Quedlinburg Christmas Market 2026: dates, hours, tips

From Wednesday 25 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026, the Quedlinburg Christmas market fills the square in front of the ivy-covered town hall. On three Advent weekends, more than 20 normally closed courtyards across the World Heritage town open their gates for "Advent in den Höfen" (Advent in the Courtyards). Add a light installation at the Mathildenbrunnen fountain and a living Advent calendar where a real front door opens every day, and Quedlinburg in Advent becomes a weekend destination rather than a side trip.

Quedlinburg in Advent 2026 at a glance

Christmas market	25 November to 22 December 2026, on the Markt in front of the town hall
Opening hours	Sunday to Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday 11am–10pm, Saturday 10am–10pm
Advent in the Courtyards	28/29 November, 5/6 December and 12/13 December 2026, 11am–7pm
Mathildenbrunnen	27 November to 21 December; Mon–Thu 3pm–8pm (21 Dec until 6pm), Fri–Sat 11am–10pm, Sun 11am–8pm
Size	more than 50 stalls on the Markt, over 20 courtyards for Advent in the Courtyards
Entry	Christmas market free
Getting there	train to Quedlinburg, extra trains from Magdeburg on courtyard weekends; car parks P2 and P4 with a 10-euro day ticket

Map: Christmas market and Advent in Quedlinburg

Everything is close together in the old town. From the Markt it is a few minutes' walk to the Mathildenbrunnen in the Neustadt quarter. At the foot of the castle hill, on Finkenherd, the group for the living Advent calendar meets every afternoon. The courtyards are spread across the whole old town, and the local tourism office publishes an overview map on its Advent website. The Stiftshof in Gernrode is about seven kilometres south.

What makes Advent in Quedlinburg special

The Christmas market by the town hall

More than 50 stalls with crafts and food stand around a tall fir on the Markt, framed by half-timbered houses and the town hall with its Roland statue. The market carries the "Excellent Christmas Market" quality seal, and the Excellent European Christmas Market award is presented at the opening on 25 November at 5pm. The Christmas pyramid stays up until 6 January, after the market itself has closed.

Advent in the Courtyards

This is why thousands of visitors come to Quedlinburg on the first three Advent weekends. More than 20 historic courtyards, usually hidden behind thick walls, open their gates. Decorated and lit up, they host makers, craftspeople and cooks selling gifts and treats. The 2026 dates: 28/29 November, 5/6 December and 12/13 December, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm. On these days the old town is packed and key streets are closed to cars.

Light installation at the Mathildenbrunnen

On the small market square of the historic Neustadt by the Mathildenbrunnen fountain, a Christmas light installation with food and drink stalls runs from 27 November to 21 December. On weekdays it only opens at 3pm, at weekends from 11am.

The living Advent calendar

The town calls it Germany's largest Advent calendar: 24 houses on the castle hill are decorated, and each day a real front door opens with a surprise for children. From 1 to 23 December the group meets daily at 4.30pm at the Finkenhäuschen, the tourist information point at Finkenherd 1/2, and on Christmas Eve at 1pm. From there, everyone looks for the house marked with a big A.

Stage programme 2026: highlights

There is music on the market stage at 6pm or 7pm on most evenings. A few dates from the published programme:

• 25 November, 5pm: opening with Father Christmas, brass choir and the Harztheater
• 27 and 29 November, 4, 6, 11, 13, 18 and 20 December: Father Christmas walks around the market
• 14 December, 6pm: brass ensemble of the Harz district music school
• 18 December, 5pm: "Quedlinburg singt", a sing-along with the Fritz-Prieß choir, brass choir and pianist Jürgen Kruschwitz

The organiser may change the programme; the latest version is on the official market page.

What to eat and drink

Mulled wine and gingerbread are a given, and under the fir on the Markt you will find Schmalzkringel, a fried doughnut ring, and candyfloss. Each courtyard has its own line-up, so the food changes from gate to gate. If you spot Harz specialities such as Harzer cheese or local game, try them. Mulled wine prices for 2026 have not been published.

Shopping: souvenirs from Quedlinburg

In the courtyards, makers and craftspeople mostly sell handmade goods and gift ideas, plus small culinary treats to take home. Because exhibitors can change from weekend to weekend, buy the pieces you love when you see them. The Christmas market in front of the town hall covers the classics from baubles to gingerbread, including on weekdays when the courtyards are closed.

An Advent weekend in Quedlinburg: our suggestion

1. Saturday, 11am – courtyards: start early with Advent in the Courtyards, before the coach groups arrive.
2. Lunch – Markt: eat at the Christmas market in front of the town hall.
3. 4.30pm – Advent calendar: take the children to Finkenherd as the door of the day opens.
4. Evening – Mathildenbrunnen: the light installation in the Neustadt only works properly after dark.
5. Sunday – castle hill: in the morning, walk up to the collegiate church of St Servatius with its treasury and the tomb of King Henry I.

Practical tips

Best time to go

• Weekdays: the Christmas market is open daily and much calmer, but the courtyards only open at weekends.
• Courtyard weekends: start at 11am; the lanes get very crowded in the afternoon.
• Saturday evening: the market is open until 10pm, the courtyards close at 7pm.
• Last market day: Tuesday 22 December 2026.

Getting there and parking

The town recommends coming by train or bus. On courtyard weekends, trains between Magdeburg and Quedlinburg run with extra capacity. From the station it is about ten minutes on foot to the old town. Drivers coming from Halberstadt, Westerhausen and Thale follow signs to P2 (Festwiese Kleers); from Magdeburg and Halle, to P4 (An der Walze, by the tax office). A day ticket costs 10 euros per vehicle, an evening ticket from 5pm 7 euros. Around Advent in the Courtyards, access to the town centre is restricted by barriers under a municipal order.

With children

The living Advent calendar is the highlight for kids, along with Father Christmas on the market. When it is cold, warm up in one of the cafés on the Markt. Pushchairs are hard work in the courtyards on busy Saturdays; a baby carrier is easier.

Good to know

• Cobblestones: almost every lane is roughly paved. Warm, sturdy shoes are a must.
• Tourist information: at Markt 4, with town maps and guided walk information.
• Short breaks: for courtyard weekends the tourist office sells packages with a hotel night, dinner and a guided walk. Many dates sell out early.

Advent in the Stiftshof in Gernrode

On 12 and 13 December 2026 the Stiftshof next to the church of St Cyriakus in the Gernrode district becomes a small Christmas market with crafts, carol singing, crafts for children and organ music. Sunday brings a church service, choral music and a church tour. It pairs well with the last courtyard weekend.

Where to stay

A night in the old town is worth it: Quedlinburg is at its best in the evening, once the day visitors have left. Book very early for courtyard weekends. Thale and Wernigerode are alternatives.

Gift idea: a personalised poster of Quedlinburg as a keepsake of your Advent weekend.

Nearby: our tips

• Quedlinburg Old Town: more than 2,100 half-timbered houses, UNESCO World Heritage since 1994.
• Collegiate church of St Servatius: November to February, Tuesday to Sunday 10am–4pm, closed on 24 and 25 December.
• Bode Valley: hike through the granite gorge near Thale.
• Hexentanzplatz: viewpoint above the Bode Valley.
• Wernigerode Castle: fairy-tale castle above the half-timbered town.

All the region's highlights with day plans are in our Harz region guide. More ideas for the town: Quedlinburg.

FAQ

When is the Quedlinburg Christmas market 2026?

From 25 November to 22 December 2026 on the Markt in front of the town hall.

When is Advent in the Courtyards 2026?

On 28/29 November, 5/6 December and 12/13 December 2026, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm.

What are the market's opening hours?

Sunday to Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday 11am–10pm and Saturday 10am–10pm.

Is entry free?

Yes, the Christmas market on the Markt is free to enter.

How much is parking?

At the signposted P2 and P4 car parks a day ticket costs 10 euros per vehicle, an evening ticket from 5pm 7 euros.

How much is mulled wine?

2026 prices have not been published. Expect a deposit on the mug.

Can I bring my dog?

The town does not mention a dog ban, but the narrow courtyards and lanes get very crowded on Advent weekends.

Read more

Quedlinburg and Goslar make a good weekend pair: everything about the Goslar Christmas market and Christmas forest. More Advent destinations are collected in Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

As a keepsake: Goslar, Quedlinburg and the Brocken on a route poster.

Last checked: 16 October 2026.

Sources

• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/weihnachtsmarkt
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/advent-in-den-hoefen
• https://www.quedlinburg-info.de/de/buchen/kurzreisen/details/kurzreiseangebot-advent-in-den-h%C3%B6fen.html
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/informationen/lebendiger-adventskalender
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/advent-im-stiftshof
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/informationen/anreise-parken
• https://adventsstadt.quedlinburg-info.de/informationen/verkehrsinformationen

Image credits

• Photo: Llez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cover)
• Photo: Holger Düttmann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0