New York City is electric any time of year, but few months on the calendar are as magical as the final two. In the run up to Christmas in New York , the Big Apple transforms into a holiday winter wonderland: think twinkling lights on street posts, elaborate department store window displays, and marquee theater events like New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker or the Radio City Rockettes. It’s also probably the best time of the year to shop, thanks to a flurry of NYC Christmas markets that set up everywhere from Bryant Park to Grand Central Terminal.

But with so many to choose from, and locations all over the boroughs, how do you know which one is best for you to visit? That’s where we come in. Not only are we yearly visitors to all the annual markets, we’ve already done the research to scout the best newcomers to the field for 2026.…