Christmas Shopping in NYC 2026: Markets, Department Stores & Gift Ideas

New York is one of the world’s great Christmas shopping cities: open-air holiday markets, legendary department stores and independent makers in every borough. Here’s where to shop in 2026.

Holiday Market Dates 2026

Holiday Markets

• Bryant Park Winter Village — 180+ kiosks around a free-admission rink.
• Union Square Holiday Market — the best for independent makers.
• Grand Central Holiday Fair — indoor and warm.
• Columbus Circle Holiday Market.
• Brooklyn holiday markets — Williamsburg, DUMBO, Navy Yard.
• Full guide: NYC Christmas Markets 2026.

Department Stores

• Macy’s Herald Square — windows and Santaland.
• Saks Fifth Avenue — light show and windows.
• Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdale’s.

Beyond Manhattan

See New Jersey Christmas markets and the North Shore shops in Christmas on Long Island.

Shopping Tips

• Shop weekday mornings to avoid the crowds.
• New York City sales tax is 8.875%; clothing and footwear under $110 per item are exempt from the state and city portions, so you pay only a small regional tax on them.
• Many stores extend hours in the two weeks before Christmas.

Shopping Neighborhoods

• Fifth Avenue (Midtown): flagship stores and luxury brands, with the holiday windows as a bonus.
• Herald Square and 34th Street: Macy’s flagship and mainstream chains.
• SoHo: boutiques, design stores and fashion brands on cobblestoned streets.
• Greenwich Village and the West Village: independent shops, bookstores and gift boutiques.
• Williamsburg, Brooklyn: vintage, makers and independent design.
• Hudson Yards and Columbus Circle: indoor malls, handy in bad weather.

Gifts That Say New York

Museum shops are excellent for gifts: the Met, MoMA, the Natural History Museum and the New York Transit Museum shop in Grand Central all sell unique, NYC-themed items. Bookstores and bakeries are great too. See our 30 New York gift ideas.

Timing Your Shopping

• Weekday mornings are the least crowded.
• Black Friday (November 27, 2026) and the weekends before Christmas are the busiest.
• Many stores extend hours in the two weeks before Christmas.
• Most stores close early on Christmas Eve and are closed Christmas Day.

Shipping Gifts Home

If you’re visiting, ask stores and market vendors about shipping. Many will ship directly, saving suitcase space. Post offices and shipping stores are busy in December, so allow extra time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best Christmas shopping in NYC?

The Union Square and Bryant Park holiday markets for gifts from independent makers, and Fifth Avenue and Herald Square for department stores.

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday is November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving.