The Gdańsk Christmas Market kicks off on November 21st – an event that last year won the title of Best Christmas Market in Europe in the prestigious Best Christmas Markets in Europe competition! This historic victory is a source of pride and confirmation that Gdańsk is constantly developing, and the market is attracting more and more visitors from Poland and abroad.
W związku ze zwycięstwem w konkursie Best Christmast Markets in Europe i odpowiedzią na rosnące zainteresowanie, tegoroczny Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy rozwija się i obejmie całą ulicę Bogusławskiego, która zyskała nową, kontenerową zabudowę z tematycznym nawiązaniem do Teatru Szekspirowskiego.
– Nie tylko po raz pierwszy nasz jarmark tak bardzo się rozrósł, ale przypomnę, że jest także najlepszym jarmarkiem bożonarodzeniowym w Europie. Bardzo się z tego cieszymy. Kiedy za oknem robi się szybciej ciemno, jeszcze bardziej czekamy na piękne światełka i atmosferę, którą tworzymy wspólnie. W piątek 21 listopada, zaczynamy Jarmark, a oficjalne otwarcie odbędzie się dzień później popołudniu, uroczystą paradą – mówi Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Prezydent Gdańska.
"It's hard to believe today how many doubts there once were about whether the Christmas Market would catch on, whether such a tradition even suited Gdańsk. And yet – it's us, the people of Gdańsk, who are co-creating this market and its atmosphere. This year we have 222 stands, almost 40 percent of which are exhibitors from our city. Last year, over a million people visited us, which is a huge success. And while I invite everyone to enjoy the attractions, flavors, and holiday inspirations, I also ask that we respect each other. Let's also use the excellent public transport. Trams will run more frequently, especially on weekends. It's truly worth using them to fully enjoy the market instead of searching for a parking space. See you at the opening of our Christmas market – the best in Europe," adds the Mayor of Gdańsk.
Several new features have been added this year. The extended Bogusławskiego Street has already seen the arrival of market food trucks, as well as a new Shakespeare Corner with a Romeo and Juliet balcony – a nod to the adjacent Shakespeare Theatre. The traditional Advent Gate is also located there, and the Saint Nicholas Corner has found a new space. Another Instagram spot – the Shakespeare Gate – will also be added. A lighted roof, now four in the event space, will also adorn part of the new market space. The park on Zbytki Street will also be illuminated for the first time. The Christmas Market returns to the Forum Gdańsk courtyard after two years. This will also be the location for the festive infrastructure.
"I would like to thank, first of all, Madam Mayor and the entire team working on the fair. This year, for the first time, we are expanding our activities to the Śródmieście district, including the area around Bogusławskiego and Zbytki Streets, and this was inspired by our collaboration with the Shakespeare Theatre. You could say we are creating two fairs in one – a traditional one and a more
"Theatrical. We put a lot of energy into dialogue with residents, because although we create some confusion, we also foster a shared, friendly atmosphere. Residents increasingly say they enjoy the fair – and that's an important signal for us that we're heading in the right direction. We also dream of organizing a sister-city fair in the future, similar to the one Nuremberg has been organizing for years," says Andrzej Bojanowski, president of the Gdańsk International Fair, the organizer of the Gdańsk Christmas Market.
Throughout the Fair, you'll be able to sample dishes from 22 world cuisines – from traditional Polish to exotic Sri Lankan cuisine to Wagyu steak sandwiches. There will also be festive attractions for families, including the AmberSky Christmas Travel Corner, featuring carousels, a Santa Claus sleigh flight simulator, and a new feature – a VR paragliding flight.
Visitors can also look forward to over 100 program events – from Christmas carol concerts and children's shows to silent discos and dances. Look for them on the Main Stage, in the Armoury, Torture Chamber, and the aforementioned Advent Gate.
"It's worth noting that 62 percent of the Fair's exhibitors come from Pomerania. This builds regional identity and demonstrates that the Fair is largely our regional, Pomeranian," says Adam Gawrylik, member of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Board. "I wanted to invite you to another event. For the second time, as the Pomeranian Voivodeship government, we are showcasing a package of stands that shape our region and build our identity. These are top-quality regional products, often made with traditional recipes. I invite you to the Tastes of Pomerania, which will take place at the Armory from November 21st to 23rd, from 12:00 noon until the evening."
A significant change this year is the introduction of a deposit system with special regional cups from Lubiana. This eco-friendly solution will reduce waste and ensure the city's cleanliness. The deposit per cup will be 30 PLN. These cups will be distributed at the mulled wine houses, and the refund will be made in two special containers located on the fair grounds. This year, the system will be tested, with the aim of extending it to all mulled wine stations in subsequent years.
To ensure the comfort and safety of visitors, changes have been made to traffic management on Bogusławskiego Street – on weekends, the street will be closed to vehicle traffic, and local residents who parked at the Shakespeare Theatre thanks to parking permits can use free parking spaces on Rzeźnicka Street – after contacting the Fair Office.
ZTM will increase tram service frequency from December 6th to 21st, ensuring everyone can conveniently reach the Christmas Market. Service on lines 6 and 10 will be increased to approximately every 10 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 21:00.
– The first changes to traffic management have already been implemented during the stand installation. Bogusławskiego Street is one-way, and Targ Węglowy is closed to traffic. Bogusławskiego Street will be completely closed on fair weekends, so we ask drivers to follow the signage and instructions of traffic controllers. We expect increased pedestrian traffic in the city center – the passage between Forum Gdańsk and the fairgrounds will be monitored by ZTM services, the Police, and the Municipal Guard. At the Groddecka junction,
As was the case last year, left turns from Armii Krajowej Street towards 3 Maja Street will be restricted to a single lane, and police patrols will direct traffic. We encourage you to use alternative parking lots near Okopowa Street and the Piastowski junction, as the parking lot at Forum Gdańsk is filling up quickly. Up-to-date information will be available on TRISTAR displays and mobile information boards," says Agata Lewandowska, Director of the Road Traffic Management Office.
Celebrating and helping together
As usual, the heart of Targ Węglowy will host a festive event from the GPEC Group, prepared in collaboration with the Hospice Foundation and AMBREXPO. Proceeds from this initiative will support the Hospice Foundation's patients. The same will be true for the sale of traditional, collectible fair mugs, which this year will be available in four colors – a portion of the proceeds will go to the Hospice Foundation.
"At the Hospice Foundation, we believe that our patients should have Christmas all year round – that's why every bit of support is so important to us. I'm delighted that, thanks to the city of Gdańsk, the GPEC group, and AMBEREXPO, we can be part of the Christmas market. We'll invite residents and visitors to take Christmas photos, which will also be a way to support our charity. We'll also have a booth selling handicrafts made by our volunteers, and on December 12th, we'll invite everyone to the 'Christmas Cauldron' – a musical event combined with a fundraiser for our patients. I encourage everyone to transform the magic of the holidays into the magic of helping," says Agnieszka Paczkowska, president of the Hospice Foundation.
We invite you to the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, November 22nd at 4:00 PM. The fair will run until December 23rd.
We would like to thank all the partners, sponsors, and friends of the Fair for their support and co-creation of this unique event. Together, we celebrate success and continue to grow for you!
See you at the Best Christmas Market in Europe!
