Leipzig – Leipzig Christmas Market 2026

Leipzig Christmas Market 2026 welcomes visitors to Leipzig’s historic city centre from Tuesday, 24 November to Wednesday, 23 December 2026. The city and Leipzig Tourism confirm the dates, opening time and special hours on the final two market days. Around 300 festively decorated stalls are spread across several squares. You can also enjoy a Ferris wheel on Augustusplatz, historic crafts on Naschmarkt and festive music at the Old Town Hall. Entry to the Christmas market is free.

Leipzig Christmas Market 2026: Dates and opening

The Christmas market stalls open at 14 on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. The official opening ceremony takes place at 17 on the market square in front of the Old Town Hall. The market then runs until Wednesday, 23 December. However, special rules apply on the final two days. On Tuesday, 22 December, the market closes at 20. On Wednesday, 23 December, only the stalls on the market square remain open, also until 20. So it is best to visit the other market areas before the final day.

Opening times and December exceptions

The regular weekly schedule is easy to follow: the Christmas markets are open from 11 to 21 from Sunday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can visit the stalls until 22. The market opens later than usual, at 14, on 24 November. Shorter opening times of 11 to 20 apply on 22 and 23 December. There is an additional location restriction on the final day: the market on the market square stays open, while the other market areas close earlier. The official times are provided by Leipzig Tourism and apply to the overall edition 2026.

Leipzig Christmas Market 2026: Markets in the old town

The market square is at the heart of the Christmas world. It is home to the traditional Christmas tree and many decorated stalls. Augustusplatz also becomes an international Christmas world, with Finnish and South Tyrolean villages. You will also find an enchanted forest and a Ferris wheel here. A historic Christmas market on Naschmarkt recalls traditional crafts of the past. Nikolaikirchhof invites you to stroll beneath a large Christmas pyramid. Grimmaische Straße and Petersstraße link the other market areas. As you explore, you can experience a range of themes and atmospheres.

Crafts, Christmas stories and specialities

The Leipzig Christmas Market dates back to 1458, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany. Today, its around 300 stalls offer high-quality crafts, Christmas decorations and plenty of gift ideas. The market huts also serve regional specialities and international food. On Naschmarkt in particular, you can experience traditional crafts such as candle-making and blacksmithing. The Finnish and South Tyrolean stalls on Augustusplatz also invite you to sample their wares and linger. Families can enjoy fairy-tale scenes, rides and special activities.

Programme and family activities

A regular highlight is the official opening on the market square at 17 on Tuesday, 24 November. Traditional music in Leipzig city centre is also part of the Advent programme. Leipzig Tourism lists, among other things, brass music from the balcony of the Old Town Hall and visits with Father Christmas. The city’s programme page publishes the specific performance dates for individual groups. So we do not carry over unconfirmed times from previous years to 2026. Families will particularly enjoy the fairy-tale world on Augustusplatz and the Christmas attractions in several city-centre squares.

Getting there, admission and getting around

The market square in 04109 Leipzig is a good starting point. You can reach it directly via Leipzig Markt S-Bahn station, served by several City Tunnel lines. There are also stops at Augustusplatz, Goerdelerring and Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz. Drivers can use nearby car parks, such as Marktgalerie. According to Leipzig Tourism, entry to the Christmas market areas is free. Food, drinks, gifts and some rides cost extra. You can find the latest information at Leipzig Tourism and on the official market profile. Find more Christmas markets in the Kirmestermine calendar.