Dozens of independent labels, designers and small producers come together at the WeihnachtsQuartier to showcase and sell their wares. And all in time for Christmas shopping.
- Art, fashion, food, jewellery, accessories, and more
- High quality and great for gifts
- Free entry
- 2025 dates: TBA (was Nov 29 – Dec 1 in 2024)
- Book a classical concert experience* for your Vienna trip
- See also:
Design at Christmas
(The 2024 event took place in the lovely Urania building)
If you take around a hundred independent labels and designers and give them space to display and sell their work, then you’ve pretty much described the WeihnachtsQuartier. Consider it a “Christmas” design & lifestyle exhibition with sales.
Typically held indoors over the first weekend of the Advent season, the event offers a chance to pick out something different that wasn’t mass produced or advertised by an unnaturally slim model on TV.
Both the quality (excellent) and diversity (ditto) of the products for sale impressed me on my 2024 visit: I got plenty of Christmas shopping done here.
Indeed, each floor and room of the host Urania building felt like opening an advent calendar door to reveal new surprises and shopping treasures.
Expect a wide range of products; I discovered everything from soaps to spices, lotions to leggings, cookies to cosmetics, cards and cups, art and accessories, bags, jewellery etc.
Don’t, though, think of this as some high-nosed design fair. The atmosphere as I walked around was casual and friendly.
In fact, you could often speak to the designers themselves if you wanted to learn more about what you’re buying. And all those I spoke to seemed very forthcoming and friendly.
(An exhibitor and stand at the 2024 edition; press photo courtesy of and © WeihnachtsQuartier)
Aside from some seasonal themes around the stalls and the many gift opportunities, a few other aspects enhanced the Christmas flavour of the event.
As well as appropriate background music, the in-house Klyo bar and restaurant (where I often drop in for a quick beer after evening classes) provided a coffee stop as well as Christmas punch and snacks on outside terraces.
After finishing, my wife and I actually went to the restaurant proper for a lovely lunch (the all-day muesli being a favourite).
Dates, tickets & tips
The good news is the event is free to enter, so no tickets are required. I don’t have details for 2025 yet, but the previous edition took place from November 29th to December 1st. Keep an eye on the official website for the latest info.
Other short-term design markets typically found in Vienna around Advent include WAMP and Edelstoff. And don’t forget all those formal Christmas markets, of course, with their arts and crafts stalls: I can particularly recommend the Art Advent and Spittelberg markets for unique design.
How to get to the design market
Assuming a return to the Urania, check my overview for travel tips: the building is a place of prestige and history that lies on the banks of the Donaukanal arm of the Danube in the city centre.
Address: Urania Straße 1, 1010 Vienna