Wernigerode Christmas Market 2026: dates, hours, tips

On Friday 20 November 2026, the Wernigerode Christmas market opens between the Marktplatz, Breite Straße and Nicolaiplatz and runs until 22 December. More than 60 traders and caterers stand in front of the historic town hall, behind which the Sylvestrikirche glows as the "Lichterkirche" (light church). Wernigerode Castle sits above the half-timbered old town, and between the years the winter market at the flower clock carries on until 6 January. Here are the official dates and hours for 2026 and tips for combining the market with the castle, the courtyards and the Harz.

Wernigerode Christmas market 2026 at a glance

Christmas market	20 November to 22 December 2026; the market rests on Totensonntag, 22 November
Opening hours	Sunday to Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–9pm
Winter market at the flower clock	23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, with live music; closed on 24 December
Locations	Marktplatz, Breite Straße, Nicolaiplatz and Sylvestrikirche in the old town
Size	more than 60 traders and caterers
Entry	The Christmas market is free, according to the tourist board
Getting there	trains from Hanover, Berlin or Halle/Leipzig every one or two hours; by car via the A36

All Christmas offers in Wernigerode 2026

The details come from the pages of Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH, which we checked in October 2026.

Offer	Place	Dates 2026	Opening hours
Christmas market	Marktplatz, Breite Straße, Nicolaiplatz	20 Nov–22 Dec	Sun–Thu 11am–8pm, Fri–Sat 11am–9pm; closed 22 Nov
Winter market	flower clock	23 Dec 2026–6 Jan 2027	Sun–Thu 11am–8pm, Fri–Sat 11am–9pm; closed 24 Dec, 25/26 Dec 1pm–8pm, 31 Dec 11am–4pm, 1 Jan 1pm–8pm
Film courtyard	town hall courtyard	during the Christmas market	Sun–Thu 5–8pm, Fri 5–11pm, Sat 5–9pm; closed 22 Nov
Craft courtyard	Marktstraße	weekends 27 Nov–22 Dec	Fri–Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm
Schuhof and Eventhof Capitol	old town	20 Nov–22 Dec	as the Christmas market
Winter market in the Schmiedehof	Krellsche Schmiede	16 Nov 2026–14 Feb 2027	Mon–Thu 11am–9pm, Fri–Sun 11am–10pm
Lichterzauber Schierke	Schierke	28 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027	Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays

Map: Christmas market in Wernigerode

Everything important lies close together in the small old town. From the Marktplatz with its stage, walk along Breite Straße to the Nicolaiplatz with the gingerbread forest; behind the town hall is the Oberpfarrkirchhof with the light church. The craft courtyard is on Marktstraße. The castle can be reached from the old town; the tourist board mentions small tourist trains and horse-drawn carriages, among other options.

What makes Advent in Wernigerode special

The Christmas market in the old town

More than 60 traders and caterers offer crafts, treats and mulled wine in every variety. From the stage in front of the historic town hall come carols and Advent music; the programme ranges from brass bands and fairy-tale songs through an Advent service and choir music to Christmas music by various bands. On Totensonntag, 22 November, the market rests.

Light church and gingerbread forest

The Oberpfarrkirchhof with the Sylvestrikirche becomes the light church: three-dimensional light figures of Harz wildlife and tree illuminations at the church and on the Nicolaiplatz brighten the lanes in the evening. Moravian stars hang over the streets of the old town. On the Nicolaiplatz the Wernigerode gingerbread forest grows, where children find gingerbread figures among the fir trees.

Christmas courtyards and film courtyard

Besides the market, several courtyards open. The Schuhof and Eventhof Capitol serve mulled wine in variations, cocoa, children's punch, bratwurst and crêpes. In the craft courtyard on Marktstraße you find craft shops and the Hohe Halle with candles, Christmas decorations and knitwear, but only at weekends from 27 November to 22 December. In the town hall courtyard the film courtyard shows a changing programme, with "Die Feuerzangenbowle" on Fridays at 7pm and "Three Wishes for Cinderella" (Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel) on Sundays at 7pm. The tourist board has a PDF of the film programme on its website.

Father Christmas and the living Advent calendar

Father Christmas walks through the centre on 6, 13 and 20 December from 2pm, handing out gingerbread figures and chocolate; at 4.30pm he meets the children at the market stage. The "living Advent calendar" bundles 24 free experiences for families. You can pick up the calendar at the tourist information from the end of November.

Winter market at the flower clock

When the Christmas market ends on 22 December, the winter market at the flower clock continues from 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. There is live music on the stage every day, and the light church keeps shining. On 24 December the winter market is closed, on 25 and 26 December it is open from 1pm to 8pm. The tourist board's page gives two start dates for the winter market, 22 November and 23 December; we follow the heading and the event page, which say 23 December. The winter market in the Schmiedehof is different: it already runs from 16 November to 14 February 2027.

What to eat and drink

• Mulled wine in every variety: the tourist board advertises exactly that; the Schuhof also has cocoa and children's punch.
• Gingerbread: the Nicolaiplatz has its own gingerbread forest.
• Bratwurst and crêpes: both are on the menu in the Capitol courtyard.
• Regional food: the organiser mentions culinary treats without a list. Ask at the stalls for Harz specialities.

Mulled wine prices for 2026 have not been published, so we give no estimates.

With children

Good for families are the gingerbread forest on the Nicolaiplatz, Father Christmas at 4.30pm on the market stage and the living Advent calendar with its 24 free offers. The tourist board lists the Christmas market as suitable for children of every age. Between the courtyards there is time for a cocoa break in the Capitol courtyard.

An Advent day in Wernigerode: our suggestion

1. Morning – castle: Wernigerode Castle is open from 2 November to 20 December Tuesday to Friday 10am–5pm and at weekends 10am–6pm, closed on Mondays.
2. Lunch – market: eat at the Marktplatz or in the Capitol courtyard.
3. Afternoon – courtyards: craft courtyard on Marktstraße (weekends only) and the gingerbread forest on the Nicolaiplatz.
4. 4.30pm – Father Christmas: on the December dates, at the market stage.
5. Evening – light church: the light figures work best in the dark, followed by a film in the film courtyard.

Practical tips

When to go

• On weekdays: the market is open every day, and the castle Tuesday to Friday until 5pm.
• Shopping Sundays: 6 and 13 December 2026, 12 noon to 5pm.
• Last market day: Tuesday 22 December 2026. The winter market follows until 6 January.
• Friday evening: market until 9pm, film courtyard until 11pm.

Getting there

Wernigerode lies on the line between Hanover and Halle/Leipzig and is also linked directly to Berlin via Magdeburg, with trains every hour or every two hours. If you arrive by train, the tourist board gives you a postcard and a pin at the tourist information when you show your rail ticket (the Deutschlandticket counts too). By car you reach the town via two A36 junctions; most hotels have their own parking, and there are public car parks. According to the tourist board, the city buses in town are free.

By steam train through the Harz

The Harz narrow-gauge railways run Advent specials: a Nikolaus trip from Wernigerode to Benneckenstein on 5 and 6 December, the Advents-Express to Nordhausen on 12 December and the Silvester-Express from Nordhausen to the Brocken on 31 December. More about the mountain is on our page for the Brocken: the return trip on the Brocken railway costs 65 euros, and the Brockenhaus is open daily 9.30am–5pm, closed on 24 December.

Lichterzauber in Schierke

From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, the Lichterzauber lights up Schierke on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. It includes the Klippenglühen, the Mäuseklippen, the toboggan run and more than 30 other buildings and objects.

Where to stay

On Advent weekends, rooms in the old town go quickly. An alternative is the villages along the railway, for example around Harz National Park.

Gift idea: a personal poster with Wernigerode and the Brocken as a keepsake.

Nearby: our tips around the market

• Wernigerode Castle: fairy-tale castle above the half-timbered town; adult admission 9 euros, last entry 30 minutes before closing.
• Brocken: the highest mountain in northern Germany, summit open at all times.
• Harz National Park: mountain forest and high moors around the Brocken.
• Falkenstein Castle: medieval hilltop castle above the Selke valley with a museum, knights' hall and keep.

Bode Valley, Brocken and day plans for the region are described in our Harz region guide. More ideas for the town: Wernigerode.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Christmas market in Wernigerode in 2026?

From 20 November to 22 December 2026. The winter market at the flower clock follows from 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027.

What are the opening hours?

Sunday to Thursday 11am–8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–9pm.

Is it open on Totensonntag?

No, the market rests on 22 November 2026. The film courtyard is closed that day too.

Does the Christmas market charge entry?

No, the tourist board lists the Christmas market as free. Food, drinks and the film courtyard are paid for as usual.

Are there shopping Sundays?

Yes, on 6 and 13 December 2026 from 12 noon to 5pm.

When is the winter market open?

From 23 December 2026 to 6 January 2027, closed on 24 December, 1pm–8pm on 25 and 26 December, 11am–4pm on 31 December and 1pm–8pm on 1 January.

Read more

Wernigerode pairs well with the northern Harz: the Quedlinburg Christmas market with Advent in the Courtyards and the Goslar Christmas market with its Christmas forest. All the big markets in the country are in our overview Christmas markets in Germany 2026.

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

Last checked: 26 October 2026.

Sources

• https://www.wernigerode-tourismus.de/event/weihnachtsmarkt-wernigerode
• https://www.wernigerode-tourismus.de/weihnachten-in-wernigerode-und-dem-harz
• https://www.wernigerode-tourismus.de/reiseinfos/anreise

Image credits

• Photo: Jojoo64, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cover image)
• Photo: HarzerJunge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0