Next: about 26 Nov to 23 Dec 2026
Christmas Markets
Wooden stalls of mulled wine, gingerbread, ornaments and roasted almonds in the old town squares of Europe.
When is Christmas Markets in 2026?
Christmas Markets 2026 runs from 26 November to 23 December 2026. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2027, 26 November to 23 December 2027; 2028, 26 November to 23 December 2028.
About Christmas Markets
From late November to Christmas Eve, the central squares of towns across German-speaking Europe and beyond fill with Christmas markets. The oldest ones go back to the late Middle Ages, such as Dresden's Striezelmarkt, first held in 1434. Small wooden huts sell handmade ornaments, candles, wooden toys and nativity figures, and warm drinks, above all Glühwein, mulled wine, with the added warmth of a ceramic mug that people keep as a souvenir, and Kinderpunsch for children. Stalls serve Lebkuchen gingerbread, roasted chestnuts and almonds, bratwurst, and Christstollen, the fruit loaf. Choirs and brass bands play carols in the evenings. Strasbourg, Nuremberg, Vienna, Prague, Cologne and Tallinn are among the best known. The market dates are approximate.
Christmas Markets dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Christmas Markets date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 November to 23 December 2026 |
| 2027 | 26 November to 23 December 2027 |
| 2028 | 26 November to 23 December 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is eaten
- Gluhwein
- Lebkuchen
- roasted chestnuts
- bratwurst
- stollen
Also part of it, and being written: Christkindlesmarkt (The Nuremberg market.), Glühwein (The mulled wine.), Stollen (The Christmas fruit bread of Dresden.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Christmas market" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.