Christmas events in Austin, 2026: what’s on in December.
Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker plays Dec. 4 to 23 at the Long Center, and the Trail of Lights runs Dec. 10 to 23 in Zilker Park.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays the Moody Center on Dec. 9, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar fills the Palmer Events Center Dec. 12 to 21, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra plays Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 1 and Elf in Concert on Dec. 15 and 16. Zach Theater’s A Christmas Carol runs through Dec. 27, with two shows on Christmas Eve. Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker has 16 performances in Dell Hall, and the Trail of Lights is free for all ages on Dec. 10, 11, and 13 to 17. Austin Police Operation Blue Santa has closed its 2026 applications but still takes donations and volunteers, and the city had not announced its 2026 New Year’s Eve plans as of Oct. 30. Every date, time, and price here comes from the organizer’s own page, checked Oct. 30, 2026, and every venue is inside Austin’s city limits. Where an organizer has not posted a 2026 detail, the entry says so and links its page.
December 2026 at a glance, checked Oct. 30, 2026
Every row restates the organizer’s own page as read on Oct. 30, 2026: the season-long runs first, then one-time dates in order. Times are Austin time.
The Zilker Holiday Tree and the Blue Genie Art Bazaar list no ticket, and the Trail of Lights is free on seven of its 14 nights. The downtown sing-along and the city’s New Year’s Eve party had not posted their 2026 details as of Oct. 30.
| Dates | Event | Where | Cost or tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 29 to Jan. 1 | Zilker Holiday Tree, lit 6 to 10 p.m. | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road | No ticket listed |
| Through Dec. 24 | Blue Genie Art Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closing at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 | 6100 Airport Blvd. | No ticket or admission price listed |
| Through Dec. 27 | A Christmas Carol and A Charlie Brown Christmas | Zach Theater: The Topfer, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., and the Kleberg, 1426 W. Riverside Drive | Ticketed. Student rush tickets $17 in person, when available. |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Handel’s Messiah, Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Austin, 8 p.m. | Hyde Park Church, 3901 Speedway | Ticketed. The listing names no price. |
| Tue., Dec. 1 | Elf Pub Run and screening, doors at 5:30 p.m. | State Theatre, 719 Congress Ave. | $61 to $80 as listed |
| Dec. 4 to 23 | Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, 16 performances | Long Center, Dell Hall, 701 W. Riverside Drive | Dec. 5 matinee seats listed at $35 to $135 |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Holiday Sing-Along and Stroll, 5 to 8 p.m. | Downtown (location not posted) | Details not posted yet |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Sing-It-Yourself Messiah, 6 p.m. | St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Drive | Ticketed, through Chorus Austin |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 7 p.m. | Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Drive | Ticketed, through Ticketmaster |
| Dec. 10 to 23 | Trail of Lights, 7 to 10 p.m. | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road | Free Dec. 10, 11, and 13 to 17. $8 for ages 12 and up on Dec. 12 and 18 to 23. |
| Dec. 12 to 21 | Armadillo Christmas Bazaar | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road | $15 plus tax. Kids 12 and under free. |
| Dec. 15 and 16 | Elf in Concert, Austin Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. | Long Center, Dell Hall | Ticketed, through the symphony |
| Dec. 18 and 19 | Kat Edmonson, Have Your Merry Christmas With Me, 8 p.m. | State Theatre, 719 Congress Ave. | Ticketed |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | On a Winter’s Eve: Gloria, Chorus Austin, 8 p.m. | NW Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Drive | Ticketed, through Chorus Austin |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | Austin’s New Year | Auditorium Shores | The city calls it free. 2026 lineup and times not announced as of Oct. 30. |
Prices are the ones the organizers listed on Oct. 30, 2026. Where a listing named no price, the row says ticketed and the entry below links the organizer’s page.
For dinner before the show, subscribe free and the full Austin restaurant directory unlocks in this browser: every restaurant, ranked and filterable by cuisine and neighborhood. Then an email from Carissa on Thursday mornings.
The big traditions
- Long Center, Dell Hall · Dec. 4-23, 16 performances · Dec. 5 matinee seats $35-$13501
Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker
Ballet Austin’s 64th annual Nutcracker, choreographed by Stephen Mills, plays Dell Hall at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, with the Austin Symphony Orchestra playing Tchaikovsky’s score live. There are 16 performances from Friday, Dec. 4, to Wednesday, Dec. 23, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m., and the run ends with the Dec. 23 matinee. The show lasts two hours: two 50-minute acts around a 20-minute intermission. On Oct. 30, seats for the Saturday, Dec. 5, matinee were listed from $35 in the balcony to $135 in the orchestra. Ballet Austin says it is the only authorized seller of its tickets, which are not refundable, and it allows exchanges up to 48 hours before the show, free for season ticket holders and $10 an order for everyone else. Opening weekend, Dec. 4 to 6, adds free professional holiday photos and costumed characters in the lobbies.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker pageBallet Austin performance listDec. 5 matinee seat mapBallet Austin official ticketsLong Center event page
- Zilker Park · tree lit Nov. 29-Jan. 1 · Trail Dec. 10-23, free on 7 nights02
The Trail of Lights and the Zilker Holiday Tree
The Zilker Holiday Tree, the city’s 155-foot tree of lights in Zilker Park, is lit from Nov. 29 to Jan. 1, with visiting hours of 6 to 10 p.m. The Trail of Lights fills the park at 2100 Barton Springs Road from Dec. 10 to 23, 7 to 10 p.m., free for all ages on Dec. 10, 11, and 13 to 17 and $8 for ages 12 and up on Dec. 12 and 18 to 23, and it also holds a ticketed preview party on Dec. 4 and a Fun Run on Dec. 5. Parking passes, the shuttle, and five more light displays are in the Christmas lights in Austin guide.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Trail of Lights event FAQTrail of Lights ticket typesCity of Austin, Zilker Holiday Tree
- Palmer Events Center and Airport Blvd. · Dec. 12-21 and daily through Dec. 2403
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar and Blue Genie Art Bazaar
Austin’s two big holiday art markets overlap in December. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar runs Dec. 12 to 21 at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, with nearly 200 artists, for $15 plus tax, and kids 12 and under get in free. The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is open every day through Christmas Eve at 6100 Airport Blvd., 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., closing at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, and its pages list no ticket or admission price. Hours by day, parking, and three December weekend markets are in the Austin holiday markets guide.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Armadillo Christmas Bazaar infoArmadillo ticketsBlue Genie shopping info
- The full list
For dinner before the show, subscribe free and the full Austin restaurant directory unlocks in this browser: every restaurant, ranked and filterable by cuisine and neighborhood. Then an email from Carissa on Thursday mornings.
- Citywide · 2026 applications closed · donations and volunteer shifts open04
Austin Police Operation Blue Santa
Blue Santa delivers toys and food at the holidays to children from families facing hardship. It began in 1972, when two Austin patrol officers realized that 20 families on their beat would have no gifts or food at Christmas, and today it is a nonprofit governed by a board and staffed by volunteers and Austin Police Department employees. For 2026, its site says it has reached the maximum number of applications and closed the portal. Giving is still open: the donation page takes PayPal, Venmo, and cards through a QR code, checks made out to Austin Police Operation Blue Santa at P.O. Box 18745, Austin, TX 78760, and toys from its Amazon wish list. Volunteer shifts run through the first week of December, and groups of 10 or more can ask a coordinator to schedule them. Families approved through the portal have December distribution days on Dec. 1 to 3, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Austin Police Association, 5817 Wilcab Road, and Dec. 7 to 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the program’s warehouse, 2410 Grove Blvd.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: About Blue SantaApply for assistanceDonateVolunteerDistribution days
Holiday concerts and shows
- Hyde Park Church, 3901 Speedway · Tue., Dec. 1, 8 p.m. · ticketed05
Handel’s Messiah with the Austin Symphony
The Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Austin open the month with Handel’s Messiah on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m., with Ryan Heller conducting, at Hyde Park Church, 3901 Speedway. The symphony lists it as a special event, and tickets are sold through its own ticket site, whose listing names no price.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Austin Symphony, Handel’s MessiahAustin Symphony event list
- 719 Congress Ave. · Elf Pub Run Dec. 1 · Kat Edmonson Dec. 18-1906
Holiday nights at the State Theatre
The Paramount is under restoration, and its annual Elf Pub Run starts at the State Theatre, 719 Congress Ave. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the group runs, walks, or rides the VIP party bus 0.8 miles to Scholz Garten for snowball fights and a costume contest before coming back for an 8 p.m. screening of Elf, and tickets were listed at $61 to $80 on Oct. 30. Jazz singer Kat Edmonson brings her Have Your Merry Christmas With Me tour on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18 and 19, with doors at 7 p.m. and the show at 8. Both event pages point to $11 parking at the 600 Congress garage, entered at 155 W. 7th St.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Elf Pub RunKat EdmonsonParamount and State directions
- Back to top
- St. Matthew’s Episcopal, 8134 Mesa Drive · Sun., Dec. 6, 6 p.m. · ticketed07
Sing-It-Yourself Messiah
The version where the audience sings. Chorus Austin’s Symphonic Chorus and members of the Austin Symphony perform Handel’s Messiah, and Chorus Austin lists “you” among the performers. It is Sunday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Drive, and runs 120 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Bring your own copy of the score, which Chorus Austin links to order, park on site, and dress comfortably. Tickets are sold through Chorus Austin’s event page.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official source: Chorus Austin, Sing-It-Yourself Messiah
- Moody Center · Wed., Dec. 9, 7 p.m. · tickets through Ticketmaster08
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s 30th-anniversary tour brings a reimagined staging of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, followed by a second set, to the Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Drive, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. The band’s page promises lasers and pyrotechnics and says $1 from every ticket goes to local charities. The Moody Center lists no age restrictions and a clear bag policy, and both pages send buyers to Ticketmaster without listing a price.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Moody Center event pageTrans-Siberian Orchestra, Austin
- Long Center, Dell Hall · Tue. and Wed., Dec. 15-16, 7:30 p.m. · ticketed09
Elf in Concert with the Austin Symphony
The Austin Symphony Orchestra plays John Debney’s score live while the whole film runs on the big screen in Dell Hall at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m., with Peter Bay listed as conductor. It is part of the symphony’s Butler Pops series, and tickets go through the symphony’s ticket site. The Long Center says every patron needs a ticket, whatever their age.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Austin Symphony, Elf in ConcertDec. 15 performanceLong Center event page
- NW Hills United Methodist, 7050 Village Center Drive · Sat., Dec. 19, 8 p.m.10
On a Winter’s Eve: Gloria
Chorus Austin’s Symphonic Chorus and Chamber Ensemble sing Vivaldi’s Gloria with an orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 8 p.m. at NW Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Drive. The concert runs 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, parking is on site, and the dress code is relaxed. Tickets are sold through Chorus Austin’s event page.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official source: Chorus Austin, On a Winter’s Eve
- Zach Theater, S. Lamar and W. Riverside · through Dec. 27 · student rush $1711
A Christmas Carol and A Charlie Brown Christmas at Zach Theater
Zach’s musical take on A Christmas Carol, conceived by Dave Steakley and set to pop music, runs Nov. 18 to Dec. 27 in The Topfer at 202 S. Lamar Blvd., including Christmas Eve shows at 1 and 6 p.m. Zach recommends it for ages 6 and up, it runs 2 hours and 20 minutes with an intermission, and it uses haze, fog, and mild flashing lights. The 40-minute A Charlie Brown Christmas, recommended for ages 4 and up, runs Nov. 6 to Dec. 27 on Zach’s Kleberg stage, 1426 W. Riverside Drive, including a Christmas Eve show at 1 p.m. Sales are final, exchanges cost a small per-ticket fee, students with a valid ID can buy $17 rush tickets in person an hour before showtime when available, and both stages list parking at $15 a car.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: A Christmas CarolA Charlie Brown ChristmasThe Topfer, plan your visitThe Kleberg, plan your visit
Downtown and New Year’s Eve
- Downtown · Sat., Dec. 5, 5-8 p.m. · details to come12
Holiday Sing-Along and Stroll
The Downtown Austin Alliance kicks off the holidays every year with this sing-along, hosted with KUT News and KUTX 98.9. The 2026 date is Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. As of Oct. 30, 2026, the Alliance had posted only the date and time and says more information is coming, so check its page for the location and the program. For an outdoor skate downtown, the Four Seasons’ Ice Rodeo rink is in the ice skating guide.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: Holiday Sing-Along and StrollDowntown Austin Alliance signature events
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- Auditorium Shores · Thu., Dec. 31 · 2026 details not announced13
Austin’s New Year at Auditorium Shores
The city’s free New Year’s Eve party has been held at Auditorium Shores since 2010, with live music, food and drink vendors, and a fireworks finale. As of Oct. 30, 2026, the city’s event page still showed the lineup it announced for Dec. 31, 2025, when gates opened at 7 p.m., a drone show started at 11:40 p.m., and the fireworks went off at midnight, so the 2026 headliner and schedule are not announced yet. The page also asks guests to leave pets, alcohol, and fireworks at home and says every guest and bag is subject to a search at entry.
Checked October 30, 2026 at the official sources: City of Austin, Austin’s New YearCity release for Dec. 31, 2025
Before you buy tickets
Buy from the organizer
Ballet Austin says it is the only authorized seller of its Nutcracker tickets and cannot help with tickets bought anywhere else, and Zach Theater says valid tickets come only from its own website or box office. Each entry above links the organizer’s own ticket page.
Refunds and exchanges
Ballet Austin tickets are not refundable, and exchanges must be requested at least 48 hours before the show. Zach Theater’s sales are final, with exchanges for a per-ticket fee. Every guest at A Christmas Carol needs a ticket regardless of age, while at A Charlie Brown Christmas lap babies do not.
Getting to the Long Center
The Nutcracker and Elf in Concert both play Dell Hall. On Oct. 30, the Long Center’s directions page said Riverside Drive was fully closed and pointed drivers to the Palmer Events Center garage entrance off Barton Springs or the RiverSouth Garage. CapMetro routes 1, 3, 7, 10, 20, 30, 801, and 803 stop nearby.
What we considered and didn’t include
The things we passed on are part of the value. Documented for editorial discipline.
- Leslie Odom Jr.’s Christmas tourIt plays Dell Hall at the Long Center on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2026, two days before December starts, so it falls outside this month’s list.
- The Long Center’s New Year’s Eve partyIts page lists the next one for Dec. 31, 2027, so there is no 2026 party to plan around.
- Christmas Eve church servicesSt. Mary Cathedral’s Christmas page still showed last season’s Mass schedule on Oct. 30, 2026. Check your church’s own page in December for 2026 times.
- Events outside the city limitsHoliday events in Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and the Hill Country are left out, since this guide stays inside Austin’s city limits.
Common questions
- When is The Nutcracker in Austin in 2026?
- Ballet Austin’s 64th annual Nutcracker runs Dec. 4 to 23, 2026, with 16 performances in Dell Hall at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. Evening shows start at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m., and the Austin Symphony Orchestra plays the score live.
- How much are Nutcracker tickets in Austin?
- Prices depend on the section. For the Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, matinee, Ballet Austin’s ticket page listed seats from $35 in the balcony to $135 in the orchestra on Oct. 30. Ballet Austin says it is the only authorized seller, and its tickets are not refundable.
- How do I apply for Blue Santa in Austin?
- For 2026, the window has closed: Austin Police Operation Blue Santa says it reached its maximum number of applications and shut its portal, and families with questions can email bluesanta@austintexas.gov. You can still donate online, by check, or from its Amazon wish list, or sign up for a volunteer shift through the first week of December.
- What Christmas events in Austin are free?
- The Trail of Lights is free for all ages on Dec. 10, 11, and 13 to 17, 2026, and the Zilker Holiday Tree, lit Nov. 29 to Jan. 1, lists no ticket. The Blue Genie Art Bazaar lists no admission price, and the city calls its Dec. 31 Austin’s New Year party at Auditorium Shores free, though its 2026 details were not announced as of Oct. 30.
- What is there to do in Austin on Christmas Eve?
- Zach Theater has Christmas Eve shows of A Christmas Carol at 1 and 6 p.m. and A Charlie Brown Christmas at 1 p.m., the Blue Genie Art Bazaar is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 24, and the Zilker Holiday Tree is lit 6 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. The Trail of Lights ends on Dec. 23.
- Is there a New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Austin in 2026?
- The city had not announced its 2026 Austin’s New Year details as of Oct. 30, 2026. The free event has been held at Auditorium Shores since 2010, and last year gates opened at 7 p.m. and the fireworks went off at midnight.
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