by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Serena Tonel, deputy mayor of Trieste; Elena Pellaschiar- Vice President of Confcommercio Trieste
The city of Trieste has announced the details of its 2025–26 Christmas Market, returning to the historic center from December 7 through January 6. The program was presented on Thursday morning at City Hall by municipal officials and representatives of Confcommercio and AcegasApsAmga, the local utility company.
This year’s market, the thirteenth edition, will feature 71 wooden stalls distributed across Via delle Torri, Via Ponchielli, Via Bellini, Piazza del Ponterosso and Piazza della Borsa. Organizers said the event will offer a broad, multicultural selection of food, crafts and seasonal gifts. Twenty-eight stalls will be dedicated to food and delicacies from Italy and abroad, while the remaining booths will focus on artisanal items and holiday gift ideas.
Roughly a quarter of the vendors come from Trieste, with the rest representing regions across Italy and eight foreign countries, including Austria, Croatia, France, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovenia, Russia and Hungary. Stalls will be open daily, closing at 8 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays, and at 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and public-holiday eves.
Deputy Mayor and Economic Development Councillor Serena Tonel emphasized the importance of long-term planning. The city, she noted, has a three-year agreement with Confcommercio to ensure continuity of the event. “The Christmas Market, together with the holiday lights, completes the holiday package,” she said, describing the initiative as an investment in the city’s economic and social vitality. Tonel also highlighted Trieste’s Central European heritage and its connection to the wider Christmas market tradition. “We’re the only city to have one by the sea,” she added.
Among this year’s novelties is an annual commemorative ornament — a flat Christmas bauble designed to be collected year after year — intended to reinforce the market’s identity and continuity.
Beyond shopping, several attractions are intended to animate the city center. A large ice-skating rink will operate in Piazza del Ponterosso from November 29 to January 11, drawing families and younger visitors. Costumed performers, a holiday mascot and dedicated selfie spots will be present throughout the market area, alongside periodic performances by street artists.
Environmental outreach also plays a role. AcegasApsAmga will host a stall in Piazza della Borsa featuring “È Logico,” a waste-sorting awareness campaign first launched during the Barcolana sailing regatta. Visitors will also be able to preview the city’s updated waste-sorting guide, which will be delivered to local households in December.
Other stalls will host the “Amici del Presepio” association, displaying nativity scenes, and Confcommercio together with the Trieste Convention & Visitors Bureau, which will distribute tickets and small gifts in support of the January 6 “Buon Anno Trieste” celebration benefiting local charities.
As in previous years, two stalls will be reserved at no cost for rotating nonprofit organizations, allowing 40 local groups to present their work to visitors throughout the month.
During the December 8 holiday weekend, Piazza Verdi will also host stalls for the 10th Trieste Coffee Festival, an event dedicated to promoting coffee culture in a city with deep historical ties to the industry.
The city and Confcommercio will also bring back “Natale in Vetrina,” a window-display competition for local shops. Participants will receive a special decal for their storefronts and will submit photos for evaluation by a jury and by the public through a dedicated Facebook page. Prizes include a commemorative plaque, dinner for two at Antica Trattoria Suban and tickets to the January 6 “Buon Anno Trieste” performance at the Politeama Rossetti.
To facilitate access to the city center, officials noted that 455 free parking spots will be available at the former Silos area near the train station through January 6.
Beyond downtown, neighborhood Christmas markets will take place in Roiano (December 15–23), San Giacomo (December 19–21) and Servola (December 21), expanding the holiday programming beyond the historic core.
