The Munich Christmas markets

The Munich Christmas market season starts in mid-November, and by early December almost every market in the city is open. The city's own Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz opens on 20 November 2026, for the first time on the Friday before Totensonntag, and closes at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. This guide covers the 2026 dates and opening hours as the city and the organizers have published them, other markets in the city, what to eat and drink, and a few practical tips for visitors from overseas.

The Munich Christmas market on Marienplatz in 2026

When people talk about the Munich Christmas market, they usually mean the Christkindlmarkt run by the city's Department of Labor and Economic Development. It has stood on Marienplatz since 1972, while its roots go back to the St. Nicholas markets of the 14th century, according to the organizer. In 2026 it fills about 30,000 square meters (roughly 7.4 acres) of the old town with 138 licensed stalls selling crafts, ornaments, food and drink. The organizer counted 3.2 million visitors in 2025.

• Dates: Friday, 20 November, to Thursday, 24 December 2026
• Closed: Sunday, 22 November (Totensonntag, a Sunday of remembrance in Germany)
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Christmas Eve 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Late nights: on 27 November and 12 December, stalls may stay open until 10 p.m. if they choose
• Getting there: U3, U6 or any S-Bahn line to Marienplatz

The centerpiece is the Christmas tree in front of the New Town Hall. The 2026 tree is a white fir from Sauerlach in the district of Munich, about 50 years old and 22 meters (72 feet) tall, decorated with more than 3,000 LED lights. It is lit for the first time at 5 p.m. on opening day and stays lit until 6 January 2027. From Sunday to Thursday, brass groups, choirs and folk ensembles play Advent music from the town hall balcony at 5:15 p.m. for about half an hour.

In front of St. Peter's Church, known locally as Alter Peter, the Kripperlmarkt sells nativity scenes, single figures, stables and tiny accessories; the organizer calls it probably the largest market of its kind in Germany. It keeps the same hours as the main market. The background to these customs, from the old St. Nicholas fair to the crib tradition, appears on our German page about the Christkindlmarkt and Christmas customs.

Christmas markets in Munich: dates for 2026

The organizer calls the Christkindlmarkt the original among Munich's Christmas markets, and the city lists more than two dozen of them. The table shows a selection with the dates published on muenchen.de, the city's official portal; details can change, so check before you go.

The medieval Christmas market

The Münchner Adventsspektakel on Wittelsbacherplatz is Munich's medieval Christmas market. The stalls are built in a historic style, mulled wine is sold as Hexentrunk (witch's brew), and a stage presents medieval music, historical combat shows and dance. Between 20 November and 23 December its stalls open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., except on 22 November, and admission is free.

Residenz, English Garden and Pink Christmas

Christmas village in the Residenz

In the Kaiserhof courtyard of the Munich Residenz, more than 50 stalls sell crafts, nativity figures and decorations, and the food stands pour several kinds of Glühwein and homemade eggnog punch. A free fairy tale forest entertains families. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (8 p.m. on the last day, 22 December), with the entrance on Residenzstraße by Odeonsplatz, served by U3, U4, U5 and U6.

Chinese Tower in the English Garden

Around the lit pagoda in the English Garden, wooden huts sell ornaments, carved figures and candles, and there are two curling lanes, a historic carousel, a children's train and carriage rides. On selected days musicians, Perchten and St. Nicholas appear. It is open Wednesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., on weekends from 11 a.m., and daily from 21 to 23 December.

Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas on Stephansplatz in the Glockenbach quarter is listed by muenchen.de as the city's queer Christmas market, with gifts, food and drinks, DJ sets and a show stage. It runs from 20 November to 20 December, weekdays from 4 to 10 p.m. and weekends from 2 to 10 p.m.

Tollwood and other winter festivals

The Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese, the Oktoberfest grounds, is an alternative to the classic market. Around 200 exhibitors fill its Market of Ideas with crafts and gifts, much of it fair trade, and more than 50 stands serve certified organic food from many countries. Access to the grounds is free. The market opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends and runs from 24 November to 23 December. Take U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese; more on the site itself is on our Theresienwiese guide.

Also worth knowing: the Münchner Eiszauber ice rink on Karlsplatz (Stachus) runs from 13 November to 10 January, and the flaming punch of the Münchner Feuerzangenbowle is served at the Isartor from 23 November to 6 January; see our Feuerzangenbowle page.

What to eat and drink

Glühwein is the classic: hot red or white wine flavored mainly with cinnamon and cloves. Our Gluhwein guide explains the rules and has a recipe, including a Kinderpunsch for children. On Marienplatz the city names Glühwein, punch and bratwurst as staples, plus vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free choices. Bakery stalls sell Lebkuchen, Stollen and cookies. An overview of what Bavarians eat over the holidays is on our page about German Christmas food. A word of caution: under EU rules Glühwein contains 7 to 14.5 percent alcohol by volume, so pace yourself, and stick to Kinderpunsch if you are driving or cycling home.

Practical tips for visitors

• Payment: on the Christkindlmarkt, about 80 percent of vendors take cards, with a minimum purchase of 1, 5 or 10 euros depending on the stall. All common cards except American Express are accepted, so bring some cash.
• Timing: Christmas Eve is a short day, with the market closing at 2 p.m. On 27 November and 12 December, some stalls stay open until 10 p.m.
• Krampus run: on Sunday, 13 December, from 3 to 5 p.m., more than 300 Krampus and Perchten figures parade through the old town. Read more on our Krampus page.
• Singing: on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. (25 November and 2, 9 and 16 December), anyone can join the carol singing in front of St. Michael's Church on Neuhauser Straße; song sheets are handed out for free.
• Kids: children aged six to twelve can do crafts for free in the Himmelswerkstatt in the New Town Hall from 26 November to 13 December, after registering with the Kindermuseum München.

More Advent customs are on our German page Advent in Munich and under all topics.