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Germany’s Christmas Markets Set to Open as Security and Costs Drive Local Changes

A state–city agreement cleared Magdeburg to proceed after upgrades, highlighting how stricter safety rules and licensing fees are reshaping plans across regions.

Overview

  • Across the country, markets are scheduled to open from late November through December, offering diverse formats from historic city fairs to themed venues in places like Dresden.
  • In North Rhine-Westphalia, organizers have canceled or scaled back events because security requirements have become too expensive, with Interior Minister Herbert Reul stressing that safety cannot be compromised.
  • Magdeburg’s market will go ahead after city leaders and the state administration agreed on additional risk-reduction measures, with a police walk-through set for Monday to finalize details.
  • Augsburg’s Christkindlesmarkt will run with a revised security plan that includes a midday street closure near Maximilianstraße and, for the first time, extensive video surveillance centered on Rathausplatz.
  • Kempten has moved its small-stage program indoors to the Rathaus Schrannenhalle after GEMA recalculated the licensed area and issued a roughly €7,600 bill for 2024 despite negotiated discounts.