Strasbourg: the Christkindelsmärik has stood since 1570
From 27 November to 24 December 2026 the Strasbourg Christmas market fills several squares in the city centre. The Christkindelsmärik on Place Broglie dates from 1570. In 2020 only the big Christmas tree on Place Kléber was left standing.
In 2020 the squares of Strasbourg fell quiet. The Christmas market was cancelled because of the pandemic, a first ‘in centuries’, as the city itself puts it. Only the Grand Sapin, the big Christmas tree on Place Kléber, stayed up. This year the market is back, from 27 November to 24 December 2026.
The oldest market of the whole is the Christkindelsmärik, founded in 1570 as a market dedicated to the Christ Child. It stands on Place Broglie and counts in the city as one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. Decorations for the tree and for the festive table hang there, and the smell of cinnamon too.
The Grand Sapin has stood on Place Kléber since 2000 and is the centrepiece of the festivities. A market of its own sits at its foot. In 2002 the Village du Partage was added, where local associations take a stand every year. Since 2015 there has been the Marché Off, a market for the social and solidarity economy. This year it is on Place Grimmeissen.
The market has changed in recent years. Between 2010 and 2014 it drew nearly two million visitors a year. From 2016 to 2019 a different country was guest of honour each year, with its own crafts. Between 2021 and 2024 the market followed the recommendations of a citizens’ jury: the walkways were widened, local crafts were given more room and low energy use became a priority. In 2025 the city received ISO 20121 certification for a sustainable and responsible event.
The sites are spread out. Around the cathedral and on Place du Château there is a market. In Petite France they are Place Benjamin Zix and Place Saint-Thomas. The Carré d’Or has its own market on Place du Temple Neuf. On the Rohan terraces and Place du Marché-aux-Poissons, stalls sell food and craftwork. On Square Louise Weiss, small producers from Alsace have their stands. A trail of lights links the cathedral, Petite France and the Neustadt.
Around the stalls there is food and light. On the menu are mulled wine, Bredle and gingerbread, alongside products from local producers. In the evening the streets are lit and the half-timbered façades are reflected in the Ill. An Advent wreath lies in the courtyard of the town hall. The city calls the market four weeks of festive wonder in the heart of Strasbourg.
Beyond the stalls there is more. The Sapin Solidaire is in its third edition this year and aims to bring joy to 300 children in vulnerable situations. More than 60,000 students turn the city into an open-air campus during these weeks, with concerts, markets and film screenings. There is a programme for a car-free Christmas and the city welcomes visitors with their dogs. A diary of all events is in the StrasApp.
Practical
Runs until: 24 December 2026 (starts 27 November)
Christkindelsmärik: Place Broglie
Grand Sapin: Place Kléber
Marché Off: Place Grimmeissen
Info: noel.strasbourg.eu