Leipzig Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening hours, tips

On Tuesday 24 November 2026 the Leipzig Christmas Market opens – and at around 5pm the giant tree on the market square stage is lit in a festive ceremony. Until 23 December, around 300 stalls spread across the entire Old Town: from the square in front of the Old Town Hall via Naschmarkt and Nikolaikirchhof to Augustusplatz with its Ferris wheel and Finnish village. The city calls it one of Germany's largest and most beautiful Christmas markets, with a tradition going back to the 15th century. This guide has the official dates and hours, a map of the four market areas and tips for your visit.

Leipzig Christmas Market 2026 at a glance

Dates 2026	Tuesday 24 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026
Opening hours	Sunday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–10pm; 22 and 23 December until 8pm only
Opening day	24 November: stalls open from 11am (by 2pm at the latest), opening ceremony with tree lighting on the market square stage around 5pm
Location	Old Town: Markt, Naschmarkt, Nikolaikirchhof, Augustusplatz, Grimmaische Straße, Petersstraße, Reichsstraße, Thomaswiese, Burgplatz
Entry	free
Getting there	About ten minutes' walk from the main station; S-Bahn station Markt is right under the square

Map: Leipzig Christmas Market

The market isn't confined to one square but runs through the pedestrian zone, so crowds spread out better than elsewhere. From the market square to Augustusplatz along Grimmaische Straße it's about five minutes, passing Naschmarkt and Nikolaikirchhof on the way.

The market areas

Market square by the Old Town Hall

The heart of it: cosy huts with winter goods under the big tree, and the stage programme in front of the Renaissance façade of the Old Town Hall. A small historic Ferris wheel turns here too.

Augustusplatz

The big square between the opera and the Gewandhaus is the family zone, with a fairy-tale forest of life-size scenes from Grimms' tales, a reading workshop and rides – including a 38-metre Ferris wheel with views over the Old Town. You'll also find:

• The Finnish Christmas village by the Mende Fountain, with glögi, flame-grilled salmon, Finnish crafts and FinnTango dance classes.
• The South Tyrolean village in front of the university, with its own wines, spirits and hearty food.

Historic Christmas market on Naschmarkt

Behind the Old Town Hall, in front of the Old Stock Exchange, lies the historic section of the market – quieter and more traditional than the main square, and a good spot for a break.

Swiss village on Burgplatz

Sit in former cable-car gondolas, try Swiss treats and go curling; the city recommends booking the curling lane.

Nikolaikirchhof and the connecting streets

At Nikolaikirchhof the stalls stand beside St. Nicholas Church, starting point of the Peaceful Revolution of 1989. Thomaswiese by St. Thomas Church is usually a little quieter.

Leipzig's Christmas market mugs

Leipzig's mulled wine and children's mugs change every year and are cult collectibles. The children's mugs feature characters from the East German "Sandmännchen" (Little Sandman) bedtime universe.

• Deposit: for the children's mug it's €5, according to the city. Return the mug or keep it.
• Returns: usually only mugs from the current and previous two years are taken back.
• Exceptions: stalls with their own mugs – such as the South Tyrolean and Finnish villages, the medieval market and the pyramid – aren't part of the city's mug system.
• Tip: children's mugs are handed out to traders in stages, so if they're gone on day one, try again later.

What to eat and drink

• Glögi and flame-grilled salmon in the Finnish village.
• South Tyrolean specialities and wine.
• Leipziger Lerche: a shortcrust and marzipan pastry, a local speciality sold in bakeries across the centre.
• Glühwein in this year's mug.

2026 prices haven't been published yet.

Shopping tips

With around 300 stalls, a plan helps. Crafts and decorations are concentrated on the market square and Naschmarkt, Nordic goods in the Finnish village, wine and delicacies in the South Tyrolean village. The city publishes a trader directory and a 3D map of the market on its website – handy for finding a particular stall. Buy fragile items and baked goods last so you don't have to carry them through the crowds.

With kids

On Augustusplatz there are three children's carousels, a kids' train and the 38-metre Ferris wheel; in Reichsstraße a historic tiered carousel; on the market square a small vintage Ferris wheel and a carousel by the Salzgäßchen entrance. The fairy-tale forest has a puzzle: each scene contains a deliberate mistake – pick up a quiz sheet at the entrance. Father Christmas also holds regular "office hours" on the market stage; the city publishes the 2026 times in the programme.

An Advent day in Leipzig: our suggestion

1. 11am – market square: start in front of the Old Town Hall as the stalls open.
2. 12pm – Mädler Passage: a few steps away, the Mädler Passage with Auerbach's Cellar, made famous by Goethe's Faust – good for lunch.
3. 2pm – St. Thomas Church: where Bach worked; the Bach Museum is opposite.
4. 4pm – Naschmarkt and Nikolaikirchhof at dusk.
5. 5.30pm – Augustusplatz: ride the Ferris wheel over the lit-up city, then glögi in the Finnish village.

Practical tips for international visitors

Cash, cards and Pfand

Carry some cash – not every stall takes cards. The mug deposit (Pfand) is refunded when you return the mug.

When to go

• Weekdays 11am–3pm: relaxed, even with a pushchair.
• Friday and Saturday: open until 10pm and very busy in the evening.
• 22 and 23 December: only until 8pm, as areas outside the market square are dismantled overnight. In 2025 only the stalls on the market square were open on 23 December – expect something similar.

Getting there

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is on the edge of the Old Town, ten minutes from the market on foot. The S-Bahn City Tunnel stops at Markt, right below the square. Leipzig/Halle Airport has direct trains to the main station.

Accessibility

The pedestrian zone is mostly flat, and because the market spreads across many streets there are fewer bottlenecks than at single-square markets.

Where to stay

Plenty of hotels around the station and centre, often at moderate prices compared with Munich or Hamburg – except during trade fairs.

Gift idea: the Old Town Hall and the Battle of the Nations Monument on a personalised Leipzig poster.

Nearby: our tips

• Old Town Hall: city history museum right on the market square.
• St. Nicholas Church: where the Peaceful Revolution began.
• St. Thomas Church: Bach's church and home of the Thomanerchor boys' choir.
• Mädler Passage and Auerbach's Cellar: an elegant arcade with a Goethe connection.
• Monument to the Battle of the Nations: a monumental viewpoint, reachable by tram.
• Leipzig Zoo: the Gondwanaland tropical hall is warm even in winter.

Our audio guide “Leipzig: Fairs, Music and Candles” runs from the main station through the Old Town arcades where the stalls stand – 12 stops over 3 km, in English or German, the first two free.

More: Leipzig.

FAQ

When is the Leipzig Christmas market 2026?

From 24 November to 23 December 2026.

What are the opening hours?

Sunday–Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–10pm. On 22 and 23 December it closes at 8pm.

When is the opening ceremony?

On 24 November 2026 around 5pm on the market square stage, when the tree is lit.

Is entry free?

Yes.

How much is the mug deposit?

€5 for the children's mug, according to the city. The 2026 mulled wine price hasn't been published.

What is the Finnish village?

An area on Augustusplatz by the Mende Fountain with Finnish crafts, glögi and flame-grilled salmon – plus, according to the city, music from the Finnish Father Christmas and public FinnTango dance classes.

Can I bring my dog?

We didn't find an explicit dog ban on the city's page, but the centre gets crowded in the evening.

Read more

Dresden is just over an hour away by train: its Striezelmarkt opens on 25 November, one day after Leipzig. For all markets and our Saxony route, see Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

Leipzig and Dresden in one weekend? Keep it on a route poster.

Last checked: 13 October 2026. Hours and mug deposits will be re-checked before 24 November.

Sources

• https://www.leipzig.de/kultur-und-freizeit/einkaufen-und-ausgehen/maerkte/leipziger-weihnachtsmarkt
• https://www.leipzig.de/kultur-und-freizeit/einkaufen-und-ausgehen/maerkte/leipziger-weihnachtsmarkt/weihnachtsmarkt-in-der-leipziger-innenstadt-im-ueberblick
• https://www.leipzig.de/kultur-und-freizeit/einkaufen-und-ausgehen/maerkte/leipziger-weihnachtsmarkt/angebote-fuer-kinder
• https://www.leipzig.de/kultur-und-freizeit/einkaufen-und-ausgehen/maerkte/leipziger-weihnachtsmarkt/tassen-weihnachtsmarkt

Image credits

• Photo: Frank Vincentz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cover)
• Photo: ubahnverleih, Wikimedia Commons, CC0