Cullman Christkindlmarkt lands on Travel + Leisure’s top Christmas markets list

Travel + Leisure named Cullman Christkindlmarkt one of the 10 coolest Christmas markets in the U.S. for 2026, making it the only Southern market on the list. The recognition spotlights the Alabama event’s rapid growth, German heritage and major tourism impact ahead of its Nov. 19-Dec. 23 run.

Why it matters: - Travel + Leisure’s list puts Cullman Christkindlmarkt alongside major holiday destinations in New York City, Chicago, Bethlehem, Pa., Carmel, Ind. and Leavenworth, Wash. - Cullman is the only Southern market on the 2026 list, giving Alabama a rare spot on a national holiday travel ranking. - The market drew more than 415,000 visitors in 2025, a scale that far exceeds Cullman’s population of about 20,000.

What happened: - Travel + Leisure named Cullman Christkindlmarkt one of the “10 Coolest Christmas Markets in the U.S.” for the 2026 holiday season. - The publication described the markets as holiday destinations “worth planning a trip around.” - The feature highlighted Cullman Christkindlmarkt’s rapid growth, German-inspired design and signature attractions, including the world’s largest Schwibbogen and the tallest Christmas pyramid in North America. - The 2026 market will run Nov. 19-Dec. 23 in downtown Cullman, Alabama. - Admission is free.

The details: - Cullman Christkindlmarkt started in 2019 with eight wooden market huts and about 5,000 visitors. - The event expanded into a downtown holiday village that welcomed more than 415,000 visitors in 2025. - The 2025 market ran 24 days and included 75 vendors across more than a quarter-mile of vending space. - Offerings included handcrafted goods, holiday merchandise and authentic German cuisine. - A flagship structure housed German retailer Käthe Wohlfahrt. - About 80% of visitors traveled from outside Cullman County. - The market generated an estimated $28 million in local economic impact. - Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism produces the market with support from city departments, local businesses and volunteers. - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called the market a tourism success story and said it welcomes visitors from all 50 states while celebrating Cullman’s German heritage. - Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs said the market draws visitors nationwide and delivers real economic impact for local businesses. - Nathan Anderson, executive director of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism, said hundreds of people help build and operate the market each year. - The city of Cullman was founded by German immigrants in 1873.

Between the lines: - The Travel + Leisure recognition adds national validation to an event that has already become a major regional tourism engine. - The market’s growth suggests Cullman has turned heritage branding into an economic development tool, not just a seasonal attraction. - The “only Southern market” detail helps separate Cullman from the more established holiday destinations on the list. - The combination of free admission and high visitor volume helps explain why the event can scale quickly while still serving as a broad public draw. - The recognition follows two other honors: the Alabama Tourism Department named it the 2026 Alabama Event of the Year, and the Southeast Tourism Society named it a 2025 Signature Event of the Southeast.

What’s next: - Cullman Christkindlmarkt opens for the 2026 season on Nov. 19. - The event will continue through Dec. 23 in downtown Cullman. - City leaders are using the national spotlight to encourage more first-time visitors to see the market in person. - The full Travel + Leisure feature and media assets are available online.

The bottom line: - Cullman Christkindlmarkt has moved from a local German-inspired holiday market to one of the country’s most visible Christmas destinations, with national recognition now matching its visitor growth.