Leipzig for Advent 2026. Christmas markets from the old town to Connewitz, plus Thomaner and Nikolaikirche, with easy routes to our hotels.
Leipzig’s historic old town has always been a natural place to enjoy Advent. The 2026 season is full again, and we take you through the city’s best Christmas markets, from the historic centre market that stretches across the whole Altstadt, on to Connewitz and Plagwitz, and to quieter Advent spots when you want something calmer. Classical Advent concerts belong to the mix as well, for example in the Thomaskirche, if you want a little Bach with your mulled wine. Below you will find dates, tips and the hotel recommendations that fit each stop.
Leipzig Christmas Market in the city centre
The Leipzig Christmas Market is one of the oldest in Germany. Records go back to 1458, and it is often called the country’s second-oldest market. Around 300 stalls run through the entire old town as one continuous market. What starts on the Markt spreads to Augustusplatz, Naschmarkt, Nikolaikirchhof, the Swiss Village and Salzgäßchen, linked by Grimmaische Straße and Petersstraße out to the Thomaswiese. The city maps the sections in its city-centre overview. The medieval feel around the Old Town Hall is worth experiencing at least once. How to walk the centre is in our Leipzig city-centre guide.
From our Hotel am Bayrischen Platz, walk or take the tram towards the centre and you are soon between the Old Town Hall and the big Christmas tree on the Markt. In 2026 the tree stands about 20 metres tall and is lit for the first time at the opening on 24 November at 5 pm. Punch steam, stall lights and the tower brass band at the town hall set the mood. Classic huts fill the square. Along Grimmaische Straße and Petersstraße you connect the sections, and on the Thomaswiese light installations wait for evening photos. The Swiss Village on Burgplatz and Salzgäßchen with its nostalgic feel belong here too. The next sections walk you through the main parts of that same city-centre market.
Dates: 24 Nov–23 Dec 2026
Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11:00–21:00 · Fri/Sat 11:00–22:00 · 22/23 Dec until 20:00 · on 23 Dec Marktplatz only · opening 24 Nov from the afternoon, tree lighting around 17:00
Admission: free
Augustusplatz with fairytale forest and villages
Augustusplatz is the family-friendly stretch of the Leipzig Christmas Market. Fairytale forest, reading workshop, rides and the Ferris wheel sit between the opera and the Gewandhaus. The Ferris wheel gives a wide view over the whole centre. You also get the Finnish Christmas village and the South Tyrolean village with regional specialities. From our Hotel am Bayrischen Platz you reach the square in a few minutes on foot or by tram.
Dates: 24 Nov–23 Dec 2026 (Finnish village often until 22 Dec)
Opening hours: same as the city-centre market · Sun–Thu 11:00–21:00 · Fri/Sat 11:00–22:00
Admission: free · rides and Ferris wheel extra
Naschmarkt and Nikolaikirchhof
Naschmarkt and Nikolaikirchhof are part of that same continuous city-centre market. Behind the Old Town Hall and in front of the Old Stock Exchange you find Naschmarkt. Historic craftspeople such as candle makers and art blacksmiths work here, and there is plenty to eat and drink. A few steps on, Nikolaikirchhof invites you to linger under the Christmas pyramid, with Feuerzangenbowle and waffles beside Nikolaikirche. Both sit right in the middle and are easy to reach from Bayrischer Platz.
Dates: 24 Nov–23 Dec 2026
Opening hours: same as the city-centre market
Admission: free
Christmas at Connewitzer Kreuz
At WERK 2 the grounds at Connewitzer Kreuz turn into a creative Advent market. Handmade goods, hands-on workshops and a neighbourhood feel that is clearly different from the big city-centre market. From our Hotel Alt-Connewitz you are at the Kreuz in a few minutes. This is also where Leipzig’s loosest street begins. Our KarLi guide is your companion for that long stretch of real Leipzig street life.
Dates: 11 Dec–20 Dec 2026
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 14:00–21:00 · Fri/Sat 13:00–22:00 · Sun 13:00–21:00
Admission: free
Felsenkeller Christmas Market in Plagwitz
In the beer garden at Felsenkeller in Plagwitz you get a small, medieval-leaning Christmas market with craft stalls, mulled wine and live entertainment. Under old chestnut trees and glowing stars the evening feels pleasantly slowed down, a different pace from the Altstadt. Dates for 2026 were not final everywhere yet. Please check again shortly before you go on leipzig.travel or local event pages. From our Hotel am Bayrischen Platz you are there in about 25 minutes by public transport. From our Hotel Alt-Connewitz, Plagwitz takes around 37 minutes.
Dates: still TBA (often late November to late December)
Opening hours: still TBA
Admission: free
Tip: Gohliser Schlösschen
A special pick is Weihnachtsduft und Lichterglanz at Gohliser Schlösschen. The last surviving baroque manor complex here deliberately skips a classic stall market. In the garden of the ornate rococo country house you get waffles, roasted almonds, mulled wine and evenings of music instead, for example a shared Advent sing-along. Dates for 2026 were not set yet. Please check the Schlösschen site shortly before you visit. You get a calmer, atmospheric contrast to the city centre if you prefer less bustle.
Dates: still TBA
Opening hours: still TBA
Admission: still TBA
Advent concerts in Leipzig
Leipzig is Bach’s city, and Advent makes that hard to miss. The cultural high point remains Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in the Thomaskirche. On 11, 12 and 13 December 2026 the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhaus Orchestra under Thomaskantor Andreas Reize perform cantatas I to VI at Bach’s historic workplace. Friday starts at 19:00, Saturday and Sunday at 17:00. Tickets are in demand and go through the Gewandhaus. Earlier, on 4 December at 20:00, the Leipziger Vocalensemble brings cantatas I to III in the Thomaskirche as well.
At Nikolaikirche Advent continues. On 5 December at 17:00 Britten’s “St Nicholas” is on with the BachChor and the Schola Cantorum. From 18 to 20 December Bach’s Christmas Oratorio follows there with the BachChor at Nikolaikirche under Nikolaikantor Markus Kaufmann, split across cantatas I to III and I plus IV to VI. At Nikolaikirchhof you can pair the concert evening with the market under the pyramid.
On the Christmas market itself, the tower brass band plays from the balcony of the Old Town Hall from Monday to Thursday at 18:00, Friday at 19:00, Saturday and Sunday at 13:00 and 19:00. More Advent concerts turn up at Peterskirche, Propsteikirche St. Trinitatis and with ensembles such as Calmus at the Reformed Church. Check programmes and tickets with the organisers, because the strong dates sell out early. From our Hotel am Bayrischen Platz you reach Thomaskirche, Nikolaikirche and the Markt easily on foot or with a short tram ride.
Staying overnight for Advent
Markets and concerts sit across the city, so it pays to pick your base with that in mind. For the city-centre market, Augustusplatz, Naschmarkt, Nikolaikirchhof and the Thomaskirche, our Hotel am Bayrischen Platz is the natural home base. For Christmas at Connewitzer Kreuz, our Hotel Alt-Connewitz sits especially close. Both houses are under Hotels in Leipzig.
More Advent and city reads before you arrive are in our little BIG stories. And if you want to compare Berlin and Leipzig, our parallel guide to Christmas markets in Berlin 2026 is ready.