Mulled wine mug and children’s tableware:
This year’s 2026 Christmas market mug is made of satin-finished glass and features a
design featuring the Christmas market in front of Chemnitz Town Hall.
This year, a grey children’s mug featuring an Abrafaxe design is available, in which the characters
are holding a poinsettia. To complement this, a plate and a soup bowl are also available in
same design.
(Photo: Walter Müller-Wähner, City of Chemnitz)
Design:
One of the most visually striking attractions at the Chemnitz Christmas market this year is once again the twelve-metre-high Christmas pyramid, situated between Neumarkt and Markt: across five storeys, 24 figures depict everyday life in the Ore Mountains. Added to this is the five-by-two-metre, 200-kilogramme original Erzgebirge ‘Schwibbogen’ (candle arch) by the craftsman Claus Döhler from Sosa, which once again this year adorns one of the festively decorated entrances to the Christmas market at its usual spot, where it has stood since 1993.
The large music box also takes its place at the Christmas market once again. In 2013, it was reissued on behalf of the town by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH. It was modelled on the music box that has been part of the Christmas market’s décor since 2002. The scene ‘Presents being handed out in a Christmas parlour’ rotates on a plate 4.40 metres in diameter.
Other well-known traditional figures typical of the Ore Mountains featured in the decorated area include: a miner and an angel (each 1.80 metres tall), the snowman, also 1.80 metres tall, and the incense-burning man, 1.90 metres tall. All four figures were produced by Erzgebirgische Holzkunst Gahlenz GmbH.
The figures from the music box, all the traditional figures, selected individual figures from the pyramid and the accompanying light strips have been refurbished by the Parks and Gardens Department.
This year, a new Christmas market stage will be used, which will be set up at its usual location.
In addition, children from Chemnitz’s nurseries will once again be decorating the many small Christmas trees scattered throughout the Christmas market.
On Wednesday 23 December, from 4 pm, the Christmas trees set up at the Chemnitz Christmas market will, as is traditional, be given away free of charge to anyone interested.
Cultural events:
A highlight awaits visitors this year at Neumarkt: the newly erected Christmas market stage offers artists a wonderful platform to showcase their talents and delight the audience.
A varied programme featuring choirs, solo artists, children’s groups and numerous other performers ensures a wide range of entertainment.
Every evening at 5 pm, Father Christmas ( played alternately by Thomas Landgraf and Thomas Hillmann) visits the stage, bringing gifts and sweets with him.
The figurative carillon rings out daily at 11 am, 4 pm and 7 pm. The tower brass ensemble performs every Saturday from 10.30 am to 11 am. Carillon concerts can be heard every Wednesday and Saturday from 10.05 am to 10.30 am, and on Fridays from 4.30 pm to 5 pm.
Lights aglow:
In total, over 16,000 lights will illuminate the Christmas market.
The large Christmas tree in the market square will be decorated this year on Monday 9 November. It will be delivered on Saturday 7 November (see press release).
At the same time, the fairy lights will be hung on the deciduous trees on Jakobikirchplatz and the string lights will be installed across the market. The Christmas tree, the fairy lights and the decorations will then be lit from 4.00 pm on Friday 27 November.
Grand Mountain Parade
One of the most impressive highlights of the run-up to Christmas in Chemnitz is the 46th Grand Berg Parade, which will wind its way through Chemnitz city centre on Saturday 28 November from 2.00 pm.
This year, around 950 participants will be taking part in this tradition: approximately 605 uniformed members and around 343 Berg musicians will be on display in the ever-impressive procession, thus marking the start of the Christmas season in Chemnitz.
As usual, the Bergparade will start at 2 pm. The route leads from Theaterplatz via Richard-Tauber-Straße and Straße der Nationen into Brückenstraße, where the procession will turn around and follow the same route back to Theaterplatz.
At around 3 pm, the grand closing ceremony will once again take place on Theaterplatz.
Preventative measures for general safety
For several years now, the Chemnitz Christmas market has had a security plan in place, drawn up in consultation with the police, which is updated annually. This includes a risk assessment of all possible scenarios. Measures are planned to minimise security risks in the event of potential threats.
Vouchers:
Vouchers for the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be purchased again this year. They are issued by the Chemnitz Zwickau Region Tourism Association (Tourismusverband Chemnitz Zwickau Region e. V.).
The voucher booklets are available in denominations of 25 or 50 euros and can be redeemed in increments of 2, 3 or 5 euros at the stalls on the Christmas market.
This makes it very easy to give a visit to the market as a gift – whether for family, friends or, in the case of regional businesses, as a tax-free benefit in kind for staff.
The vouchers are available from the Chemnitz Tourist Information Centre and can also be ordered online from the Tourism Association. Vouchers ordered online can be collected from the Tourist Information Centre after two to three working days. They are available whilst stocks last, with no limit on the quantity purchased.
Further information on the vouchers is available from the Chemnitz Zwickau Region Tourism Association (Tourismusverband Chemnitz Zwickau Region e. V.); please contact Stefan Herold, tel. 0371 646 141 14, email: herold(at)chemnitz-zwickau-region.de
Full details of the Chemnitz Christmas Market can be found at: www.chemnitz.de/weihnachtsmarkt
