Updated October 2026. All dates below are for the 2026 season.
Short answer: The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt runs from Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 on the Hauptmarkt in the old town. It’s open daily from 10:00 to 21:00 and closes at 14:00 on Christmas Eve. The Christkind opens it from the balcony of the Church of Our Lady at 17:30 on 27 November. Entry is free.
Servus from our beautiful little village of Kiefersfelden! 👋 Brian here. Ever since our Christkindlmarkt evening in Rosenheim in December 2024, our family has been hooked on Advent here. And if you only see one big-city Christmas market in Germany, Nuremberg is a wonderful choice.
It’s one of the oldest and best-known Christmas markets in the world, and it still feels traditional: red-and-white striped roofs, gold foil angels, and the smell of gingerbread and grilled sausages drifting across the square. It’s an easy day trip from Munich, and it’s even better with a night in the old town.
Nuremberg Christmas market 2026: key facts
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 November – 24 December |
| Hours | Daily 10:00 – 21:00 (opening day 27 November until 22:00); 24 December 10:00 – 14:00 |
| Opening ceremony | Friday 27 November, 17:30 (stalls pause from 17:25 to 18:00) |
| Where | Hauptmarkt, 90402 Nürnberg, with more stalls toward the Rathausplatz and at St. Lorenz church |
| Children’s Christmas (Kinderweihnacht) | Hans-Sachs-Platz, 27 November – 30 December |
| Sister Cities market | Rathausplatz, until 23 December |
| Lantern procession | Thursday 10 December |
| Entry | Free |
You’ll also find the market in our Christmas market calendar, next to more than 50 other German markets for 2026.
What makes the Christkindlesmarkt special?
The city calls the market “the little town of wood and cloth,” and that’s exactly how it looks. Around 180 wooden stalls fill the Hauptmarkt, all with the traditional red-and-white canvas roofs. They sell things you’d actually want to bring home: glass baubles, handmade gold foil angels (Rauschgoldengel), wooden nutcrackers, nativity figures, gingerbread and Spekulatius almond cookies. It’s Gemütlichkeit (that warm, cozy, take-your-time feeling) at its best.
The market has been held since the middle of the 16th century. One tradition our family finds really sweet, and such a fitting one for this faith-filled season, is the Christkind (the “Christ Child”) herself. She isn’t Santa’s helper. In Nuremberg, the Christkind brings the gifts, an idea that goes back to Martin Luther. Every two years the people of Nuremberg choose a new Christkind. She has to be 16 to 19, at least 1.60 m tall and not afraid of heights. Her golden costume looks like the Rauschgold angels on Nuremberg Christmas trees.
The opening night (27 November)
At 17:30 the Christkind stands on the balcony of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) and recites the prologue that opens the market. It begins with the famous line “Ihr Herrn und Frau’n, die Ihr einst Kinder wart…” (“You gentlemen and ladies, who were once children…”). The Hauptmarkt is completely full for this. If you want to see it, get there early and pick a spot with a clear view of the church. Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm, as the Germans say (the early bird catches the worm). If you’d rather have more room, come the next morning instead.
What to eat and drink
- Drei im Weggla. “Three in a roll”: three small Nuremberg Rostbratwürste in a bread roll, usually with mustard. These finger-length sausages have been made in Nuremberg for more than 700 years, and this is the classic market snack. (“Weggla” is the local Franconian word for a bread roll.) And as one cheeky German saying goes, Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei: everything has an end, only the sausage has two. 😄
- Nürnberger Lebkuchen. Nuremberg’s famous gingerbread, soft and spiced, often on a thin wafer base. It travels well, so it’s a great gift to take home.
- Glühwein and Kinderpunsch. Hot mulled wine for the grown-ups, alcohol-free fruit punch for the kids (Kinderpunsch is a big favorite in our family). Drinks come with a mug deposit, called Pfand. Return the mug for your money back, or keep it as a souvenir.
- Feuerzangenbowle. Nuremberg says it has the biggest Feuerzangenbowle in the world: red wine punch with a flaming rum-soaked sugar loaf above the kettle. It’s served at the Feuerzangenbowle village at the Fleischbrücke, right on the Pegnitz river at the edge of the market, from 27 November to 31 December. It’s open until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, 11:00 to 16:00 on Christmas Eve, and from 13:00 on New Year’s Eve.
Nuremberg with kids
Nuremberg does a really nice job for children. As a dad of two boys, this is the part I’d make sure to leave time for:
- The Kinderweihnacht (Children’s Christmas) on Hans-Sachs-Platz, a few minutes’ walk from the Hauptmarkt. Kids can bake cookies, paint glass, write a wish list to the Christkind, and ride the old-fashioned carousels and the big wheel. It’s open from 27 November to 30 December 2026, closed on Christmas Day, and from 11:00 to 20:00 between 26 and 30 December.
- The Sternenhaus (House of Stars) in the Heilig-Geist-Saal, with storytelling and kids’ culture programs throughout the market season.
- The Lichterzug (lantern procession) on Thursday 10 December 2026. Nuremberg’s schoolchildren carry homemade lanterns up to the Imperial Castle, a tradition that began in 1948 when the city was still in ruins. 2026 is the 76th procession. At the castle, students act out the Christmas story. It’s one of the most heartwarming things you can see in Nuremberg in December.
Don’t miss the Sister Cities market
Right next to the main market on the Rathausplatz, the Market of the Sister Cities brings stalls from Nuremberg’s partner cities around the world, with crafts and food you won’t find on the Hauptmarkt. The money from many of the stalls goes to charities in the partner cities, so your Christmas shopping does a little good, too. Note that it closes on 23 December, one day before the main market, and so do the “Original Regional” stalls with local specialties from the Nuremberg area.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekends in December are the most popular days, especially Saturday afternoons. Here’s what I’d suggest, friend to friend:
- For the quietest visit: a weekday morning from opening at 10:00. You’ll have time to look at the stalls properly and take photos.
- For the lights: late afternoon on a weekday. It gets dark around 16:30 in December, so you can enjoy the lights and still catch an evening train.
- For the traditions: opening night on 27 November or the lantern procession on 10 December.
Keep your bag zipped and your phone in an inside pocket, as you would at any busy event. If the main square gets too full, the side streets toward St. Lorenz and the river are calmer.
How to get to Nuremberg from Munich
Nuremberg is one of the easiest day trips from Munich:
- ICE high-speed train: about an hour from München Hbf to Nürnberg Hbf. Book a Sparpreis (saver fare) early on bahn.de or in the DB Navigator app for the best price.
- Regional trains with the Bayern-Ticket: slower (allow close to two hours) but great value for families and groups. In 2026 the Bayern-Ticket costs €34 for one adult and €10 for each extra adult (up to five people), and up to three children aged 6 to 14 ride free. On weekdays it’s valid from 9:00. It doesn’t cover ICE or IC trains. For families, those free kids’ seats add up fast.
From Nürnberg Hbf it’s about a 15 to 20 minute walk through the Königstor gate and along Königstraße, past St. Lorenz church, to the Hauptmarkt. Walking in through the old town is half the fun, especially once the lights come on. ✨
Is it worth staying overnight?
I’d say ja (yes!), if you can. The market closes at 21:00, and the old town is beautiful after dark, with the Imperial Castle above the rooftops. Staying the night lets you see the market in the evening and again the next morning when it’s calmer. It also gives you time for the castle, or a side trip to Bamberg, which is less than an hour away by regional train. Hotels in the old town (Altstadt) fill up early for December weekends, so book as soon as your dates are set.
Planning more of the trip? Our Nuremberg travel guide covers the castle, the old town and the history sites. Bamberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber both make great add-ons. If you’re coming from Munich, our guide to Munich’s Christmas markets covers the city’s own markets, and the German Christmas markets guide compares Nuremberg with Dresden, Cologne and the Alpine towns.
Frohe Weihnachten (merry Christmas), and enjoy every Lebkuchen crumb! Herzliche Grüße (warm wishes), Brian
FAQ
When is the Nuremberg Christmas market in 2026?
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026. It’s open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, and on 24 December from 10:00 to 14:00. The opening ceremony is on 27 November at 17:30.
Is the Nuremberg Christmas market free?
Yes, entry is free. You only pay for food, drinks, souvenirs and the refundable mug deposit on hot drinks.
How many days do you need in Nuremberg at Christmas?
One full day covers the Christkindlesmarkt, the Children’s Christmas and a walk through the old town. With one night you can see the market both in the evening and the next morning, and add the Imperial Castle or a trip to Bamberg.
What is the Nuremberg Christkind?
The Christkind is the figure who brings Christmas gifts in Nuremberg, a tradition linked to Martin Luther. Every two years a young woman aged 16 to 19 is chosen for the role. She opens the market from the balcony of the Church of Our Lady and makes appearances throughout Advent.
When is the Nuremberg lantern procession in 2026?
The Lichterzug of Nuremberg’s schoolchildren takes place on Thursday 10 December 2026. The children carry lanterns up to the Imperial Castle, where students perform the Christmas story.
