Things to Do in Delhi in December 2026: Christmas, NYE, Winter
Updated 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · by the delhi2go team
December 2026 in Delhi starts with Delhi Comic Con on 5–6 December at NSIC Grounds, Okhla. Christmas falls on Friday 25 December, giving a three-day weekend, and New Year’s Eve is on a Thursday. In between, the city is at its best for winter-sun heritage walks, gigs and winter food. Expect cold, often foggy mornings in the second half of the month, and keep an eye on AQI.
December 2026 calendar
| Date | Day | What’s on |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 Dec | Sat–Sun | Delhi Comic Con 2026, NSIC Exhibition Grounds, Okhla |
| Through Dec | — | Christmas décor in malls and markets; winter gigs and pop-up markets every weekend |
| 24 Dec | Thu | Christmas Eve: carols and midnight mass |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day (gazetted holiday); long weekend 25–27 Dec |
| 31 Dec | Thu | New Year’s Eve |
| 1 Jan 2027 | Fri | New Year’s Day, followed by a weekend |
| 16–24 Jan 2027 | Sat–Sun | Coming up: New Delhi World Book Fair at Bharat Mandapam |
Weather and air: what December feels like
December days are usually around 20–23°C with bright afternoon sun. Nights fall to single digits by the last fortnight. Fog is the month’s wildcard: dense morning fog often settles in from mid-December and can delay flights and trains and slow the roads until mid-morning. Air quality is often still poor, so check CPCB’s SAMEER app before you plan an outdoor day.
What to pack: thermals or a warm layer for evenings, a proper jacket for late nights, and an N95 for bad-air days. Our indoor things to do guide has Plan B ideas and explains how GRAP works.
The big events
Delhi Comic Con (5–6 December)
This year’s Comic Con is a two-day edition at NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla, a short walk from Okhla NSIC metro on the Magenta Line. Single Day Passes are ₹1,199 and the two-day Superfan Pass is ₹3,499. Comic artist Ant Williams is the first international guest announced. Our Comic Con 2026 guide has the entry rules and cosplay tips.
Christmas (24–27 December)
Midnight mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, carol evenings, Christmas brunches, plum cake runs and mall Santas fill the week. Our Christmas 2026 guide covers the churches, markets and brunch booking tips. Live listings go on our Christmas events hub as they’re confirmed.
New Year’s Eve (31 December)
With NYE on a Thursday and 1 January on a Friday, expect a long weekend of parties. Book by mid-December. Remember that the metro’s last trains leave at around 11 pm, and that Rajiv Chowk’s exits have been closed from 9 pm on NYE in recent years. Our NYE 2026 party guide has the area-by-area plan, price guidance and cab tips.
Winter music and gigs
December is peak concert season in NCR. The weather allows open-air stages, and big tours often pass through Delhi before the year ends. Headline shows tend to be announced in batches through October and November, sometimes at short notice. Rather than relying on rumoured line-ups, check:
- our concerts in Delhi hub for confirmed big shows
- our daily music listings for indie gigs, jazz nights and classical concerts
- our live music venues guide for the clubs worth a weeknight
Cold-weather tip for open-air gigs: the ground gets damp and chilly after sunset, so wear closed shoes and layers you can tie round your waist when the crowd heats up.
A winter food trail
December is when Delhi eats best.
- Daulat ki chaat: whipped, saffron-tinged milk foam, sold by vendors in Old Delhi’s lanes on winter mornings. It’s gone by the time the sun gets strong, so go early.
- Nihari: slow-cooked meat stew for breakfast in the lanes around Jama Masjid. Pair it with khamiri roti.
- Gajar ka halwa and moong dal halwa: most halwais have both by December.
- Sarson ka saag with makki ki roti: Punjabi winter comfort food. Dhabas and home-style restaurants put it on the menu as the season peaks.
- Shakarkandi chaat: roasted sweet potato with lemon and masala from street carts, the cheapest good snack of the season.
- Christmas cakes: plum cakes from Wenger’s in CP and neighbourhood bakeries; order by mid-December.
Get off at Chandni Chowk (Yellow) or Jama Masjid (Violet) for Old Delhi, and go on a weekday morning. Food walks and winter food festivals appear in our listings as they’re announced.
Heritage walks in the winter sun
The low winter sun makes Delhi’s monuments glow, and December afternoons are perfect for walking.
- Mehrauli Archaeological Park: tombs, stepwells and ruins spanning nearly a thousand years of Delhi’s history, all free to wander. Go at 2–4 pm for the golden light.
- Humayun’s Tomb and Sunder Nursery: do the tomb, then cross over to Sunder Nursery’s lawns for a picnic.
- Lodhi Garden: Lodi-era tombs, morning walkers and winter flowers.
- Old Delhi: start at Jama Masjid, wind through the lanes to Ghalib’s haveli in Ballimaran, and end at Chandni Chowk. Ghalib was born on 27 December, so the haveli is a nice stop that week.
- Qutub Minar and Tughlaqabad Fort for wide-open ruins and fewer crowds on weekday afternoons.
Our heritage walks hub lists guided walks, including Delhi Tourism’s bookable ones, along with talks and special openings.
Theatre, comedy and culture
Mandi House’s theatres run busy December calendars, from repertory productions to touring plays, and the India Habitat Centre has talks, films and concerts most evenings. For laughs, the comedy clubs have shows almost every night; start with our best stand-up comedy clubs roundup.
Fog-season travel tips
From mid-December, dense fog can disrupt travel in the mornings and late at night. If you’re flying, taking a train or driving out of Delhi over Christmas or New Year, a little planning saves a lot of stress.
- Flights: turn on your airline’s app notifications, and leave buffer time for early-morning departures and arrivals. Fog delays tend to cascade through the morning.
- Trains: check the live running status on Indian Railways’ National Train Enquiry System (NTES) before heading to the station. Long-distance trains into Delhi often run hours late in fog.
- Driving: use low beams and fog lamps, never high beams. Keep a long gap on expressways and avoid driving between midnight and 8 am if you can.
- Metro: it’s unaffected by fog, which makes it the most reliable way across the city on foggy mornings.
Markets and slow Sundays
Winter Sundays are made for browsing. The Sunday Book Market at Mahila Haat on Asaf Ali Road, near Delhi Gate metro (Violet Line), is the old Daryaganj book bazaar in its newer home. Go before noon with a tote bag and patience. December weekends also bring back craft and flea markets, Christmas pop-ups and Dilli Haat at its best, with sunny courtyards and hot food stalls. See our flea markets hub for the latest pop-ups.
Between Christmas and New Year
The week of 28–31 December is quieter at work and busy everywhere else. Restaurants, malls and monuments are crowded, and Old Delhi’s lanes see winter-holiday visitors from across North India. Book restaurants for the evenings, visit monuments early on weekdays, and expect holiday-season surge pricing on cabs. Some offices slow down or shut that week, so the morning commute is often lighter, which makes it a good week for a weekday heritage walk.
Weekend-by-weekend ideas
| Weekend | Dates | Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 5 – Sun 6 Dec | Comic Con at NSIC Okhla; first winter flea markets |
| 2 | Sat 12 – Sun 13 Dec | Heritage walk plus an Old Delhi food trail; book your Christmas brunch and NYE plans |
| 3 | Sat 19 – Sun 20 Dec | Christmas markets and mall carnivals; a gig night |
| 4 | Fri 25 – Sun 27 Dec | Christmas long weekend: brunch, church visits, cosy indoor plans if fog or smog rolls in |
| 5 | Thu 31 Dec – Sun 3 Jan | NYE, then a slow New Year’s weekend |
For families, Delhi’s school winter break usually begins around the turn of the year. Our kids and family events hub has plenty of ideas.
Looking ahead to January
The New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 runs from 16 to 24 January 2027 at Bharat Mandapam, organised by the National Book Trust with ITPO. We’ll have the full guide on our World Book Fair hub closer to the date.
Our November 2026 guide covers the month before.
Frequently asked questions
What are the big events in Delhi in December 2026?
Delhi Comic Con on 5–6 December at NSIC Grounds in Okhla, Christmas on Friday 25 December, and New Year's Eve on Thursday 31 December. The New Delhi World Book Fair follows soon after, from 16 to 24 January 2027 at Bharat Mandapam.
How cold is Delhi in December?
Days are typically around 20–23°C and nights drop to single digits by late December. Dense fog is common in the mornings in the second half of the month, so carry warm layers.
Is December a good month to visit Delhi?
Yes, for sunny afternoons, winter food, heritage walks and a packed events calendar around Christmas and New Year. Air quality can still be poor, and fog can delay flights and trains, so leave buffer time.
What food should I try in Delhi in winter?
Daulat ki chaat in Old Delhi, gajar ka halwa, nihari around Jama Masjid, sarson ka saag with makki ki roti, shakarkandi chaat from street carts, and plum cake at Christmas.
When is the World Book Fair 2027 in Delhi?
The New Delhi World Book Fair 2027 is from 16 to 24 January 2027 at Bharat Mandapam, organised by the National Book Trust with ITPO.