booking group allotments before mid-January to lock in rates.
Business travellers should note that the markets coincide with peak load at Václav Havel Airport’s new CT-scanner security lanes. While liquids up to two litres are now allowed in hand luggage on Schengen flights, analysts warn that non-Schengen queues could still exceed 40 minutes during Friday morning bank-outs. Arriving at least two hours before departure remains best practice.
Finally, HR teams sending staff on December assignments should remind travellers that hotel prices spike on market-opening weekends and around St Nicholas Day (6 December). Advance per-diem adjustments or corporate-rate renegotiations may be necessary to stay within policy.
Last December the Czech capital welcomed a record 730,000 foreign visitors—an 18 % increase on 2023—thanks in part to new direct flights from Abu Dhabi and Bilbao. Airport officials expect similar or higher numbers this winter, citing upcoming route launches to Chicago, Sanya and Marrakech. Hotel occupancy for the first half of December already stands at 82 %, with four-star properties in the historical core quoting average daily rates 12 % above last season.
Corporate-incentive travel is a key driver. German and Israeli firms are bundling Christmas-market tours with year-end sales conferences, while UK-based SMEs see Prague as a lower-cost alternative to Vienna for client entertaining. Travel-management companies advise booking group allotments before mid-January to lock in rates.
Business travellers should note that the markets coincide with peak load at Václav Havel Airport’s new CT-scanner security lanes. While liquids up to two litres are now allowed in hand luggage on Schengen flights, analysts warn that non-Schengen queues could still exceed 40 minutes during Friday morning bank-outs. Arriving at least two hours before departure remains best practice.
Finally, HR teams sending staff on December assignments should remind travellers that hotel prices spike on market-opening weekends and around St Nicholas Day (6 December). Advance per-diem adjustments or corporate-rate renegotiations may be necessary to stay within policy.
