Magdeburg Christmas Market

A Christmas Market between Otto the Great and a World of Lights

Anyone spending December in Magdeburg cannot miss the Magdeburg Christmas Market. For six weeks, the city center of the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt fills with the scent of mulled wine, gingerbread, wood crafts, and a sea of lights that is unique in this scale in Central Germany. From the Alter Markt to the Domplatz and further through the pedestrian zone, stall after stall lines up — over 140 in 2026.

Magdeburg, once the residence of Otto the Great and today a city with over 240,000 inhabitants, is a different city during Advent. The mighty Magdeburg Cathedral — the oldest Gothic cathedral in Germany — forms the backdrop for one of the market's most beautiful squares. On the Domplatz itself, there is a giant illuminated globe, a nativity scene, illuminated large figures, and winter light installations that transform the square in front of the imposing cathedral into a fairytale land.

Lichterwelt — 1.2 Million LEDs in the City Center

What makes Magdeburg special during Advent is the Lichterwelt Magdeburg: a city-wide light installation with over 1.2 million LEDs and more than 80 illuminated elements, running parallel to the Christmas market. From Hasselbachplatz via Ernst-Reuter-Allee to Breiter Weg, light arches, glowing sculptures, and themed areas transform the entire city center. Admission to the Lichterwelt is free — it runs longer than the market itself, often until early February.

140 Stalls, 50 Types of Mulled Wine, a 38-Meter Ferris Wheel

On the Alter Markt, over 140 lovingly designed stalls await with wood crafts from the Erzgebirge, smoking figures, candle arches, Christmas tree decorations, regional honey, knitwear, and of course culinary specialties ranging from bratwurst, schmalzkuchen (lard cakes), candied almonds to international Advent offerings. A special feature: around 50 different types of mulled wine — from classic red to apple-cinnamon and exotic variations like mango-elderflower.

Towering above it all is the 38-meter-high Ferris wheel offering views of the cathedral and the Elbe River. Next to it is the Kaiser-Otto-Pfalz (Emperor Otto's Palace) — a walk-in themed wooden structure for lingering — as well as the ice rink Winterfreuden on Ice (Winter Joys on Ice), which remains open well into January.

Magdeburg in a County-Independent Context

Magdeburg, as a city independent of any district, is the state capital and largest city in the north of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The Christmas market attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony — and with the ICE high-speed rail connection between Hamburg, Munich, and Berlin, the city is conveniently located.

The market is family-oriented, but also a meeting point for young adults who gather for "after-work mulled wine" after finishing their workday.