The teal glass around the Galleria Dallas ice rink is on its way out. The mall announced in May that it would replace that glass with "a fresh, off-white finish to brighten and modernize the space," along with new flooring, lighting and seating around the ice, according to The Dallas Morning News. The paper reported that the work would be done by year's end. That puts the renovation right on top of the holiday season, and right where the season's biggest shows happen.
The timing makes sense once you look at the rest of the building. Galleria starts this holiday season with neither of the department stores that used to anchor it. Its money and its programming have both moved to the middle of the mall, onto the ice.
Two anchors, two different outcomes
Belk left Galleria Dallas in 2020. That space is now Netflix House, according to The Dallas Morning News. Nordstrom followed this year. Its last day was May 16, ending a run that started in 1996, when hundreds of people lined up for the first Nordstrom in Texas. The store had already shrunk before it closed. It gave up its third floor, more than 45,000 square feet, around 2022.
In its statement on the closure, Galleria said it was "disappointed to see them go" but "energized by the momentum of what's ahead." No plan for the former Nordstrom space has been announced. If you made a Nordstrom stop part of your holiday shopping, the company pointed shoppers to its full-line stores at NorthPark Center and Stonebriar Centre in Frisco.
Galleria has been filling the gaps with smaller stores. Trademark Property Company, which has managed and leased the mall since 2018, announced in March that ALO, Helzberg 1915, Rolife, Urban Planet and Watson had opened. It also said Lane Boots would move its flagship to a larger Level 1 space near Lucky Brand. The mall directory now lists Alo, Kids Foot Locker and Lane Boots as open. Aritzia and See's Candies still show "opening soon." Trademark CEO Terry Montesi described the strategy in that March announcement as "creative placemaking," with a better merchandise mix and busier public spaces.
Of all those public spaces, center court is the one getting the most attention.
What is changing around the ice
The center-court plan by Omniplan goes beyond the glass. WFAA reported new art on the center-court escalators, new digital boards on Level 2, and interactive kiosks around the mall that help shoppers find stores and text themselves directions. The new seating is meant for people who want to watch the skaters with a coffee.
"Ongoing investment in Galleria Dallas, combined with strong growth in foot traffic, reinforces that modern shopping centers can still prosper in the digital era," general manager Angie Freed said in the mall's statement, as quoted by WFAA.
For anyone planning a holiday skate, the key detail came from Local Profile. It reported that the rink would stay open for the whole refresh, with updates rolling out through the end of the year. The Galleria Ice Skating Center posts public sessions throughout the week and notes that its schedule can change without notice. Check it on the day you go.
The holiday calendar, in order
Here's the 2026 lineup from the mall's holiday page. Most of the main events take place at center court or on Level 1 near Banana Republic.
- Santaland opens November 13 and runs through December 24 on Level 1 near Banana Republic. Reservations are available through the Santaland page.
- Santa Paws runs Wednesdays from November 18 through December 16, 6 p.m. to close, at the same Level 1 spot. Pets must weigh under 100 pounds, and booking is linked from the Santa Paws page.
- Grand Tree skating shows take over center court on all levels at noon on Friday, November 27, Saturday, November 28, and Saturday, December 5. Each show has Olympic skaters, a fireworks finale, and Missile Toes, the mall's backflipping skating Santa.
- The Illumination Celebration runs November 27 through December 24 at center court, with tree-and-light shows at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Operation Kindness pet adoptions run near Banana Republic on Level 1 from November 27 through December 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
- Spanish-Speaking Santa is in Santaland all day on December 3, 10 and 17.
- Santa Cares offers a quieter Santaland visit for children with special needs on December 13, from 8 to 11 a.m. Spots are limited and appointment-only, and you reserve by email through the Santa Cares page.
On top of those, the mall lists more than 60 local groups performing holiday music around the center. The busiest stretch is the weekend of November 27 and 28, when the Grand Tree shows, the first Illumination shows and the pet adoptions all start within two days. Every Illumination show and every Grand Tree performance happens in the center court that's being renovated.
Netflix House gets its first full holiday season
Last year Netflix House opened on December 11, two weeks before Christmas. This year it has the whole season. Netflix describes the space as a permanent, year-round destination of more than 100,000 square feet, and entry is free. Free areas include photo spots, the Netflix BITES restaurant and a merchandise shop. The immersive attractions and the Netflix RePLAY arcade games cost extra.
The new attraction this season is KPop Demon Hunters: The Immersive Experience, which Netflix House Dallas lists as opening November 12. It's open to all ages, lasts about an hour, and timed tickets start at $39. Netflix lists flashing lights, fog and loud noises among its effects, and says it's wheelchair accessible. Regular Netflix House hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Special hours apply November 26 and 27.
The former Belk space and the rink are now the two big draws in the building. A December evening there can mean a 6 p.m. Illumination show and dinner at Netflix BITES, with no department store involved.
The north end stays under construction into 2027
The second project is on the outside of the building. Galleria is building a new grand entry at its North Plaza, between Grand Lux Café and The Westin Galleria Dallas. Chron reported that the project was estimated at $4.2 million in an April filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The plaza is getting new landscaping, seating, pavers and an upgraded valet stand.
Freed told Chron that the plaza is "a path to get into the building" today and that it "really could be much more interesting and a place that people sit and enjoy." She said the design builds on the South Plaza, where guests had asked for more outdoor green space. She also told Chron that construction would be phased, would finish in January 2027, and would give the mall its first entrance straight into the shopping center on the northwest side. WFAA gave a wider estimate of the first quarter of 2027. Trademark said on October 19 that construction is underway.
If you usually come in through the Grand Lux and Westin side, expect that end to be a work zone for all of December. The finished entrance and the brighter center court are both scheduled to be done around the turn of the year. That means the 2027 holiday season will probably be the first one where you see all of the new layout at once.
The North Plaza entrance, the empty Nordstrom space and the rebuilt center court are all open questions for the stretch of North Dallas around LBJ and the Tollway. To talk through how retail and public spaces near your home are changing, or what that could mean for your own plans, Duncan Real Estate Co is happy to sit down with you. Schedule a Consultation, and we'll start with what's going on down the street.
