Once the KGH heating and cooling congress packs up in mid-December, the Belgrade Fair switches from engineering to tinsel. The 64th New Year Market (Novogodišnji vašar) will run from 11 to 30 December 2026 in Hall 1, the large domed hall designed in the 1950s by Milorad Pantović and Branko Žeželj. It is the last event on the fair's 2026 calendar.
Dates, hours and what has changed
According to the Belgrade Fair's calendar, the market is open daily from 12:00 to 20:00. That makes this edition a little shorter than last year's: in 2025 the market ran for 26 days, from 5 to 30 December, and stayed open until 22:00 at weekends. This year's page lists weekday-style hours only, so traders should check with the organiser whether evening opening will be extended closer to the holidays.
Last year's market followed a familiar formula. Stands sold mass-market goods such as New Year decorations, souvenirs, gifts and toys, while food and drink stalls offered traditional holiday sweets and hot drinks. A large indoor amusement park with rides, games and light installations filled part of the space, entry was free and parking at the fairground cost 200 dinars per hour.
For 2026 the fair has not yet published the programme, the list of exhibitors or ticket prices. The event page does, however, include information on group tickets, pro-forma invoices and online ticket sales, so visitors should check whether entry remains free this year.
Why it matters for traders, decorators and stand builders
The New Year Market is not a professional trade fair, but it is one of the busiest consumer events of the Belgrade winter and a useful outlet for small businesses:
- Small producers and retailers can rent a stand for almost three weeks of Christmas shopping traffic. Application forms and exhibition rules are available through the fair's website.
- Decorators and lighting firms have a natural showcase: holiday stands are judged by how they look after dark, and a hall of this size needs festive dressing, lighting and signage.
- Stand builders and equipment hire companies should note the tight turnaround. KGH occupies Hall 4 until 11 December, the same day the market opens in Hall 1, so crews, transport and loading slots at the fairground will be busy that week.
- Food and drink businesses can test seasonal products with a broad family audience.
Event details
- Event: 64th New Year Market (64. Novogodišnji vašar)
- Dates: 11–30 December 2026
- Opening hours: 12:00–20:00
- City and venue: Belgrade, Belgrade Fair, Hall 1
- Organiser: Belgrade Fair (Beogradski sajam)
- Event type: Consumer fair / holiday market
- Exhibitor contact: Aleksandar Pavić, +381 11 2655-831, vasar@sajam.rs
- Group tickets and pro-forma invoices: tickets@sajam.rs, +381 11 2655 588
- Official website: sajam.rs
Sources
- sajam.rs
- sajam.rs
- biznis.rs
- en.wikipedia.org
Photo: Darya Min / Unsplash licence / source
