Like it or not, the festive season begins in Birmingham whenever the Frankfurt Christmas Market does—and this year, it’s the joint-earliest ever start date. Just one day after Halloween, the city centre will transform into a magical and merry place for all.
Since coming over from the twin city of Frankfurt in 1997, the now iconic Christmas market has grown into the largest authentic German Christmas outside of Germany and Austria. With over a hundred stalls filling New Street and Victoria Square, Birmingham Christmas Market attracts around 5.5 million visitors each festive period.
When is Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market?
Not content with being the UK’s biggest, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is often the longest-running, too. This year, it’s equalling 2024’s record-breaking length by running from Saturday, November 1, until Wednesday, December 24. That’s a total of 54 days and just shy of eight weeks long.
What time is it on?
From Monday to Thursday, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market will be open from 11am to 9:30pm, then 10am to 9:30pm on Friday, and 10am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday. The only expected change is on Remembrance Sunday (November 9), when the market will open from 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 Saturday and Sunday—expect anything from a Marvin Gaye tribute to vintage jazz standards.
What else is happening in Birmingham at Christmas?
Two Birmingham icons of Christmas will also return on November 1, with the big wheel and outdoor ice rink taking over Centenary Square until January 4, 2026. Open daily from 10am to 10pm (except when it’s closed on Christmas Day), Ice Skate Birmingham offers 45-minutes and 600 square metres of real ice from £9.50, while the huge Ferris wheel provides impressive sights of the Library of Birmingham, Brindleyplace and, of course, the Frankfurt Christmas Market for £8.
If that wasn’t enough, Birmingham’s other Christmas market, Christmas in Cathedral Square Craft Market, returns from Friday, November 7, to Christmas Eve. While it can’t compete on scale, expect a diverse range of independent traders within the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral. It’s open Monday to Wednesday, 11am to 9pm; Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 9:30pm; and Sunday, noon to 9pm.