Prague Has Found Its 2026 Christmas Tree: 23-Metre Spruce Comes from Northern Bohemia

Prague has found its Christmas tree for this year's Advent season. A spruce tree approximately 23 metres tall from Northern Bohemia will decorate Old Town Square from the end of November. The Christmas tree for Wenceslas Square has also been selected.

The search for the Christmas tree for Prague's Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is over. As Taiko, the organiser of Prague's Christmas markets, announced, this year's choice is a spruce tree approximately 50 to 60 years old from the village of Šimonovice at the foot of Ještěd near Liberec.

The tree is around 23 metres tall and has a trunk circumference of more than two metres. It currently stands on private property, where its size and location have increasingly become a safety risk. The tree grows on a slope near the property boundary. There are particular concerns about its stability in strong winds.

The owner had preserved the spruce for many years, although neighbours had repeatedly requested its removal. Eventually, the family came up with the idea of offering the tree to a city as a Christmas tree. The fact that it would ultimately decorate Old Town Square in Prague came as a surprise to the owner.

Video: Christmas Market at Prague’s Old Town Square 2025 | Trhy Praha

Around 80 Proposals for Prague's Christmas Tree

As part of the traditional search for a suitable Christmas tree, organiser Taiko received almost 80 proposals this year. Around 20 trees were shortlisted and subsequently inspected on site by experts.

In addition to height, appearance and an evenly shaped crown, the decisive factors were the tree's health and safety. Accessibility for heavy machinery and the possibility of safe transport also played an important role.

Christmas Tree for Wenceslas Square Also Comes from Northern Bohemia

Alongside the tree for Old Town Square, the spruce for Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) has also been selected. It also comes from the Liberec region, more precisely from Rousínov in the Lusatian Mountains near Česká Lípa.

The tree reaches a height of approximately 21 metres and has a trunk circumference of just under two metres. This spruce also poses a safety risk at its current location and would have had to be felled regardless of its selection as a Christmas tree.

Photo: Trhy Praha

Transport to Prague Planned for 21 November

The felling of the spruce for Old Town Square is scheduled for Saturday, 21 November 2026. The tree will then be transported as an oversized load via Liberec to the Czech capital.

After arriving in Prague, the spruce will be erected in Old Town Square and festively decorated. The first lighting of the Christmas tree is planned for Saturday, 28 November 2026. The major Prague Christmas markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square will also begin on this day. They are among the largest Christmas markets in the Czech Republic.

Wood to Be Given a New Purpose After Christmas

The story of the two trees will not end when the Christmas markets close. As in previous years, the wood is to be reused for social projects. Apprentices at the Jarov vocational school in Prague will use it as part of their practical training to make various items, which will then benefit municipal social welfare facilities.

Last year's Christmas tree, for example, was turned into a garden shed and two benches for children at a family accommodation facility in Prague 4. In addition, a signpost with a map was made for the village from which the tree originally came.