Lienz Advent Market opens on November 20, 2026

„Be a child again“ - under this motto the main square and the Liebburg, the town hall of the city, transforms into the unique Lienz Advent market during the pre-Christmas season: 35 artistically decorated stalls, fairy lights, fire pits, the scent of gingerbread, Kiachln, mulled wine, and hot tea, accompanied by atmospheric sounds - these are the ingredients that make the Lienz Advent something special. Original gift ideas, Christmas tree ornaments, traditional crafts, and culinary delights make the Advent market a:sociable and atmospheric meeting place for the whole family; and with a little luck, the snow quietly begins to fall...

The Lienz Advent Market, which this year celebrates 30th anniversary celebrates, is counted among the most traditional in Tyrol next to the one in Innsbruck. First held in 1997 at Johannesplatz - then still as a Christkindlmarkt - around 60 events now accompany the happenings at the main square in front of the Lienz town hall between the end of November and December 24th.

Opening will be on November 20th at 2 PM, the Advent market will then remain open daily until December 24th.

Opening hours:

  24. Dezember                                                    09:00 bis 13:00 Uhr

Socially active associations are also represented at the Advent market

Even at the 30th Lienz Advent Market, there are two stands of socially active associations throughout its duration.

The ten participating associations look forward to numerous visitors to enjoy the pre-Christmas atmosphere in a festive setting. The net proceeds from the stands will be used for social and humanitarian projects in favor of needy individuals, primarily in the district of Lienz and occasionally abroad.

The following socially active associations present themselves at the Lienz Advent Market:

Hand in Hand - November 22nd to 22nd

Training fit East Tyrol - November 23rd to November 26th

Movember - November 27th to November 29th

Diakonie de la Tour - November 30th to December 3rd

Rotary Club Lienz - December 4th to December 6th

SoLaLi - December 7th to December 8th

HAK Lienz - December 9th to December 10th

Deanery Youth Lienz - December 11th to December 13th

Karuna Austria/Nepal - December 14th to December 19th

Cancer Aid Tyrol - December 20th to December 21st

The Great Advent Calendar at the town hall of the city of Lienz

It is the special attraction at the Lienz Advent Market, the large art calendar at the town hall of the city, the Liebburg. Artists transform the 24 windows of the Liebburg into large calendar pictures for the 29th time.

Daily at 6:30 PM, the Advent Market becomes a social and cultural meeting point. In the company of friends and acquaintances, market visitors experience the opening of the Advent calendar window and get into the Christmas spirit.

The original pictures for the Advent calendar will be presented in a special exhibition and publicly auctioned on January 8, 2027, in an exciting art auction in the Town Hall of Liebburg. The large Lienz Advent calendar is organized by the Round Table 22 Lienz service club with the support of the municipality of Lienz. The proceeds from the art auction will benefit those in need in the region and help bring light into the darkness.

The night watchman

The multilingual night watchman Hannes Rohracher also makes his rounds at the Advent market this year. He is an information person for guests, especially for historical details of our city, a popular photo motif, and he is also happy to take time for a chat with visitors to the Advent market.

At dusk, he begins his rounds at the Lienz Advent market with a lantern and halberd, checks on things, takes care of the concerns and questions of the guests, and is especially happy to assist the small market visitors. Precisely at 9:00 PM, market life ends with his traditional night call. The lights in the Advent stalls go out and silence returns to the main square of Lienz.

Living workshop

In the living workshop, regional craftsmen and artists showcase their skills. They provide insight into their art right on site and are happy to let guests and visitors watch them at work.

In the atmospheric setting, the craftsmen invite you to watch and participate. On the first weekend, the Irschener herbal ladies take you into the mystical realm of herbs and invite you for tea tasting. The Schmutzerhaus Mörtschach will showcase sheep wool products from December 9 to 13 and provide insight into the art of felting. While making soaps, crafting greeting cards, creating dolls, and Christmas ornaments, the craftsmen are happy to inform about the processes and steps involved in the production of their exhibits.

Opening hours:

November 20 - December 13

East Tyrol for Reading and Listening

With "East Tyrol for Reading and Listening", special gifts can still be discovered in the large pavilion in the last week of the Advent market. The association "Education brings Peace" offers a wide selection of current books and CDs, complemented by antiquarian rarities, showcasing the wealth of literature, history, nature, art, and the music landscape of the region.

Opening hours:

19., 20. und 23. Dez.                                     10:00 to 19:00

21. und 22. Dez.                                            3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

24. Dez.                                                         09:00 bis 13:00 Uhr

Club Cup - Curling at the Advent Market

The Lienz City Ring and the city marketing Lienz invite you to the grand club cup for curling at the Lienz Advent Market. In the atmospheric setting at the main square, the artificial ice rink will be specially provided every day during the Advent season from 6 p.m., and the large club cup will be announced.

Die Mannschaftsgröße kann 3 bis 20 TeilnehmerInnen umfassen, gewertet wird das Durch- schnittsergebnis der Gesamtmannschaft. Das Nenngeld beträgt € 3,-- pro TeilnehmerIn, die Eisstöcke werden direkt am Eislaufplatz zur Verfügung gestellt. Mitzubringen ist lediglich gute Laune und der Ehrgeiz, mit Freunden den großen Lienzer Vereinscup am Adventmarkt für den eigenen Verein zu gewinnen. Der Lienzer City Ring dotiert den Cup mit € 1.000,-- Preisgeld in Form von City Ring-Gutscheinen. Anmeldung im Stadtmarketingbüro unter: Tel. 04852 600 223.

Ice Skating for Children

During the day, the ice rink at the main square is freely accessible for children up to 10 years old accompanied by a supervisor. Ice skates can be borrowed for free at Advent stand No. 19 during the Advent market opening hours.

Nostalgic Children"s Carousel

In keeping with the motto "Be a Child Again", there is a special surprise for the little ones at this year"s Advent market: the nostalgic children"s carousel offers fun and variety for the smallest guests of the Advent market and also awakens nostalgic memories of childhood in adults.

Lienz Family Advent

For families, there is a very special offer from December 14th to 18th: the city of Lienz invites all children to craft, sing, write Christmas letters, play, and much more with their parents in cooperation with the Parent-Child Center from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the large heated pavilion at the Advent market.

Highlight at 4:00 PM:

Montag:          Lebkuchen-Verzieren mit Bäckermeister Joast

Dienstag:        Mayor Blanik liest Weihnachtsgeschichten

Mittwoch:        Der Förster erzählt

Donnerstag:    The night watchman vom Adventmarkt erzählt

Freitag:           Besuch des Weihnachtsengels

Nativity exhibition on the ground floor of the town hall, the Liebburg

In the special ambiance of the Liebburg, the members and friends of the Lienz Nativity Association exhibit their lovingly crafted and prepared nativity scenes created over hours of work and provide insight into the traditional craft of nativity scene building.

Not only the many children are looking forward to the exhibition of the diverse small replicas of the birthplace of Jesus Christ, but adults also flock to the exhibition in the town hall to dive back into memories of their own childhood, just as the motto of the Lienz Advent suggests.

Opening hours:

December 4th to 13th

Monday - Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Lienz Krampus Days

The Lienz Krampus Days on December 3rd, 5th, and 6th are one of the spectacular highlights of the pre-Christmas season. Following centuries-old traditions, young men hide behind artistically hand-carved masks, cloak themselves in thick, shaggy furs, and adorn themselves with enormous bells to participate as "Krampuses" in the parades and processions.

The preparation time for the members of the Lienz Nikolaus and Krampus Association begins with the first days of autumn. The masks, called "larvae," are carved from wood, furs are cleaned and tailored, and heavy belts for carrying the large bells are crafted.

On December 3rd, the parades and runs of the Krampuses begin in Lienz. Barriers and stewards separate the wild figures from the spectators and visitors of the parades, ensuring that the Lienz Krampus Days become a beautiful and eventful event where guests, parents, and children are warmly welcomed.

Krampusumzüge:

December 3, 7:30 PM: Johannesplatz with St. Nicholas celebration (downtown)

December 5, 7:30 PM: District Patriasdorf with St. Nicholas celebration

December 6, 6:30 PM: Entry of the young Krampuses in downtown

Original Lienzer Lebzelt 1644®, culinary specialty in Advent

The Original Lienzer Lebzelt 1644® has a very old tradition. Originating from monasteries, the aromatic creations entered medieval bakeries. This also happened in those of Castle Bruck, where the most beautiful of the Lebzelt molds preserved there was brought back to life.

In 2026, the Lienz bakers and confectioners revived the old tradition of Lebzeltery. Selected spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise, ginger, fennel, and coriander define the delicate taste of the Lienz Lebzelt based on traditional production methods. The handcrafted Lebzelt is filled with Tyrolean cranberries, and a fine marzipan pattern envelopes the top of the Original Lienzer Lebzelt 1644®.

The Original Lienzer Lebzelt 1644® is offered for sale in an appealing, sturdy gift packaging with a freshness seal and manufacturer certificate. The handcrafted Lienzer Lebzelt is available in sizes 25 x 25 cm, 13 x 13 cm, and as confectionery with 7.5 x 7.5 cm exclusively at the following Lienzer bakers and confectioners:

• Confectionery Glanzl
• Bakery Gruber
• Bakery Joast