Christmas markets in Thuringia 2026
The Christmas market season 2026 begins in Thuringia and the surrounding area in November. Mulled wine at the Christmas market during the day, cozy evenings in the holiday home Ferienhaus Feuerzauber, perhaps even with snow: Book your winter weekend now.
Christmas markets in Thuringia
Location: Zella-Mehlis, Rathausvorplatz
Dates:
December 4th to 6th, 2026
The market traditionally begins with a lantern parade for the youngest and the handing over of the gingerbread key in front of the illuminated town hall with its large Christmas tree. Saint Nicholas makes a personal appearance on all three days, surprising young and old with small gifts.
Location: Suhl, Markt
Dates:
November 25 – December 23, 2026
The market in Suhl is named after the christmas bread, the famous "Stollen", and transforms the city center into a village of over 50 little houses. The town hall becomes a giant Advent calendar, with a new door opening every day at 5:30 p.m. until Christmas Eve.
Location: Schleusingen, Markt
Dates:
November 28th and 29th, 2026
Barrel organ music, a trombone choir, and an Advent service set the mood for Christmas in the old town, and the Christmas booths stretch from the market square to Bertholdstrasse. And there is the popular Christmas riddle, when participants search for letters in the old town's shops during the week before the first Advent Sunday. Whoever gets to solve the puzzle can win a prize.
Location: Schmalkalden, Altmarkt
Dates:
November 28, 2026 to December 20, 2026 – 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
"Herrscheklas" is the local dialect word for Saint Nicholas. In Schmalkalden, the stalls are located in front of the town hall, the church, and half-timbered houses. On the second weekend of Advent, there is also an arts and crafts market in the town hall.
Location: Meiningen, Markt
Dates:
November 23, 2026 to December 21, 2026
Around the Heinrichsbrunnen fountain in the Meiningen market square, you can go ice skating, and the tower brass band plays from the tower of the town church. During the large Christmas carol sing-along "1,000 Voices," the entire town of Meiningen sings together in the market square.
Location: Lauscha, entire town
Dates:
November 28th and 29th, 2026
December 5th and 6th, 2026
In Lauscha, you can watch the famous glass Christmas ornaments being made. Their production is recognized as intangible cultural heritage. Along the Glass Mile are the Museum of Glass Art, the Christmas market at the glassworks, and the Christmas workshop at the Glass Center.
Location: Ilmenau, stage at the market square and along Lindenstrasse
Dates:
December 10th to 13th, 2026
At the Ilmenau Christmas Market, arts and crafts are on display, organic products and regional specialties are available. There is a stage program on all four days, and Santa Claus will be handing out small gifts.
Location: Sonneberg, Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum)
Dates:
November 29, 2026 – 12 pm to 6 pm
At the German Toy Museum, toy designers and craftspeople present their work and offer suggestions for pre-Christmas crafting. Christmas carols fill the festively decorated building.
Location: Eisenach, Wartburg
Dates:
November 28 and 29, 2026 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
December 5th and 6th, 2026 – 10 am to 7 pm
December 12th and 13th, 2026 – 10 am to 7 pm
Candlemakers, glassblowers, soap makers, and other artisans demonstrate traditional crafts in the courtyards of Wartburg Castle, while musicians provide entertainment. The ticket also grants access to the Great Hall and Luther's Room, and offers views of the wintry Thuringian Forest from the Southern Tower.
Location: Erfurt (capital of Thuringia), Cathedral Square and Old Town
Dates: November 24, 2026 to December 22, 2026
Thuringia's largest Christmas market is situated in front of the cathedral and St. Severus Church. A roughly 25-meter-high fir tree and a 12-meter-high Christmas pyramid are the market's landmarks.
Location: Erfurt, egapark
Dates:
November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027
Thurs & Sun 5 pm to 8 pm / Fri & Sat 5 pm to 9 pm
(Open daily from December 23rd, except December 24th and 31st)
A roughly 3 km long circular path leads through the illuminated egapark. Highlights include a 10-meter-high water fountain onto which videos are projected, and the colorfully lit observation tower.
Christmas markets in Franconia
Location: Coburg, Markt
Dates:
November 27 to December 23, 2026
Stalls: 11 am to 8 pm - Food and drinks: 11 am to 9:30 pm
A covered canopy of lights surrounding the Prince Albert monument and a historic children's carousel characterize the market. Local artisans demonstrate their skills in a live workshop.
Location: Bad Neustadt an der Saale, castle park at the castle hotel
Dates:
November 13th to 15th, 2026
Regional exhibitors offer handcrafted items such as hand-blown Christmas tree ornaments, nativity scenes, and woodwork in the castle park. Children can decorate cookies and gingerbread in the castle kitchen, and storytelling sessions are held in the castle's Rococo room.
