Christmas Market at the Gedächtniskirche

A Square with History, a Market with Tradition

Breitscheidplatz in Berlin-Charlottenburg is one of the city's most famous addresses: the western end of Kurfürstendamm, the legs of the destroyed and rebuilt Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the gateway to City West. Since 1984, it has hosted Berlin's largest city center Advent market – the 42nd edition in 2025/2026 ran from November 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026, attracting around one million visitors.

The Light Carpet by Andreas Boehlke

The trademark is the 400-meter-long light canopy designed by Berlin lighting designer Andreas Boehlke, which spans the entire square. Those emerging from the bus and train lines at Zoologischer Garten or Wittenbergplatz look directly through it – it has become a photographic Berlin postcard motif.

More Than a Marketplace

The approximately 100 stalls are spread around the fountain in front of the Gedächtniskirche and along the paved axes. The offerings include: Berliner Bratwurst, mulled wine for a good cause (proceeds go annually to changing social projects), gingerbread, incense cones from the Erzgebirge, marzipan from Lübeck. In addition to the sales stands, the Hirschstube stands out – a temporary wooden house with a restaurant, tarte flambée, game dishes, and reservable tables.

A Lasting Remembrance

Since December 19, 2016, the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz has been under a special shadow: at that time, a truck drove into the crowd, killing twelve people and injuring many. A bronze split in the ground of the square with the names of the victims commemorates the attack. The market has since revised its security concept and is now secured with concrete bollards against vehicles over a wide area. The showmen's team and volunteers explicitly emphasize that the market should remain open, bright, and inviting.

A Piece of Berlin Tradition During Advent

For decades, the market has been opened with a church service in the Gedächtniskirche at 10 a.m. on the opening day. The organizing community of the Berlin Showmen's Association e.V. and the business association AG City represents Berlin's old showmen families and the Kurfürstendamm retailers.