Overview
- Flagship fairs in Cologne, Stuttgart, Dresden and Nuremberg are open and promoting major draws, with Cologne and Stuttgart each expecting millions of visitors, according to organizers and national listings.
- Duisburg’s market is closed today for Totensonntag under city rules and reopens Monday, with about 100 stalls, a giant wheel and a new synthetic-ice rink scheduled through December 30.
- Hamburg-Rahlstedt’s ‘Winterterrassen’ will not return after two editions, as organizers say stallholders earned €2,000–€4,000 more elsewhere and revenues were too low to keep participants.
- Regional adjustments continue in Bavaria, where Dasing’s market is canceled due to town-center construction and Pöttmes’ Nikolausmarkt is merged with an Advent singing event to lift attendance.
- Organizers are leaning on distinct formats and accolades, including Lünen’s free-entry medieval Lichtermarkt drawing naming criticism online, Esslingen’s Sunday Times ranking (Nov 25–Dec 22), Soest’s EECMA award, and Schloss Merode’s ticketed fair (Nov 26–Dec 21, from €11) recognized as an excellent European market.