Birmingham
Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market 2026: dates, opening times and where to stay
Seven weeks of German wooden chalets, bratwurst and mulled wine in the middle of Birmingham, a few minutes' walk from New Street station. Here are the 2026 dates and opening times, what is different this year and the hotels closest to the stalls.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: Birmingham Christmas Market 2026
Dates: 5 November to 24 December 2026.
Where: Victoria Square and New Street, between Corporation Street and the Bullring.
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday 11am to 9.30pm, Saturday 10am to 9.30pm, Sunday 10am to 9pm. On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, it opens at 1pm.
Ice rink and big wheel: Centenary Square, 5 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Entry: free.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at The Grand Hotel Birmingham
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market is one of the largest German-style Christmas markets in Britain and one of the first to open each year. It is organised with Birmingham's twin city of Frankfurt, and many of the stalls sell the real thing: bratwurst, pretzels, Glühwein and wooden decorations.
What is different in 2026
This year the market does not run along the whole of New Street. Because of building work on Bennetts Hill and Temple Street, there are no stalls on the stretch between Nando's and the Apple Store. The market is in two parts: Victoria Square at the top, by the town hall and the council house, and the lower end of New Street towards the Bullring.
In practice it is still an easy walk. Start at Victoria Square, which has the biggest cluster of chalets and the busiest bars, then walk down New Street towards the Bullring. Allow at least two hours, longer on a Friday or Saturday evening.
The ice rink and big wheel are a separate attraction on Centenary Square, about a five-minute walk west of Victoria Square. They stay open after Christmas, until 3 January.
Getting there
The market starts a few minutes' walk from Birmingham New Street station. Direct trains from London Euston take about an hour and a half, and from Manchester about an hour and a half. From Birmingham Airport, the train to New Street takes about ten minutes.
Driving into the centre on a December weekend is slow and parking fills up early. If you are coming by car, park at a station outside the city and take the train in.
When to go: weekday afternoons are the calmest. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, especially at the bars on Victoria Square.
Where to stay for the Birmingham Christmas Market
The Grand Hotel Birmingham
The Grand is a restored Victorian hotel on Colmore Row, about five minutes' walk from Victoria Square and the market. It has a restaurant, a bar and a 24-hour gym, and guests praise the comfortable beds and friendly staff. It has the highest guest rating of the three: 9.4 out of 10 across more than 1,200 reviews on Hotels.com.
Check availability and prices at The Grand Hotel Birmingham
Malmaison Birmingham
Malmaison is in the Mailbox, by the canal, about a ten-minute walk from New Street and the market. It has a spa, the Chez Mal brasserie and a bar. Guests rate it 9.0 out of 10 across more than 1,200 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Malmaison Birmingham
Staying Cool at Rotunda
Staying Cool at Rotunda is an aparthotel in the Rotunda, the round tower at the Bullring end of New Street. It is a few steps from the Bullring and the lower half of the market. The apartments have kitchens, which suits families or groups, and some have balconies with views over the city. Guests rate it 9.0 out of 10 across more than 500 reviews.
The bar at Malmaison, in the Mailbox by the canal
The view from a balcony at Staying Cool at Rotunda, above the Bullring
Our recommendation
The Grand Hotel Birmingham: five minutes from Victoria Square
The Grand is a restored Victorian hotel on Colmore Row, about five minutes' walk from Victoria Square and the biggest part of the Christmas market. It has the highest guest rating of the three hotels we recommend, and it is close enough to go back and drop off your shopping between visits.
What Picolo would choose
What Picolo would choose: The Grand Hotel Birmingham to be closest to Victoria Square, Malmaison for a spa and a canal-side setting. For an apartment with a kitchen by the Bullring, choose Staying Cool at Rotunda.
Why: The Grand is about five minutes' walk from the largest part of the market and has the highest guest rating, 9.4 out of 10.
The trade-off: Malmaison is about ten minutes' walk from the market, but it is the only one of the three with a spa. Staying Cool is an aparthotel, so there is no restaurant or bar.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Birmingham Christmas Market in 2026?
The Frankfurt Christmas Market opens on 5 November 2026 and runs until Christmas Eve, 24 December. It is open from 11am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, until 9.30pm on Friday, from 10am to 9.30pm on Saturday and from 10am to 9pm on Sunday. On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, it opens at 1pm.
Where is the Christmas market in Birmingham?
The market is on Victoria Square and New Street, between Corporation Street and the Bullring. In 2026 there are no stalls on the stretch of New Street between Nando's and the Apple Store, because of building work nearby. The ice rink and big wheel are on Centenary Square, about five minutes' walk away.
How do you get to the Birmingham Christmas Market by train?
Take the train to Birmingham New Street. Direct trains from London Euston take about an hour and a half, and the market starts a few minutes' walk from the station. From Birmingham Airport the train to New Street takes about ten minutes. Driving into the centre in December is slow, so the train is usually easier.
When is the best time to visit the Birmingham Christmas Market?
Weekday afternoons are the calmest time to visit, especially in November. Friday and Saturday evenings in December are the busiest, with queues at the bars on Victoria Square. If you want the atmosphere without the crush, go on a weekday evening, when the lights are on and the crowds are smaller.
When should you book a hotel for the Birmingham Christmas Market?
Book as soon as you have your dates. Hotels near New Street fill up quickly on Fridays and Saturdays from late November, when the market is busiest and many offices hold their Christmas parties. Sunday to Thursday nights are easier to find. Choose a rate with free cancellation if your plans may change.
Sources
The 2026 dates, opening times, locations and building work come from Birmingham City Council, as reported by ITV News Central on 28 September 2026. Hotel ratings and facilities come from Hotels.com. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
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Picolo Editorial