Ghent Winter Festivities 2026: open for longer, adjust your calendar

In just over four weeks, the winter festivities start in Ghent. This year they last longer than you may be used to. According to VRT news, they run from 3 December to 3 January.

That changes your planning a little. Last year the festivities ended on 31 December. This time they continue until the end of the Christmas holidays. In this article you will read what is confirmed, what is still unclear and how to prepare your property in or near Ghent in good time.

What is confirmed

The 2026 Gentse Winterfeesten (Ghent Winter Festivities) start on Thursday 3 December and run until 3 January 2027 inclusive. VRT reported this in August, after the organiser's permit was approved.

There is also a reason behind the new end date. The City of Ghent states on its website that from 2026 the festivities no longer end on 31 December. From now on they stop on the last Sunday of the Christmas holidays. In 2025 the edition still ran from 4 to 31 December.

What visitors can expect stays largely the same. VRT reports that the concept changes little. There will be an ice rink, the Ferris wheel is back and a fountain track is new. There are also six curling lanes. New decorative elements are added.

What is not yet confirmed

Not everything is settled. The organisers had to work faster than usual this year, because the first procedure was withdrawn and restarted. Event Company BV will run the coming editions. Check the programme on the City of Ghent website just before the start.

We also cannot be sure of the exact locations for 2026. For the previous edition, the city named the Sint-Baafsplein, the Korenmarkt and Klein Turkije, among others. If you live near one of those places, you will feel the crowds first. Check this year's map before you adjust your listing.

So make no assumptions about opening hours or programme. Base your prices on the end date and the general level of activity, not on details that may still change.

Which guests to expect

A winter festival in a city mostly attracts short stays. Think of couples, groups of friends and families who stay for a weekend or a few nights. They come for the atmosphere, the food and the evening walk through the centre.

The extra week in January brings a different audience. These are guests who want to spend the last days of the Christmas holidays in the city. Their stay often starts around or just after New Year. Check whether your calendar for those days is still on an ordinary winter price.

Price and arrival days

Start with your own figures from last year. Which December weekends filled up quickly? Which nights stayed empty until the last week? That tells you more than any general rule.

A few steps are almost always worthwhile:

1. Do not leave the weekends of 4 to 6 December, 11 to 13 December and 18 to 20 December on the standard price.
2. Consider a two-night minimum stay for Friday and Saturday. That way no single nights are left over.
3. Look at the days from 4 to 17 December separately. Midweek demand is usually lower, even during a festival.
4. Price the nights of 24 and 31 December separately from the rest. The festive days follow their own logic, as we wrote in our article on Christmas and New Year 2026.
5. Open your calendar for January in good time. Guests planning a city trip often book a few weeks ahead.

The new end date matters most for the period from 27 December to 3 January. Until last year, the festivities stopped on 31 December. Now there is a reason to visit for longer. If you leave those days on a low winter price, you may be leaving revenue on the table.

At YourDomi, the price is adjusted daily on market data. That way the price follows demand rather than a fixed seasonal rate.

Crowds, noise and neighbours

A city hosting a winter festival is lively in the evening. Tell your guests in advance, especially if your property is close to the centre. A guest who expects quiet and hears a lot of people on Saturday evening is quicker to write a poor review.

Repeat your house rules on quiet after a certain hour. Explain where guests can leave coats, skates and wet shoes. A small drying space is a real asset in December.

Access and parking

In a busy city centre, guests who arrive by car often spend a long time looking for a space. State in your welcome message how guests reach your property and where they should preferably park.

Does your property have its own parking, or is it within walking distance of the station? Put that at the top of your listing. For a guest planning a busy weekend, it weighs heavily. Check the city's parking and traffic rules again before the start, as they may change during the festival.

Preparing your property

December asks more of a property than a summer weekend. Check heating, hot water and lighting before the first guests arrive. A guest who arrives in the cold is slow to forgive.

Provide extra blankets, a clear explanation of the thermostat and a calm, warm interior. If your listing still contains summer photos, you can add warm, atmospheric images.

What to do now

With four weeks ahead of you, the planning is manageable. Take these steps:

1. Set your prices for the weekends from 4 December to 3 January.
2. Set a minimum stay for Friday and Saturday.
3. Check the dates and locations with the City of Ghent shortly before the start.
4. Update your welcome message with information on access and parking.
5. Check your property for warmth, lighting and a place to dry coats.

How YourDomi approaches this

If you want to adjust several weekends in December, it takes time. YourDomi adjusts prices daily on market data, handles guest communication in several languages seven days a week and uses its own team for cleaning. The rental always stays in your name, so reviews and reputation remain yours. Want to know what this could mean for your property? You can request a personal proposal.