Planeta Crăciun, Cluj-Napoca: Piața Unirii, 20 Nov 2026-1 Jan 2027, by the UNTOLD team

Planeta Crăciun ("Christmas Planet") is Cluj-Napoca's official Christmas market in Piața Unirii, the city's main square. It has run since 2023 under a five-year concession between Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Fantesia UNTOLD SRL, the production company behind the UNTOLD electronic music festival, which brings a larger production budget and UNTOLD-branded theming than a typical Romanian city Christmas market.

Dates. The 2026 edition runs from 20 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, a 43-day run, according to municipal and press coverage of the event. Some regional outlets have reported an opening date of 21 November for public access; the earlier date most likely reflects an opening-ceremony or press date versus general opening, so travelers planning around a specific evening should confirm the exact 2026 opening-night schedule closer to the date.

Where it is. The main market sits in Piața Unirii, Cluj's central square, ringed by the National Theatre and St. Michael's Church. A separate "Winter Market" and ice rink, run at the Horia Demian Sports Hall grounds, has opened around 28 November in a recent edition and extended into February — a distinct event from Planeta Crăciun itself, worth knowing about if an ice rink is the main draw.

What's there. Planeta Crăciun combines wooden stalls selling seasonal food and crafts with UNTOLD-style production elements: a panoramic Ferris wheel with light shows, a story-themed carousel for children, VR sleigh-ride experiences, and a Santa's cottage with creative workshops.

In a recent edition, the market featured over 80 artistic performances and roughly 75 food and craft stalls, plus timed light spectacles on the main structures in the evening. Exact 2026 attraction counts and schedules had not been finalized in the sources checked, so treat these as recent-edition references rather than confirmed 2026 figures.

What to eat and buy. Expect the standard Romanian Christmas-market range — mulled wine, kürtőskalács, sausages and stews — sold from the market's food stalls, alongside handmade crafts and gifts from the roughly 75 vendors noted in a recent edition.

Getting there. Cluj-Napoca is served by Cluj Avram Iancu International Airport, with direct flights from many European cities, about a 20-minute drive or bus ride from the center. Piața Unirii sits in the heart of the historic center and is walkable from most central accommodation; the city's bus and tram network also serves the square directly.

Tips. Because Planeta Crăciun is run by the UNTOLD production team rather than the city alone, expect a more elaborate, stage-show-like atmosphere than at some other Romanian Christmas markets, with scheduled light and performance moments through the evening rather than just static stalls.

No official admission price or free-entry statement was found for the main market in Piața Unirii in the sources checked; some individual attractions (VR rides, workshops) may carry separate charges. Confirm exact 2026 opening-night plans and any attraction pricing on the city's or UNTOLD's own channels before visiting.