Guides · Dresden
Dresden Christmas Markets 2026: Dates, Locations & Tips
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Dresden Christmas market, the famous Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, runs from Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, according to the City of Dresden. It opens daily from 10am to 9pm, with a 4.30pm start on the opening day and a 2pm close on Christmas Eve. First recorded in 1434, the 2026 edition is the 592nd, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany.
The Striezelmarkt is named after Striezel, the old word for the city's famous Christstollen, and its centrepiece is a giant Christmas pyramid from the Ore Mountains. This guide covers the Striezelmarkt and 4 more festive experiences in Dresden, from Advent on the Neumarkt to the medieval market in the castle courtyard and the Frauenkirche. Each entry has the location, the nearest tram stop and a Pro Tip. Where 2026 details had not been announced, we give last year's dates and hours.
Everything on this list is within a short walk in the Old Town and Neustadt. The order starts at the Altmarkt, moves to the Neumarkt and the Frauenkirche, continues to the Stallhof in the Royal Palace, and crosses the Elbe to the Augustusmarkt.
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1Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt - Germany's Oldest Christmas Market
The Striezelmarkt has been held on Dresden's Altmarkt since at least 1434, and in 2026 it runs from 25 November to 24 December, open daily from 10am to 9pm. More than 200 stalls sell Ore Mountains wooden crafts such as nutcrackers, smoking figures and Christmas pyramids, along with Pulsnitz gingerbread, Dresden Christstollen and Pflaumentoffel, little chimney sweeps made from dried plums.
The centrepiece is one of the world's largest walk-through Christmas pyramids, more than 14 metres tall, with turning tiers of carved figures. A historic Ferris wheel, a children's area with a Christmas bakery and a stage for concerts complete the market.
Mulled wine is served in the market's own ceramic or glass mugs, which change design every year and make popular souvenirs.
2Advent on the Neumarkt - Historic Stalls by the Frauenkirche
Advent on the Neumarkt sets up in the square around the Frauenkirche, the Baroque church rebuilt after its destruction in 1945 and reconsecrated in 2005. The market recreates the atmosphere of a Christmas market around 1900, with stalls designed in historic style and traders presenting their wares in traditional fashion.
It is a quieter and more intimate Dresden Christmas market than the Striezelmarkt, with crafts, regional food and the illuminated Frauenkirche as a backdrop. A smaller market also lines the Münzgasse, the lane leading towards the Elbe.
The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing; in 2025, Advent on the Neumarkt ran from 26 November 2025 to 5 January 2026.
3Medieval Christmas in the Stallhof - Torches in the Royal Palace
The Medieval Christmas market in the Stallhof, the former tournament yard of Dresden's Royal Palace, swaps fairy lights for torches and fire pits. Traders in medieval costume sell handmade crafts, while jugglers, stilt walkers and storytellers entertain the crowds, and the taverns serve mead and hearty food.
The courtyard is framed by the Long Passage, whose outer wall carries the Procession of Princes, a 102-metre mural made of around 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles.
The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing; in 2025 the market ran from 26 November to 23 December. A small entry fee has been charged at certain times in recent years.
Check dates for Dresden
See what is available on your dates.
4Augustusmarkt in the Neustadt - International Market on the Hauptstraße
The Augustusmarkt stretches for about 500 metres along the Hauptstraße in the Neustadt, from the Golden Rider statue of Augustus the Strong towards Albertplatz. It is the second-largest Dresden Christmas market, with white and gold pagodas, a Ferris wheel and an international mix of street food alongside Saxon crafts.
The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. In 2025 it ran from 26 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, opening Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 10pm and Sunday 10am to 9pm, and it was closed from 24 to 26 December and on 1 January.
It also hosts a New Year's Eve market that stays open into the early hours.
5Frauenkirche - Advent Concerts and Dome Views
The Frauenkirche, Dresden's great Baroque church, is a symbol of the city's reconstruction after the Second World War. During Advent, it hosts a programme of concerts and services, including Christmas oratorios and carol services, which make a memorable addition to a visit to the Dresden Christmas market.
The church's dome can be climbed for panoramic views over the Old Town, the Elbe and the Christmas markets below. The climb involves ramps and stairs, and tickets are sold separately from concerts.
Concerts, especially those close to Christmas, sell out early, so book ahead through the Frauenkirche's official website. The church is a two-minute walk from Advent on the Neumarkt.
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Dresden Christmas Market 2026: Striezelmarkt & More - FAQ
The Dresden Striezelmarkt runs from Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, according to the City of Dresden. It opens daily from 10am to 9pm, from 4.30pm on the opening day and until 2pm on Christmas Eve.
Yes, the Striezelmarkt, Advent on the Neumarkt and the Augustusmarkt are free. You pay for food, drinks and gifts. The Medieval Christmas market in the Stallhof has charged a small entry fee at certain times in recent years.
Trams stop at Altmarkt and Pirnaischer Platz, right by the Striezelmarkt. From Dresden Hauptbahnhof, it is about a 15-minute walk north along Prager Straße.
No. The Striezelmarkt closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and does not open on Christmas Day.
No, the Striezelmarkt does not reopen after Christmas. Plan your visit between 25 November and the morning of 24 December.
The Striezelmarkt fills the Altmarkt in the Old Town. Advent on the Neumarkt is beside the Frauenkirche, the Medieval Christmas market is in the Stallhof of the Royal Palace, and the Augustusmarkt lines the Hauptstraße across the Elbe in the Neustadt.
Weekday mornings are the calmest. Weekends are very busy, especially Saturday 5 December 2026, the day of the Stollenfest, which is worth seeing but brings big crowds.
The Striezelmarkt is the most famous, with its giant Ore Mountains pyramid. Advent on the Neumarkt has historic-style stalls by the Frauenkirche, the Stallhof hosts a torch-lit medieval market, and the Augustusmarkt in the Neustadt has an international feel.
The Stollenfest celebrates Dresden's Christstollen and takes place on Saturday 5 December 2026. A giant stollen is paraded through the Old Town and cut on the Striezelmarkt, with slices sold for charity.
The name comes from Striezel, an old word for the Dresden Christstollen. First recorded in 1434, the market holds its 592nd edition in 2026, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany.
