Holidays are coming—and with them comes the iconic Frankfurt Christmas Market. Since being gifted by our twin city of Frankfurt in 1997, Birmingham’s giant festive attraction has grown into the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria. With over a hundred stalls filling New Street and Victoria Square, it attracts around 5.5 million visitors each year.
When is Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market?
While not running for quite as long as in recent years, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is still on for seven weeks in the heart of Birmingham in 2026. You will find it lighting up the Second City from Thursday, November 5, to Thursday, December 24, for a total of 50 festive days.
Note: This year, due to ongoing public realm works on Bennetts Hill and Temple Street, there will be no stalls between the Apple Store and Nando’s on New Street, but the market resumes beyond Corporation Street, with craft stalls also along High Street.
What time is it on?
From Monday to Thursday, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market will be open from 11am to 9pm, then 11am to 9:30pm on Friday, and 10am to 9:30pm on Saturday and 10am to 9pm on Sunday. The only expected change is on Remembrance Sunday (November 8), when the market will not open until 1pm.
What can I expect from the Christmas Market?
With over 100 stalls at this year’s Frankfurt Christmas Market, you’ll be able to tuck into everything from stollen, pretzels and bratwurst to weissbier, mulled wine and hot chocolate. Elsewhere, pick up traditional gifts—like handcrafted decorations, wooden toys, glass baubles, crystal lamps, jewellery, and so much more.
Visitors to Victoria Square will also be treated to a free live programme of musicians from Germany and Birmingham at The Bandstand. From up-and-coming performers to community choirs, enjoy a selection of festive lunchtime and evening music sessions, Monday to Friday, and all-day performances on the weekend.
What else is happening in Birmingham at Christmas?
As always, two other Birmingham icons of Christmas will also return in November. Ice Skate Birmingham and the Big Wheel once more take over Centenary Square. It will open from Thursday, November 5, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027, between 10am and 10pm (closed Christmas Day).
Also, over at the Christmas in Cathedral Square Craft Market, it will, for the first time, match the Frankfurt Market by running from Thursday, November 5, to Christmas Eve. While it can’t compete on scale, expect a diverse range of independent traders within the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral.
