UBC July 2026 - Easter Markets

On our first full day in Prague, the Wednesday after Easter weekend, we were surprised to find the Easter markets still in full swing. Back home, Easter disappears almost the moment the chocolate eggs are eaten, so I was delighted to get a second chance at spring festivities we had essentially missed in Switzerland.

At first glance, it all felt strangely familiar. The little wooden huts looked exactly like the ones used for Christmas markets, only now they were filled with painted eggs, ribbons, spring decorations and Easter crafts instead of baubles and stars. Although… were some actual Christmas ornaments still being offered there too? I could have sworn I spotted a few, and I think you do, too:

And honestly, that thought stayed with me throughout the trip: in Prague there seems to be a cheerful attitude of “Christmas, Easter, who cares? We simply love our little huts, festive food stalls and cozy market atmosphere.” And to be fair, it works brilliantly.

But after reading more about it, I discovered that Prague’s Easter markets are not just a tourist invention. Their roots go back to medieval religious fairs connected to Easter celebrations and the arrival of spring. In the Czech lands, Easter "Velikonoce" blended Christian traditions with older pagan spring customs, so markets historically sold decorated eggs, willow whips, folk crafts, flowers and seasonal foods.

What makes Prague unusual today is how enthusiastically the city revived these traditions after the fall of communism in 1989. During the communist era, overt religious celebrations were discouraged and many Easter traditions faded away. After the Velvet Revolution, Prague brought the markets back not only as a cultural tradition, but also as a large-scale public event.

And they really committed to it. Prague doesn’t just host a few Easter stalls for a weekend. The markets spread across several major squares, run for several weeks, feature music and performances, and create an atmosphere that feels almost like a springtime version of Advent season.

In 2026, the Easter markets ran from March 21 until April 12, with the main locations at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. An entire month! I had genuinely never experienced Easter being celebrated on that scale before. 

Walking through the markets, there was plenty to look at: beautifully decorated Easter eggs in every imaginable color and pattern, woven willow whips, wooden toys, flowers and handcrafted decorations. Huge “Easter trees” decorated with colorful eggs stretched across the square and looked wonderfully cheerful against Prague’s historic buildings.

The food added another layer of familiarity. Gingerbread, honey cakes, pastries, sausages and beer. Once again I caught myself thinking: this really is Christmas market energy in spring clothing. Not that I was complaining.

There were also performances throughout the day. During our stay, various choirs and folk groups were scheduled to sing on the market stage, including wonderfully specific announcements like “Kindergarten so-and-so” or “Women’s Choir XY.” Somehow that local, slightly improvised feeling made it all very charming.

At the same time, I couldn’t completely ignore the fact that modern Easter markets are also a very effective tourist attraction. And tourists, apparently, love being entertained with minimal effort.

Ever since Facebook noticed I was in Prague, my feed has been flooded with travel-group posts I never subscribed to and seemingly cannot escape. Some of the questions honestly leave me baffled:

“Hello, I will be in Prague next month for 4 days. Can you please tell me the places I must visit and best restaurants?”

Or:

“On an Apple iPhone what is the best way to find ‘must visit’ places once we get to Prague? I’m so excited and I don’t want to miss anything I’ll regret.”

Maybe I sound grumpy, but part of me always thinks: do a little research first. Don’t expect random Facebook users or your phone to plan your entire experience for you.

And more importantly: are we travelling to tick off “must-see” attractions, or are we travelling to experience a place in our own personal way?