Baden-Baden Christmas Market 2026: dates, hours, tips

From 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, the Kurgarten in front of the Kurhaus Baden-Baden turns into the Christkindelsmarkt. The columns of the Kurhaus, the colonnades and the Trinkhalle form the backdrop, with a sky stage for live music, a fairy-tale lane, a historic carousel, eleven gourmet igloos and a nativity exhibition. The market is open every day and runs until Epiphany. Here are the official hours, travel tips and a plan for combining the market with the baths and the castle.

Baden-Baden Christmas market 2026 at a glance

Dates 2026	26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027
Opening hours	daily 11am–9pm. Exceptions: 24 December 11am–3pm, 31 December 11am–3pm, 1 January 1pm–9pm, 6 January 11am–6pm
Location	Kurgarten directly in front of the Kurhaus, with the colonnades and Trinkhalle
Entry	The organiser names no entry fee for the market. Food and drink, guided tours, gourmet igloos and workshops cost extra.
Getting there	Buses run from Baden-Baden station to the centre about every 10 minutes (around 15 minutes' ride). Park and ride at Cineplex, Oos West and Oos Süd.

The Baden-Baden Christkindelsmarkt 2026 in brief

The details come from the pages of Baden-Baden Kur & Tourismus GmbH, which we checked in October 2026. The page mentions "different opening hours" on certain days and lists them in the info section.

Offer	Place	Dates 2026	Note
Christkindelsmarkt	Kurgarten in front of the Kurhaus	26 Nov 2026–6 Jan 2027	daily 11am–9pm, special hours on holidays
Nativity exhibition	gallery of the Trinkhalle	during the market	28 nativity scenes from around the world, QR codes for each
Gourmet igloos	on the market	during the market	12–3pm and 6–9pm, 74 euros per person
Christmas bakery for children	near the market entrance	during the market	from 10 euros per child
City tour "Baden-Baden at Christmas"	from a meeting point	bookable	21 euros per person
Ice arena	Augustaplatz	winter	skating for all ages

Map: Christmas market in Baden-Baden

The market sits in the Kurgarten in front of the Kurhaus. The town centre with its shops is close by, and the Lichtentaler Allee invites you to a winter walk. The bus stops Leopoldsplatz (Luisenstraße) and Leopoldsplatz (Sophienstraße) are only a few steps from the market. The Friedrichsbad and the Caracalla Therme are in the town's spa quarter. If you want a swim after the market: the Caracalla Therme is open daily 8am–10pm, the bathing area costs 21 euros for two hours and 35 euros for the day ticket; entry from age seven.

What makes this market special

A setting between Kurhaus and Trinkhalle

The Kurhaus, colonnades and Trinkhalle are part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Great Spa Towns of Europe" and form the historic stage of the market. In the evening historic lamp posts and many small lights illuminate the huts. The stalls offer crafts such as tree decorations, paper stars, ceramics and wooden toys.

Sky stage and programme

On the sky stage in the Kurgarten you can hear concerts with live bands, choirs and orchestras. According to the organiser, Marc Marshall performs at the opening. We did not find a full 2026 programme on the pages; the organiser promises "atmospheric music". Expect changes and check the programme on the official page shortly before your visit.

Food and drink

The range runs from Black Forest specialities, freshly grilled sausages and game to Turkish and Italian dishes, Hungarian langos and Dinnede baked in a wood-fired oven. There is also tarte flambée from a wood-fired oven, Feuerzangenbowle and champagne. A highlight is the organic mulled gin from a distillery in the Ortenau. Nearly every stall has vegetarian dishes, and the city's page has an overview of vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free offers. The organiser says the 2026/27 market guide will follow.

Gourmet igloos and tours

Eleven gourmet igloos seat up to eight guests and serve a "fonduelette menu", a mix of meat fondue and raclette. They can be booked online for groups of four or more, in time slots 12–3pm and 6–9pm, at 74 euros per person. The city tour "Baden-Baden at Christmas" costs 21 euros per person. A two-hour tour "Art and delicacies" with eight tastings is announced for a maximum of 15 people.

Nativity exhibition in the Trinkhalle

In the gallery of the Trinkhalle, 28 nativity scenes from around the world show how differently Christmas is celebrated, made of wood, roots or fabric, some traditional, some modern. Scan the QR code with your phone to learn more about each one.

With children

Every Wednesday is family day, with special offers for families at many stalls. The children's programme includes a fairy-tale lane, a children's train, a historic carousel, a mini Ferris wheel and the sky mailbox for wish letters until Christmas Eve. In the Christmas bakery children can bake and decorate their own cookies from 10 euros. St Nicholas visits in person on 6 December. The ice arena is on the Augustaplatz, where children pay from 4 euros, which is the starting price the arena lists.

An Advent day in Baden-Baden: our suggestion

1. Morning – castle: the ruin of Hohenbaden Castle is open to the public during the day all year, and climbing the keep is free too.
2. Midday – spa quarter: for a bath, try the Friedrichsbad. The Roman-Irish bath costs 39 euros and is for ages 14 and up; open daily 9am–10pm, last entry three hours before closing. Wednesday and Saturday are days with swimwear.
3. Afternoon – Kurgarten: time for the nativity exhibition in the Trinkhalle and a lap of the market.
4. Evening – sky stage: live music and a mulled gin, then perhaps a gourmet igloo if you booked ahead.

Practical tips

When to go

• Mornings and early afternoons: the city advises arriving in the morning or early afternoon, which leaves time for museums or a café before the market.
• Weekends and public holidays: it feels especially busy in such a small town.
• Wednesday: family day.
• Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: the market closes at 3pm.

Getting there and parking

The easiest way is the bus: from Baden-Baden station, lines 201, 213, 216, 218 and 244 run to the centre about every ten minutes. The ride takes around 15 minutes. A day ticket for up to three zones costs 7.40 euros per person. By car, park and ride is best: at Cineplex parking costs 1.50 euros an hour, 10 euros a day at most, and one parking ticket covers up to five people on bus line 205 into town. At Oos West (Flugstraße) and Oos Süd (Güterbahnhofstraße) you pay 1 euro an hour, 5 euros a day at most. The closer a car park is to the market, the more likely it is full at weekends.

Market vouchers

The tourist information in the colonnades sells market vouchers of 5 and 10 euros. They are valid at all stalls except the municipal utility hut for three years, until the 2027 Christkindelsmarkt; cash payout is not possible.

Where to stay

Baden-Baden is a small town, and rooms become scarce on Advent weekends. Book early or visit on a weekday.

Gift idea: a personal poster of Baden-Baden as a keepsake of your Advent trip.

Nearby: our tips around the market

• Kurhaus Baden-Baden: columned portico, Kurgarten and casino; the Kurgarten and outside areas are free, the casino has an age limit and requires ID.
• Friedrichsbad: historic bathing palace of 1877 with a Roman-Irish bath.
• Caracalla Therme: modern thermal baths, daily 8am–10pm, closed on 24 and 25 December.
• Hohenbaden Castle: ancestral castle of the Margraves with views as far as the Vosges, free to enter.

More ideas for your stay are on our page for Baden-Baden.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Christmas market in Baden-Baden in 2026?

The Christkindelsmarkt runs from 26 November 2026 to 6 January 2027.

What are the opening hours?

Daily 11am–9pm. On 24 and 31 December it closes at 3pm, on 1 January it opens at 1pm, and on 6 January it closes at 6pm.

Does the Christmas market charge entry?

The organiser names no entry fee for the market. You pay extra for food, drinks, tours and the gourmet igloos.

What is the best way to get to the market?

By bus from Baden-Baden station, about every ten minutes, or park and ride at Cineplex with bus line 205.

How much is a mulled wine?

Prices for 2026 are not published. The organiser highlights an organic mulled gin.

Is there a family day?

Yes, every Wednesday many stalls have offers for families.

Read more

From Baden-Baden you reach neighbouring cities quickly by train: everything about the Stuttgart Christmas market and the Heidelberg Christmas market. All the big markets in the country with a map and routes are in our overview Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

As a keepsake: put your route on a route poster.

Last checked: 26 October 2026. The full 2026 stage programme and the market guide are not yet published.

Sources

• https://www.baden-baden.com/en/events/baden-baden-christmas-market
• https://www.baden-baden.com/en/events/baden-baden-christmas-market/arrival-parking
• https://www.baden-baden.com/en/events/baden-baden-christmas-market/food-specialities
• https://www.baden-baden.com/en/events/baden-baden-christmas-market/10-things
• https://www.baden-baden.com/en/events/baden-baden-christmas-market/programme-for-families

Image credits

• Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cover image)
• Photo: Gerd Eichmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0