First Sunday of Advent

What the first Sunday of Advent is

The first Sunday of Advent marks the start of the Advent season in the Christian calendar and, in practice, the start of the Christmas market season in most German cities. It is not a public holiday, but it is a useful anchor for planning.

In 2026 it falls on 29 November. Our data lists the entry as rule-based, which means the date is calculated from the calendar rule and not announced by an organiser.

How the date is set

Advent Sundays are counted back from Christmas: the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day is the first Sunday of Advent. In 2026, 25 December is a Friday, so the fourth Advent Sunday is 20 December and the first is 29 November.

Because this is a calendar rule, the date itself is reliable. What is not reliable is the exact opening day of any individual market, which each organiser decides separately, so check the market's own site.

Tradition and character

In many households the first Sunday is when the Advent wreath comes out and the first candle is lit. Churches hold Advent services, and many towns hold a small opening ceremony or light a tree.

The weekend has a double character: it is quiet and domestic for some people and busy and commercial for others, since shops and markets use it as the unofficial start of the season.

What to do and eat

A classic choice is a visit to a Christmas market, either one that opens on the weekend itself or one that has been open since the previous week. Weekend crowds are largest on Saturday evening, so Sunday afternoon is calmer.

Seasonal food includes gingerbread, Stollen, roasted almonds and mulled wine. At home, baking and an afternoon of coffee and cake with the first candle is a typical way to mark the day.

Getting around and where to stay

Trains and city transport are busy on Advent weekends, particularly toward the big market cities. If you plan to travel, book seats in advance and consider arriving on Friday evening to avoid the Saturday rush.

Hotels in popular market cities such as Dresden, Leipzig or Erfurt fill early for this weekend. Reserve as soon as you know your plans.

Public holidays, bridge days and your vacation budget

The first Advent is a Sunday, so it needs no vacation day, and it has no statutory holiday status. Nearby dates matter more: Totensonntag, the Sunday before, is on 22 November, and Buß- und Bettag on Wednesday 18 November is a public holiday only in Saxony. The second Advent on Sunday 6 December coincides with St Nicholas Day this year.

A trip from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November costs one vacation day. A longer visit of Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November costs two. Christmas Eve is Thursday 24 December, and 25 and 26 December are a Friday and a Saturday, so the pre-Christmas period has three further Advent Sundays to choose from: 6, 13 and 20 December.

Tips and who it suits

This anchor date helps families, couples and anyone planning a Christmas market trip to pick a weekend. Visiting on the first Advent weekend gives you the freshest decorations, though also the first crowds.

Since the date is rule-based and not yet an organiser's announcement for any specific event, confirm each market's opening date on its own site before booking travel.

If you plan to be at a market on this exact weekend, think about the order of the days. Saturday 28 November is the busiest evening in many cities, while Sunday 29 November tends to be calmer in the afternoon. Some regions have special opening rules for Sundays, so check local shop and market hours before you go. For visitors planning several markets this season, the first Advent weekend is also a good time for reconnaissance: you can see which ones suit you and book a second, longer trip for a quieter weekday in December.