Guides · Birmingham
Birmingham Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Locations & Tips
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Birmingham Christmas market, officially the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, returns to Victoria Square and New Street from 5 November to 24 December 2026, according to Birmingham City Council. Billed as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, it fills the city centre with wooden chalets selling bratwurst, glühwein and handcrafted gifts. Entry is free.
For 2026, there will be no stalls on New Street between Nando's and the Apple Store because of nearby public works, but the market continues beyond Corporation Street, with extra craft stalls on High Street. This guide covers the 5 best ways to enjoy a Birmingham Christmas market trip, each with the address, how to get there and a Pro Tip. Where 2026 details had not been announced, we give last year's information.
The order starts on Victoria Square, follows the stalls along New Street and High Street, heads to Centenary Square for skating and the Big Wheel, visits Cathedral Square and finishes in the Jewellery Quarter.
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1Frankfurt Christmas Market on Victoria Square - The Heart of the Market
The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market fills Victoria Square, the grand civic square in front of the Council House and Town Hall, with wooden chalets, a carousel and an entertainment stage. Stalls sell German food and drink, including bratwurst, schnitzel and glühwein, alongside decorations, toys, jewellery and handcrafted gifts.
The 2026 market runs from 5 November to 24 December, opening from 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 11am to 9.30pm on Fridays, 10am to 9.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays, according to the city council. It opens at 1pm on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November.
The market's partnership with Frankfurt, Birmingham's twin city, dates back more than 25 years.
2New Street and High Street - Market Stalls and Craft Chalets
From Victoria Square, the Birmingham Christmas market continues along New Street, one of the city's main shopping streets, towards the Bullring. In 2026, stalls run beyond Corporation Street, with no chalets between Nando's and the Apple Store because of public works on nearby Bennetts Hill and Temple Street.
Extra craft stalls line High Street, selling handmade gifts from local makers. The stretch towards the Bullring and Grand Central shopping centres makes it easy to combine market browsing with Christmas shopping.
The streets are decorated with lights, and the market has a lively, festive atmosphere into the evening, with live music at weekends.
3Centenary Square - Ice Skating and the Big Wheel
Centenary Square, outside the striking Library of Birmingham, hosts an ice rink and a Big Wheel during the festive season, run separately from the Frankfurt market. The attractions return from 5 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, according to the city council.
Skating sessions are ticketed and can be booked in advance, and the Big Wheel offers views over the city centre and its Christmas lights. It is a five-minute walk from the Birmingham Christmas market on Victoria Square.
The Library of Birmingham, with its terraces and secret garden, is worth a visit, offering free views across the city from its upper floors.
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4Cathedral Square - Christmas Craft Market
Cathedral Square, the green churchyard around St Philip's Cathedral, has hosted a Christmas craft market in recent years, with stalls selling handmade gifts, art and local produce, along with live music and street entertainment.
It offers a calmer alternative to the busy Frankfurt market, with a focus on independent makers and Birmingham artists. The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing, so check the Colmore Business District's website before you go, as dates can vary each year.
St Philip's Cathedral, a Baroque church from the early 18th century, is famous for its stained-glass windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones, a Birmingham-born artist.
5Jewellery Quarter - Christmas Gifts with a Story
Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, home to hundreds of jewellers and workshops, has been at the centre of the British jewellery trade for more than 250 years. It is a great place to find unique Christmas gifts, from handmade jewellery to watches and silverware.
The area's red-brick Georgian and Victorian buildings, independent cafés and bars make it a pleasant place to explore. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, set in a preserved workshop, tells the story of the trade.
In December, many shops and venues in the Jewellery Quarter host festive events and late opening, so check local listings for 2026 before planning your visit.
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Birmingham Christmas Market 2026: Frankfurt Market & More - FAQ
The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 5 November to 24 December 2026, according to Birmingham City Council. It opens 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 11am to 9.30pm on Fridays, 10am to 9.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays.
Yes, entry is free. You pay for food, drinks and gifts. The ice rink and Big Wheel in Centenary Square are separate, ticketed attractions.
Birmingham New Street station is a few minutes' walk from the market. West Midlands Metro trams stop at Grand Central, Corporation Street and Town Hall, right by the stalls, and at Library for Centenary Square.
No. The market's last day is 24 December 2026, so it is closed on Christmas Day.
No, the Frankfurt Christmas Market does not reopen after 24 December. Plan your visit for November or the first three weeks of December.
The market centres on Victoria Square and runs along New Street. In 2026 there are no stalls on the stretch of New Street between Nando's and the Apple Store because of public works, but the market continues beyond Corporation Street, with extra craft stalls on High Street.
Weekday daytimes are the most relaxed. Friday and Saturday evenings in December are the busiest. Note that on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2026, the market only opens at 1pm.
The Frankfurt market on Victoria Square is the heart of the season. The craft chalets on High Street and the Christmas craft market in Cathedral Square are good for gifts, and the Jewellery Quarter is ideal for something more special.
Yes. Centenary Square hosts an ice rink and a Big Wheel, a short walk west of Victoria Square. Both are ticketed separately from the free market, so book weekend skating sessions in advance.
The market is run in partnership with Frankfurt, Birmingham's twin city in Germany. It is billed as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, and many traders travel from Germany each year.
