Quedlinburg Christmas market 2026: dates and opening times
All announced dates and opening hours for the Quedlinburg Christmas markets in 2026, from Marktplatz to the courtyard weekends, with tips on how to order your day.
The main Christmas market on Quedlinburg's Marktplatz is announced for 25 November to 22 December 2026. It opens Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 20:00, on Fridays from 11:00 to 22:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 22:00. The winter market at Mathildenbrunnen runs from 27 November to 21 December, and the private Advent courtyards open on three weekends only. You will find all dates on one page in our Quedlinburg Christmas market 2026 overview.
The 2026 Advent calendar at a glance
Quedlinburg has more than one market, and each keeps its own hours. These are the opening windows announced at the time of our research:
Marktplatz: 25 November to 22 December. Sunday to Thursday 11:00–20:00, Friday 11:00–22:00, Saturday 10:00–22:00. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 17:00 on Wednesday 25 November.
Mathildenbrunnen, New Town: 27 November to 21 December. Monday to Thursday 15:00–20:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00–22:00, Sunday 11:00–20:00. On 21 December it closes at 18:00.
Advent in den Höfen: 28–29 November, 5–6 December and 12–13 December, 11:00–19:00. Some courtyards keep different times.
Grubenlichtermarkt, Bad Suderode: Saturday 28 November only, 14:00–20:00.
Living Advent Calendar: departures from Finkenherd 1/2 at 16:30 from 1 to 23 December, and at 13:00 on 24 December.
A ceremonial opening and the daily trading hours are two separate pieces of information. If the first evening matters to you, check both before you book.
How the hours shape a weekday visit
From Monday to Thursday, the two central markets open at different times. Marktplatz starts at 11:00, while Mathildenbrunnen only begins trading at 15:00. Arriving at the New Town market early in the day would mean missing the stalls. A practical order is a walk or a museum in the morning, Marktplatz in the early afternoon and Mathildenbrunnen towards the evening.
Museums have their own winter hours. The castle museum on Stiftsberg is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10:00 to 16:00, with last admission 45 minutes before closing. It is closed on Mondays. Winter museum hours end well before the markets close, so schedule the museum first and the stalls afterwards.
Weekends: with or without courtyards
On the first three Advent weekends, private courtyards between the timber-framed houses open from 11:00 to 19:00. This is the main reason many visitors choose those dates. Not every courtyard takes part every time, though. Schützenhof, number 6 on the official plan, is announced only for the second and third weekends, so it should not be a confirmed stop on 28–29 November.
The courtyards close at 19:00, while Marktplatz stays open until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. That gives a courtyard Saturday a natural shape: courtyards during the day, the main market after dark. On Sundays, Marktplatz closes at 20:00.
By the fourth Advent weekend, 19–20 December, the courtyard series has finished. The weekend still suits a trip built around the markets, the castle museum and the Advent Calendar.
When the season ends
Mathildenbrunnen closes earlier on its last day, at 18:00 on Monday 21 December. Marktplatz ends on Tuesday 22 December. The Christmas pyramid is announced to stay open longer, but the guide is clear that this does not mean the stalls remain into January. On Christmas Eve, the Living Advent Calendar still meets at Finkenherd, at 13:00 rather than the usual 16:30.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Quedlinburg Christmas market open on Sundays?
Yes. Marktplatz and Mathildenbrunnen both open on Sundays from 11:00 to 20:00. On the first three Advent Sundays, the courtyards are open too, from 11:00 to 19:00.
Is the Quedlinburg Christmas market open on Mondays?
Yes. Marktplatz opens from 11:00 to 20:00 and Mathildenbrunnen from 15:00 to 20:00. The castle museum is closed on Mondays, and the courtyards are not part of the weekday programme.
Is the market open on 23 December?
The main market is announced to end on 22 December, and the Mathildenbrunnen winter market on 21 December. The Living Advent Calendar continues on 23 December with its usual 16:30 departure from Finkenherd.
The Quedlinburg Christmas Markets 2026 guide (PDF) includes the full dates table, seven day routes and the official sources for each event, so you can check the current details for your date.
Research status 26 October 2026: times, dates and prices in this article are planning information from our research, so please check the official sources before you travel.
