The Dresden Christmas Market, the Striezelmarkt, runs from Wednesday 25 November to Christmas Eve 2026 on the Altmarkt in Dresden’s old town. First recorded in 1434, it calls itself Germany’s oldest Christmas market, and 2026 is its 592nd edition. Below are the official 2026 dates and hours, the themed days (including the Stollenfest), what to eat and buy, how to get there from the station and where to leave your luggage.
Dresden Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Dates | Wednesday 25 November – Thursday 24 December 2026 |
| Opening hours | 25 November 16:00–21:00; 26 November to 23 December daily 10:00–21:00; 24 December 10:00–14:00 |
| Location | Altmarkt, opposite the Kulturpalast on Wilsdruffer Straße |
| Stalls | More than 200 traders |
| Edition | 592nd Striezelmarkt |
| Lighting test | 20 November 2026 |
| Entry | Free |
| Nearest station | Dresden Hauptbahnhof, about 10 minutes’ walk |
The city publishes the programme and any changes on the official Striezelmarkt website. The market tree, a 23-metre Nordmann fir from Neundorf near Pirna, goes up on the Altmarkt on Saturday 31 October, and the lights are tested on 20 November, five days before the opening.
What Makes the Striezelmarkt Different
The name comes from Striezel, an old word for the cake now known as Stollen. Much of what’s on sale comes from Saxony and the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), where miners turned to woodcarving when the mines declined. That’s why you’ll see so many nutcrackers, Räuchermänner (incense smokers), candle arches and pyramids. The centrepiece is a 14-metre Erzgebirge step pyramid with turning figures. The Schwibbogen, an arch-shaped candle holder that represents the entrance to a mine, sits in windows all over Dresden during Advent, and the market is where locals traditionally buy one.
Look out for the Pflaumentoffel too: little chimney sweep figures made from dried prunes, with a top hat and a brush. They’re a Dresden Christmas market tradition and a good small souvenir.
Themed Days at the Dresden Christmas Market
Every Advent weekend has its own festival day. The organisers note that the programme can change.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sat 28 November | Dresdner Adventskalenderfest (Advent calendar festival) |
| Sun 29 November | Day of the Kreuzkirche |
| Sat 5 December | Dresdner Stollenfest |
| Sun 6 December | Pfefferkuchenfest (gingerbread festival) |
| Sat 12 December | Pyramidenfest (pyramid festival) |
| Sun 13 December | Day of Christmas crafts |
| Sat 19 December | Pflaumentoffelfest |
| Sun 20 December | Striezelkinderfest (children’s festival) |
| Thu 24 December | Christmas Eve on the Striezelmarkt |
The Stollenfest on Saturday 5 December is the busiest day of the season. A giant Stollen is paraded through the old town to the Altmarkt and cut there, and the pieces are sold to visitors. Get there early if you want a good spot along the route.
What to Eat and Drink
- Dresdner Christstollen. The genuine one is baked in and around Dresden and carries a seal showing King Augustus the Strong. Bakers sell whole loaves and slices.
- Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen, gingerbread from the town of Pulsnitz near Dresden.
- Thüringer and Saxon bratwurst, and Quarkkeulchen, small fried quark pancakes.
- Glühwein in the annual Striezelmarkt mug, which changes design each year. You pay a deposit and get it back when you return the mug.
Other Christmas Markets in Dresden
The Striezelmarkt is the big one, but Dresden has several smaller Christmas markets within walking distance. There’s one on the Neumarkt around the Frauenkirche, a medieval-style market in the Stallhof of the Residenzschloss, and more across the river in the Neustadt. Check each market’s own site for 2026 dates, since they don’t all follow the Striezelmarkt calendar.
How to Get to the Dresden Christmas Market
| From | How |
|---|---|
| Dresden Hauptbahnhof | Walk north along Prager Straße to the Altmarkt, about 10 minutes |
| Dresden-Neustadt station | Tram across the Elbe to the old town, or walk over the Augustusbrücke |
| Tram | Stops Altmarkt and Pirnaischer Platz are next to the market |
| Berlin and Prague | Direct trains to Dresden Hauptbahnhof, about two hours or a little more |
| By car | Use the Park and Ride sites on the edge of the city; old town car parks fill up at weekends |
Tips for Your Visit
- Come on a weekday afternoon. Saturdays, and the Stollenfest above all, get very crowded.
- The opening day starts late, at 16:00, so plan a morning elsewhere on 25 November.
- Christmas Eve is a half day: stalls close at 14:00.
- Carry some cash for the smaller craft stalls.
- Pick up wooden crafts at the end of your visit, or leave them with your bags, so you aren’t carrying them through the crowds.
Luggage Storage Near the Dresden Christmas Market
Lots of people visit Dresden on a day trip from Berlin, Leipzig or Prague, or stop on the way between them. A suitcase on the cobbles of the Altmarkt on a Saturday evening is no fun. Radical Storage has luggage storage at Dresden Hauptbahnhof, at Dresden-Neustadt and Dresden Mitte stations, and at partner shops in the city, so you can leave your bags close to where you arrive.
Booking takes a minute online and cancellation is free. Every bag is protected up to €10,000 and travellers rate Radical Storage 4.8/5. With more than 16.5K locations in over 2.3K cities, you can book your next stop the same way.
- Luggage storage near Dresden Hauptbahnhof
- Luggage storage options near the Altmarkt
- Luggage storage near Dresden-Neustadt station
Dresden Christmas Market FAQ
The Dresden Christmas Market (Striezelmarkt) runs from Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 on the Altmarkt.
On the opening day, 25 November, the market is open 16:00 to 21:00. From 26 November to 23 December it is open daily 10:00 to 21:00, and on 24 December from 10:00 to 14:00.
The Dresdner Stollenfest is on Saturday 5 December 2026, the second Advent weekend, according to the official Striezelmarkt programme.
Yes. Entry is free. You pay only for food, drinks, crafts and the mug deposit.
Walk north along Prager Straße to the Altmarkt. It takes about 10 minutes.
Radical Storage has luggage storage at Dresden Hauptbahnhof, Dresden-Neustadt and Dresden Mitte stations and at partner shops in the city. Book online, drop your bags and collect them later. Each bag is protected up to €10,000.
