December is Salt Lake's busiest month for events: holiday shows, Christmas markets, light displays, big concerts and the start of ski season all at once. Here are the things to do in Salt Lake City in December 2026 that we'd actually put on the calendar, with dates, prices and the deadlines you don't want to miss.
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Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concerts (Dec 17–19)
The free Christmas concerts are Dec 17–19, 2026 at 8pm, but tickets are given out by random drawing. Registration runs Nov 2–15 at thetabernaclechoir.org/christmas-tickets (up to 4 tickets per household; ages 8 and up). If you miss the drawing, a standby line forms 90 minutes before each concert. The Christmas broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word is Sunday, Dec 20 at 9:30am.
Ballet West's The Nutcracker (Dec 4–26)
Salt Lake's holiday tradition is back at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre from Dec 4–26, with tickets from $30. (It also plays Ogden's Browning Center Nov 27–29.) Tip: there's no late seating, and every child needs their own ticket.
Hale Centre Theatre's A Christmas Carol (Nov 27 – Dec 26)
Now in its 42nd year in Sandy. Adult tickets are $64–94, and youth 5–17 are always half price. Children under 5 aren't admitted.
Holiday music at Abravanel Hall
Messiah Sing-In: Nov 28–29, 7:30pm. Technically right before December, but it kicks off the season.
The Holiday in Concert: Saturday, Dec 12, 7pm
A Cody Fry Christmas: Wednesday, Dec 16, 7pm
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert: Dec 22–23, 7pm, with the Utah Symphony playing the score live
The Utah Symphony offers under-30 and student discounts.
Christmas markets and light displays
Christkindlmarkt SLC: Dec 2–5 at This Is The Place Heritage Park (free)
Festival of Trees: Dec 2–5 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy
Red Butte Garden Holiday Open House & Art Fair: Dec 5–6 (free admission)
Candlelight Christmas: Dec 11–23 at This Is The Place Heritage Park
Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point: through Jan 9 in Lehi
Full details are in our holiday markets guide and our Christmas lights guide.
Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth home games
Jazz at the Delta Center:
Dec 12 vs. Denver, 7:30pm
Dec 14 vs. Minnesota, 7pm
Dec 26 vs. Indiana, 3pm
Dec 30 vs. New York, 7pm
Mammoth highlights:
Dec 15 vs. the New York Islanders
Dec 17 vs. Carolina, the defending Stanley Cup champs
Dec 31: the NHL Winter Classic vs. Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium
See the full Mammoth schedule at nhl.com/utah.
Big concerts
Jonas Brothers: Monday, Dec 7, Delta Center
Lindsey Stirling: Tuesday, Dec 15, Maverik Center
Ski season opens
Resort target opening dates for 2026–27 (always weather permitting):
Alta, Park City Mountain and Solitude: Nov 20
Snowbird and Snowbasin: Thanksgiving week
Deer Valley: Dec 5, with the new Hail Peak Express
Sundance: early December
Powder Mountain: Dec 11
Brighton: date TBA
Parking reservations, passes and canyon tips are in our ski resorts near Salt Lake City guide.
More guides
The whole month, one weekend at a time. Get our picks every Thursday morning.