Leipzig Christmas Market

Since 1458 — Tradition from Another Era

The Leipzig Christmas Market boasts an unbroken history dating back to 1458. It was then that Leipzig was granted market rights for a Christmas market — and the market has been held almost annually ever since. This makes it the second-oldest Christmas market in Germany, with only Dresden's Striezelmarkt (since 1434) being older. Today, the market is one of the largest and most popular Christmas markets in Central Germany — attracting around 2 million visitors per season.

November 24 to December 23, 2026 — 7 Market Areas

The 2026 market opens on November 24 at 5 PM with a festive opening ceremony on the Markt. The highlight is the illumination of the approximately 20-meter-high Christmas tree, decorated with about 300 red and gold baubles and around 3,000 lights. Spread across 7 market areas in the city center, over 300 stalls await. Open Sun–Thu 11 AM–9 PM, Fri/Sat 11 AM–10 PM. Last market day: December 23, 2026 (closed on Christmas Eve).

The 7 Market Areas and Their Specialties

Each market area has its own character: The central Markt is the heart of the event, featuring the Christmas tree, the main stage, and the Thomanerchor choir's stall. At the Naschmarkt, the medieval market 'Alt Leipzig' is recreated — with artisans in historical costumes, blacksmiths, potters, mead, and stone-oven bread. The Nikolaikirchhof is famous for its Feuerzangenbowle pyramid, a mulled wine variation particularly cherished in Leipzig. On Augustusplatz, the Fairy Tale Forest unfolds with many interactive stations and storytelling workshops, alongside the market stage with Santa Claus performances. Petersstraße is lined with stalls offering arts and crafts and jewelry, Salzgässchen features a historic carousel, and Roßplatz offers food and mulled wine stalls in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Leipzig Specialties

While you can find mulled wine and bratwurst elsewhere, in Leipzig, be sure to look out for local specialties: Leipziger Lerche (shortcrust pastry tarts with almonds and marzipan, a culinary tribute to the once-hunted songbirds), Leipziger Allasch (caraway liqueur, traditionally served with coffee), Erzgebirge smokers (many workshops have stalls), Saxon Christstollen (often at special bakery stalls with live demonstrations), and of course, mulled wine, Feuerzangenbowle, and egg grog.

Saxony, Leipzig, and the Advent Season

In Saxony, the Advent season is a core cultural experience — from the Erzgebirge smokers and the Christstollen tradition to the Christmas markets in the major cities. Leipzig embodies a unique blend of urban grandeur and tradition: While Dresden cherishes the older format with its Striezelmarkt, Leipzig offers a musical and cultural dimension. The Thomaskirche with the Thomanerchor, the Nikolaikirche (starting point of the peaceful revolution in 1989), the Gewandhaus with its Advent concerts — everywhere, the Christmas market merges with the cultural program. Visitors to Leipzig in December experience not just a market, but a city fully immersed in Advent.