Tübingen Christmas Market 2026

Since 1974 — a traditional Tübingen Christmas Market

The Tübingen Christmas Market has been held every year on the 3rd Advent weekend since 1974 — in 2026, this means from Friday, December 11th, to Sunday, December 13th, 2026. With over 300 stalls, it is one of the largest and most beautiful Christmas markets in Southern Germany: the historic old town with its half-timbered houses, the Stiftskirche, the market square, and the steep alleys provide a unique backdrop. The organizer is the University City of Tübingen, coordinated by the Department of Public Order and Trade.

Over 300 Stalls in Eleven Alleys

The stalls are spread across eleven streets, alleys, and squares: Neckargasse, Holzmarkt, Marktgasse, Marktplatz, Haaggasse, Kornhausstraße, Krumme Brücke, Neue Straße, Metzgergasse, Nonnenhaus, Hafengasse — on Saturday and Sunday, additionally Schmiedtorstraße and Haagtorplatz. This layout organically guides visitors through the entire old town — with a new perspective, a new scent, a new highlight at every step. Unlike compact city center markets, the Tübingen Christmas Market is a strolling Christmas market.

Clubs and Artisans, Not Mass-Produced Goods

A hallmark is the profile of the exhibitors: Over half of the stalls are run by non-profit organizations (Scouts, school classes, church communities, social clubs, cultural initiatives). The proceeds flow back into the club's activities. Other stalls offer handcrafted products: pottery, wood carvings, leather goods, jewelry, honey, liqueurs, Christmas decorations. Industrial goods and glittery trinkets are the exception. This profile makes the Tübingen market a hidden gem for gifts that don't come from a chain store.

Feuerzangenbowle on Friday Evening

A traditional highlight: On Friday, December 11th, 2026, at 7 PM, the Feuerzangenbowle will be lit on the Haagtorplatz — a sugarloaf over red wine, flambéed with rum, a tradition with the charm of Helmut Krausser and Heinz Erhardt. A spectacle for the masses — singing together, warm mulled wine, festive joy in wintery Tübingen.

Family Program: Carousels and Theater

For children, there are traditional carousels in two locations: at the Marktplatz and at the Nonnenhaus — historic multi-story carousels with wooden horses, swans, and small cars that have shaped the Tübingen Christmas Market for generations. On Sunday, December 13th, there will also be a children's theater on the market square with a child-friendly Christmas story or a classic Advent fairy tale.

Tübingen — University City on the Neckar

Tübingen, with around 91,000 inhabitants, is the historic university city on the Neckar in Baden-Württemberg, home to the Eberhard Karls University (since 1477). The picturesque old town with its half-timbered houses, punting boats on the Neckar, and the Stiftskirche from 1470 is repeatedly honored as the "most beautiful old town in Germany". In Advent, it is particularly magically illuminated — the Christmas market with over 300 illuminated stalls enhances the atmosphere. The 3rd Advent weekend is therefore a fixed date in the annual calendar for many residents of Stuttgart, Reutlingen, and southern Tübingen.