28th Lausitzer Herbstmarkt Cottbus

Lausitz Country Life in the Heart of Cottbus

When the stalls are set up on Oberkirchplatz on Sunday, October 4, 2026, the Lausitzer Herbstmarkt will begin for the 28th time — one of the most established market traditions in Cottbus city centre. The concept has remained consistent: crafts, direct marketing, and tradition from the Lausitz region, presented right at the foot of the late Gothic Oberkirche St. Nikolai. From 10 AM to 5 PM, locals, day-trippers from the region, and tourists will browse the stalls — free admission, a family atmosphere, and a plentiful gastronomic selection.

Crafts and Direct Marketing as the Guiding Principle

What distinguishes the Lausitzer Herbstmarkt from a classic weekly market is its deliberate focus on regional crafts and on producers who create their own goods rather than just reselling them. Typical exhibitors include: basket weavers from the Spreewald (Spreewald basket tradition), ceramicists from Lausitz potteries, beekeepers with honey, wax, and mead from their own apiaries, lavender producers from the southern Lausitz region, woodworkers, turners, wool processors with hand-spun yarns and felt products — and travelling traders from the nearby eastern Saxon border region.

Demonstrations and Folklore

Several stalls offer live demonstrations of old craft techniques: pottery on the wheel, felting, spinning, basket weaving, natural dyeing. In addition, folkloric groups perform — dance, song, sometimes traditional costume displays — animating the market between the stalls. This mix of trade stands, demonstrations, and shows makes the market a true experience day, not just a shopping opportunity.

The Oberkirche St. Nikolai as a Backdrop

The Oberkirche Cottbus — the city's late Gothic main church — forms the backdrop for the market. With its mighty tower and typical Brandenburg brick profile, it towers over the square, lending the market a historical depth that sets it apart from any ordinary city market. Visitors to the market can easily combine their visit with a church tour or a climb up the church tower, which offers a view over Cottbus's old town.

Cottbus and the Spree-Neiße District

Cottbus, with just under 100,000 inhabitants, is the second-largest city in Brandenburg and the economic and cultural centre of Lower Lusatia. The Lausitzer Herbstmarkt serves as a showcase for the region — the Lausitz as a landscape and cultural area, ranging from the Spreewald tradition to the Sorbian-Wendish identity. The event is organised by COEX Veranstaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, which organises several Cottbus markets and events.

Practical Information and Date Tradition

The market takes place annually on the first Sunday in October and is designed as a late-opening Sunday in Cottbus — many city centre shops are open concurrently, making the market a perfect day trip combined with a stroll through the historic centre. Free admission.