Mayor Michelle Wu Announces 2026 Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll

Annual holiday tradition closes out Open Newbury Season, which engaged more than 100 businesses and welcomed nearly 100,000 participants over nine weekends

Mayor Michelle Wu announced that Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll will return to round out this year's program of nine successful Open Newbury events, which activated over 100 businesses and welcomed close to 100,000 participants. Launched in 2024, the Holiday Stroll will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2026, to celebrate the holidays and promote the winter shopping season in the Back Bay.

"The beauty of the holidays comes from gathering with friends and family, and through Open Newbury, we are creating another opportunity for everyone to come together, visit local businesses, and stroll along this historic street," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "We invite residents and visitors to enjoy this beloved Boston tradition and celebrate the season together."

Newbury Street will be car-free from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on December 6. The route will be the same as the summer Open Newbury series, with Newbury Street closed to cars from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. The City encourages Newbury Street businesses to activate their outdoor spaces with family-friendly activities, pop-up parklets, brand activations, and other programming. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for December 13.

"The Open Newbury: Holiday Stroll has become a beloved annual tradition," said Chris Osgood, Interim Chief of Streets. "We invite everyone to enjoy the festive atmosphere and support our small businesses this season."

Parking will be restricted on Newbury Street and certain cross streets, with enforcement beginning at 6:00 a.m. Signs will be posted informing drivers of the change. The intersections of Fairfield Street, Gloucester Street, and Hereford Street will be car-free. The remaining intersections will be open to vehicular traffic for public safety access and general vehicular traffic flow.

"Open Newbury is a beloved Boston tradition, and I'm thrilled to see the Holiday Stroll return for a third year," said City Councilor Sharon Durkan. "The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to open Newbury Street to pedestrians and bring residents and visitors together to enjoy all that the Back Bay has to offer and support the local businesses that make it so special. I'm so excited to celebrate another holiday season with our community on Newbury Street!"

"The Back Bay Association welcomes the Open Newbury Holiday Stroll as a festive way to bring unique visitors to the corridor to enjoy this world-famous Victorian boutique shopping district," said Meg Mainzer-Cohen, President of the Back Bay Association. "We encourage neighbors and tourists alike to dine, shop, and stroll on Newbury Street and explore the rest of the Back Bay to take advantage of this event."

More details on Open Newbury can be found here.

• Published by: Mayor's Office