Guadalajara opens the application period to operate the 2026-2027 Christmas Market

The Guadalajara City Council has published the summary of the guidelines for granting public domain authorizations that will allow the installation of the Christmas Market during the 2026-2027 Christmas and Three Kings festivities. The announcement appears in the Official Gazette of the Province of Guadalajara (BOP) No. 198, dated October 16, 2026, and bears the signature of the Mayor-President, Ana Guarinos López. Interested parties have until October 31, 2026, to submit their applications.

The authorization is part of the municipal objective to “energize the 2026/2027 Christmas and Three Kings festivities” and to complement municipal activities in different locations within the municipality. The file is processed as a public domain authorization for the use of public spaces, with a market whose location is “to be determined by the Department of Protocol and Festivities.”

Regarding the price, the summary specifies that, as the application of the corresponding tax ordinance is pending, no fee is applicable for the public domain authorization.

Dates, schedules, and number of stalls

• Installation period: from December 4, 2026, to January 7, 2027, excluding the preceding days for assembly and disassembly.
• General schedule: every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
• December 24 and 31: from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• December 25, January 1 and 6: from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
• Number of stalls: minimum 15 and maximum 30, approximately 2x3 meters.
• Joining two stalls is permitted if the design and layout allow it, provided that landscaped areas are not encroached upon under any circumstances.
• The maximum of 30 stalls cannot be exceeded; the distribution among the authorized parties will be the responsibility of the awardee.

Stall requirements and commercial offer

The stalls must be made of wood with a gabled roof, properly decorated and with the corresponding electrical installation, without nailing or drilling into the ground where they are located. Wood-laminated sheet metal stalls are excluded. The offer will be limited to craft products, textiles, accessories, and gastronomy consistent with the Christmas season.

To ensure variety in the commercial proposal, no more than two stalls selling similar products may be installed, and it will be mandatory to present a minimum of two stalls for Christmas decorations and themes (ornaments, nougat, chocolates, etc.). Immediate consumption stalls are limited to 10% of the total, and churros or roasted chestnut stalls may not be offered.

The holder must present a proposal for decoration, performances, and Christmas atmosphere, including plans and photographs, and must include warm lighting, garlands, plant branches and wreaths, and red bows. Additionally, they must schedule children’s activities for the whole family on at least December 24, 25, 30, and 31.

Evaluation and award criteria

The public domain authorization will be awarded according to two blocks of criteria:

• Subjective criteria: up to 70 points.
  • Design, visual appeal, and originality in decoration: up to 25 points.
  • Novel or exceptional proposals in product offerings: up to 25 points.
  • Proposal for the implementation of Christmas activities: 20 points.
• Criteria quantifiable by formulas: up to 30 points.
  • Number of stalls offered: 1 point for each additional stall, up to a maximum of 10 points.
  • Performances, parades, and workshops: 2 points for each performance, setting, or parade, up to a maximum of 20 points.

The full terms and conditions are available to interested parties at the Department of Protocol and Festivities of the Guadalajara City Council and on the municipal website. The document is dated in Guadalajara on October 14, 2026.

The call for applications opens a window of barely two weeks for merchants, artisans, and fairground traders to submit their projects, as the application deadline expires on October 31, 2026. The result will determine the commercial and leisure offering of the center during the Christmas holidays, with a market of between 15 and 30 stalls that will remain operational for more than a month, from the December long weekend until after Epiphany.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Guadalajara, No. 198, of October 16, 2026, Section I (Announcements), pp. 1-3 (official reference: 2026_2714).