Germany's Christmas Markets Open Staggered from November 16–27; Plan Multi-City Visits Carefully
German Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) open across a 12-day span in November 2026, with Cologne starting November 16 and Nuremberg not opening until November 27. The window when all major markets run simultaneously is just November 27–December 22.
Germany's beloved Christmas markets will not open on the same dates this year. Markets open across a twelve-day spread — Cologne from around November 16, Nuremberg not until November 27 — and the only window when all eight major markets are running at once is November 27 to December 22, 2026.
Key Dates by City
Cologne opens November 16, Munich November 20, Frankfurt November 23, Dresden November 25, and Nuremberg November 27. Cologne's cathedral market runs November 13 to December 23 with around 140 stalls and free entry. Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt opens November 27 at 5:30 PM with the Christkind's prologue ceremony and runs until December 24. Most markets close December 23 or 24, though several Berlin markets and Cologne's Heumarkt keep going into January 2027.
What This Means for Expats
If you want to visit multiple major markets in a single trip, aim for late November or early December. Totensonntag (the Sunday of the Dead) falls on November 22 in 2026, a protected quiet day in Germany, so many markets open the Monday after it: Frankfurt, Hamburg, both big Berlin markets and Cologne's Heinzels Wintermärchen all start on Monday November 23. Early visitors can catch Cologne anytime from mid-November, while those heading to Nuremberg must wait until late November. Book accommodation early if you're planning a late-November or early-December visit, as this is peak season.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
