Chemnitz Christmas Market 2025
From 28 November to 23 December
Today, Mayor Knut Kunze and the staff of the Public Order Office, Department of Police Law, Public Order Law and Markets presented this year's Christmas market. Traditionally, it opens its doors on the Friday before the 1st Advent, this year on 28 November.
Set-up:
Set-up begins on Saturday, 8 November.
Opening:
On Friday 28 November at 4 pm, Lord Mayor Sven Schulze will open this year's Chemnitz Christmas Market together with Father Christmas. Both will hand out tickets for the rides to the children in front of the stage.
Opening times:
| Friday, 28 November | 4 pm to 10 pm* |
| Saturday, 29 November | 10 am to 10 pm* |
| Monday to Thursday | 11 am to 8 pm |
| Friday and Saturday | 10 am to 9 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am to 8 pm |
*On the occasion of the finale of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, many visitors are expected, so the Christmas market will be open one hour longer on these two days. The extension is voluntary for the traders, i.e. they can also close at 9 pm.
Stalls:
There will be a total of 138 stalls on the market square, Neumarkt, Rosenhof and Jakobikirchplatz, and 20 stalls on Düsseldorfer Platz - with the Erzgebirgsdorf and the 20 metre high Christmas pyramid.
In Innere Klosterstraße, which traditionally once again hosts the Chemnitz Klosterweihnacht with its medieval market, there will be 26 historically themed stalls.
Product ranges:
The product range of the stalls is divided into: Christmas articles, food, hot drinks, baked goods, confectionery, fruit, vegetables and nuts, groceries, gifts, textiles and clothing, fairground stalls and charity (associations take turns at a stall).
Traders travelling the longest distances:
Some traders come from further afield, including from Lappi, Finland (approx. 1,400 kilometres), Götzens, Austria (565 kilometres) and Landau (520 kilometres).
Regional dealers:
112 dealers come from Saxony.
New registrations:
15 dealers are new this year.
Christmas market mugs:
The 2025 Christmas market mug is ochre yellow with white lettering and a figure of the Christmas market pyramid, based on the little rider. This year's children's cup is red and features the Abrafaxe in front of the Karl Marx head. Both can be purchased again.
Design:
A total of 16,000 lights will once again illuminate the Christmas market. This year, Chemnitz day-care centres will once again decorate small Christmas trees, which will be spread throughout the Christmas market.
Please note: On Monday, 23 December, from 4 pm, the Christmas trees set up at the Chemnitz Christmas market will be handed over to interested parties free of charge.
Once again this year, one of the special visual attractions of the Chemnitz Christmas market is the twelve-metre-high Christmas pyramid created by the "8th of May" carving circle in 1986 on its site between Neumarkt and the market: 24 figures depict everyday life in the Erzgebirge on five floors. In 2016, the pyramid ("Per(e)mett" in Erzgebirge) was given a new body and the figures have been replaced piece by piece over the past few years based on the originals. The original figures can still be seen in the foyer of the town hall on the market square.
Another homage to Christmasland is the five by two metre, 200 kilogram original candle arch from the Ore Mountains by craftsman Claus Döhler from Sosa, which has once again adorned one of the festively decorated entrances to the Christmas market at its regular place since 1993.
The large music box also has its place at the Christmas market again. In 2013, it was reissued by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH on behalf of the town. The original was the music box, which has been a feature of the Christmas market since 2002. The scene "Bescherung in einer Weihnachtsstube" ("Giving presents in a Christmas parlour") revolves on a plate with a diameter of 4.40 metres.
In addition to the well-known traditional Erzgebirge figures, the decorated area also features a miner and angel (each 1.80 metres tall), a snowman (also 1.80 metres tall) and a 1.90 metre tall smoker. All four figures were made by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH.
Cultural offerings:
The figural carillon can be heard every day (Mondays to Saturdays at 11 am, 4 pm and 7 pm; Sundays at 10 am, 4 pm and 7 pm). The tower brass band plays on Saturdays at 10.15 am. Carillon concerts can be heard on Wednesdays from 10 am to 10.30 am, Fridays from 4.30 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10.05 am to 10.35 am.
In addition, two historic fairground organs can be heard daily from 4.30 to 4.50 pm. The two organs, built in 1904, will be played on the Neumarkt (at the Super 8 double loop) and on the Rosenhof (at the sports carousel).
Stage:
Every evening at 5pm, Father Christmas (played alternately by Thomas Landgraf and Thomas Hillmann) visits the stage and brings a fairytale surprise.
Christmas tree:
A spruce about 27 metres high and around 50 to 70 years old is still standing in the forest district of the Sachsenforst state enterprise in Eibenstock, Wildenthal district. The tree will be delivered to the Chemnitz market in the late afternoon of Saturday 8 November and put up. From 11 a.m., the waiting time for the tree will be shortened with grilled sausages and mulled wine.
Lights shine:
Every year, eins and inetz create a Christmassy atmosphere in the streets of Chemnitz city centre, light around 7,000 lamps and decorate the Christmas tree with around 800 lights.
This year, the large Christmas tree on the market square will be decorated on Monday, 11 November. At the same time, the fairy lights on the deciduous trees on Jakobikirchplatz and the strings of lights on the market square will be put up. The Christmas tree, the fairy lights and the ornaments will then light up from Friday, 28 November at 4 pm.
Chemnitz Monastery Christmas area
One of the attractions this year is the historical market organised by Bibow Communications GmbH as part of the Chemnitz Christmas Market programme since 2005 with the "Chemnitzer Klosterweihnacht" on Innere Klosterstraße with 26 historically designed stalls. The bakery and tavern, Schießburg, Lederer and much more have a long tradition.
Ore Mountain Village area
The "Erzgebirgsdorf" is represented on Düsseldorfer Platz with 20 stands, including the two-storey pyramid house and the mulled wine pyramid. The event is organised by the SEG group of companies. Reservations for the pyramid house can be made by calling 0371 83653617.
Preventive measures for general safety
For several years now, the Chemnitz Christmas Market has had a security concept agreed with the police, which is updated and updated annually. This includes a risk analysis of all possible situations. Measures are planned for potential hazards to minimise the security risk. For example, containers filled with sand and large planters are placed on some of the access routes to the Christmas market.
European Mountain Parade
One of the impressive highlights of the pre-Christmas period in Chemnitz is this year's European Mountain Parade through Chemnitz city centre on Saturday, 29 November from 2 p.m. to mark Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025.
This year, around 1100 participants will present this tradition: 580 people in uniform, 360 mountain musicians and around 100 guests from national associations will be seen in the impressive procession, opening the Christmas season in the Ore Mountains.
Ore Mountains.
As usual, the mountain parade starts at 2 pm. The route leads from Theaterplatz via Richard-Tauber-Straße, Straße der Nationen and Brückenstraße via Theaterstraße and then back to Theaterplatz. The grand closing ceremony will take place at around 3 p.m. on Theaterplatz, where Lord Mayor Sven Schulze will welcome the mining brothers and sisters and the spectators with a greeting.
All information about the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be found at
www.chemnitz.de/weihnachtsmarkt
Vouchers:
Vouchers for the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be purchased again this year. They are issued by the Chemnitz Zwickau Region Tourism Association. The vouchers are available in denominations of 25 or 50 euros and can be redeemed in instalments of 2, 3 or 5 euros at most of the Christmas market stalls.
This makes it easy to give a visit to the market as a gift - whether for relatives, friends or, in the case of regional companies, as a tax-free benefit in kind for employees.
The vouchers are now available at the Chemnitz Tourist Information Centre (payment in cash, by card or MobilePay) and via online ordering from the tourist office. Vouchers ordered online can be collected from the Tourist Information Centre within two to three working days. Vouchers are issued while stocks last, with no limit on quantity.
With the introduction of the Christmas market vouchers, the City of Chemnitz and the Tourist Office want to further increase the attractiveness and reach of the Chemnitz Christmas market and at the same time increase customer frequency in the city centre.
Further information on the vouchers can be obtained from the Chemnitz Zwickau Region e. V. Tourist Association, contact: Stefan Herold, Tel. 0371 646 141 14, e-mail: herold@chemnitz-zwickau-region.de
Outlook
An extension of the Christmas market period is planned again this year. The Erzgebirgsdorf on Düsseldorfer Platz and the "Chemnitzer Hüttenzauber" on Neumarkt will take place from 27 December to 3 January (except 31 December), in each case from 11 am to 9 pm.
On 29 and 30 December, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will once again be a skilled labour exchange in the pyramid of the Erzgebirgsdorf on Düsseldorfer Platz. There, local companies and interested skilled workers will be able to exchange ideas in the midst of the winter market activity.
Christmas market mugs:
The 2025 Christmas market mug is ochre yellow with white lettering and a figure of the Christmas market pyramid, based on the little rider. This year's children's mug is red and features the Abrafaxe in front of the Karl Marx head. Both can be purchased again.
Design:
A total of 16,000 lights will once again illuminate the Christmas market. This year, Chemnitz day-care centres will once again decorate small Christmas trees, which will be spread throughout the Christmas market.
Please note: On Monday, 23 December, from 4 pm, the Christmas trees set up at the Chemnitz Christmas market will be handed over to interested parties free of charge.
Once again this year, one of the special visual attractions of the Chemnitz Christmas market is the twelve-metre-high Christmas pyramid created by the "8th of May" carving circle in 1986 on its site between Neumarkt and the market: 24 figures depict everyday life in the Erzgebirge on five floors. In 2016, the pyramid ("Per(e)mett" in Erzgebirge) was given a new body and the figures have been replaced piece by piece over the past few years based on the originals. The original figures can still be seen in the foyer of the town hall on the market square.
The five by two metre, 200-kilogram original candle arch from the Erzgebirge, made by craftsman Claus Döhler from Sosa, is also a tribute to the Christmas land and will once again adorn one of the festively decorated entrances to the Christmas market at its regular place since 1993.
The large music box also has its place at the Christmas market again. In 2013, it was reissued by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH on behalf of the town. The original was the music box, which has been a feature of the Christmas market since 2002. The scene "Bescherung in einer Weihnachtsstube" ("Giving presents in a Christmas parlour") revolves on a plate with a diameter of 4.40 metres.
In addition to the well-known traditional Erzgebirge figures, the decorated area also features a miner and angel (each 1.80 metres tall), a snowman (also 1.80 metres tall) and a 1.90 metre tall smoker. All four figures were made by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH.
Cultural offerings:
The figural carillon can be heard every day (Mondays to Saturdays at 11 am, 4 pm and 7 pm; Sundays at 10 am, 4 pm and 7 pm). The tower brass band plays on Saturdays at 10.15 am. Carillon concerts can be heard on Wednesdays from 10 to 10.30 am, Fridays from 4.30 to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10.05 to 10.35 am.
In addition, two historic fairground organs can be heard daily from 4.30 to 4.50 pm. The two organs, built in 1904, will be played on the Neumarkt (at the Super 8 double loop) and on the Rosenhof (at the sports carousel).
Stage:
Every evening at 5pm, Father Christmas (played alternately by Thomas Landgraf and Thomas Hillmann) visits the stage and brings a gift and sweets*.
Christmas tree:
A spruce about 27 metres high and around 50 to 70 years old is still standing in the forest district of the Sachsenforst state enterprise in Eibenstock, Wildenthal district. The tree will be delivered to the Chemnitz market in the late afternoon of Saturday 8 November and put up. From 11 a.m., the waiting time for the tree will be shortened with grilled sausages and mulled wine.
Lights shine:
Every year, eins and inetz create a Christmassy atmosphere in the streets of Chemnitz city centre, light around 7,000 lamps and decorate the Christmas tree with around 800 lights.
This year, the large Christmas tree on the market square will be decorated on Monday, 11 November. At the same time, the fairy lights on the deciduous trees on Jakobikirchplatz and the strings of lights on the market square will also be put up. The Christmas tree, the fairy lights and the ornaments will then light up from Friday, 28 November at 4 pm.
Chemnitz Monastery Christmas area
One of the attractions this year is the historical market organised by Bibow Communications GmbH as part of the Chemnitz Christmas Market programme since 2005 with the "Chemnitzer Klosterweihnacht" on Innere Klosterstraße with 26 historically designed stalls. The bakery and tavern, Schießburg, Lederer and much more have a long tradition.
Ore Mountain Village area
The "Erzgebirgsdorf" is represented on Düsseldorfer Platz with 20 stands, including the 20 metre high Christmas pyramid and - new this year - the chocolate house. The event is organised by the SEG group of companies. Reservations for the Christmas pyramid can be made by calling 0371 83653617.
Preventive measures for general safety
For several years now, the Chemnitz Christmas Market has had a security concept agreed with the police, which is updated and updated annually. This includes a risk analysis of all possible situations. Measures are planned for potential hazards to minimise the security risk. For example, containers filled with sand and large planters are placed on some of the access routes to the Christmas market.
European Mountain Parade
One of the impressive highlights of the pre-Christmas period in Chemnitz is this year's European Mountain Parade through Chemnitz city centre on Saturday, 29 November from 2 p.m. to mark Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025.
This year, around 1100 participants will present this tradition: 580 people in uniform, 360 mountain musicians and around 100 guests from national associations will be seen in the impressive procession, opening the Christmas season in the Ore Mountains.
Ore Mountains.
2 pm is the usual start of the mountain parade. The route leads from Theaterplatz via Richard- Tauber-Straße, Straße der Nationen and Brückenstraße via Theaterstraße and then back to Theaterplatz. The grand closing ceremony will take place at around 3 p.m. on Theaterplatz, where Lord Mayor Sven Schulze will welcome the mining brothers and sisters and the spectators.
All information about the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be found at
www.chemnitz.de/weihnachtsmarkt
Vouchers:
Vouchers for the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be purchased again this year. They are issued by the Chemnitz Zwickau Region Tourism Association. The vouchers are available in denominations of 25 or 50 euros and can be redeemed in instalments of 2, 3 or 5 euros at most of the Christmas market stalls.
This makes it easy to give a visit to the market as a gift - whether for relatives, friends or, in the case of regional companies, as a tax-free benefit in kind for employees.
The vouchers are now available at the Chemnitz Tourist Information Centre (payment in cash, by card or MobilePay) and via online ordering from the tourist office. Vouchers ordered online can be collected from the Tourist Information Centre within two to three working days. Vouchers are issued while stocks last, with no limit on quantity.
With the introduction of the Christmas market vouchers, the City of Chemnitz and the Tourist Office want to further increase the attractiveness and reach of the Chemnitz Christmas market and at the same time increase customer frequency in the city centre.
Further information on the vouchers can be obtained from the Chemnitz Zwickau Region e. V. Tourist Association, contact: Stefan Herold, Tel. 0371 646 141 14, e-mail: herold@chemnitz-zwickau-region.de
Outlook
An extension of the Christmas market period is planned again this year. The Erzgebirgsdorf on Düsseldorfer Platz and the "Chemnitzer Hüttenzauber" on Neumarkt will take place from 27 December to 3 January (except 31 December), in each case from 11 am to 9 pm.
On 29 and 30 December, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will once again be a skilled labour exchange in the pyramid of the Erzgebirgsdorf on Düsseldorfer Platz. There, local companies and interested skilled workers will be able to exchange ideas in the midst of the winter market activity.
*changed on 6 November 2025