Wels expands Christmas market with ice rink and light displays
Monday 19th October 2026 on 21:15 in
Austria
Wels is expanding its Christmas market and adding a 550-square-metre ice rink as it prepares for the 2026 season, ORF reported. The city, named European City of Christmas 2026, says the changes are intended to make the event more attractive and draw additional visitors.
The rink, called Christkindl-Eis, will be set up on the Stadtplatz, the city’s central square. The market will extend to the town hall fountain, with a new Christkindl Lounge and stage programme nearby. An arts and crafts market is also planned for Minoritenplatz square.
The city’s Lichterpfad light trail will be expanded in cooperation with local businesses, bringing the total to 34 installations. Around 850,000 LED lights are expected to illuminate Wels city centre, with additional Christmas lighting planned outside the centre.
Wels is investing more than half a million euros in infrastructure for the expected crowds, including a new traffic guidance system, extra parking spaces and public toilets.
Set-up work begins this week. The Christmas world is scheduled to open to visitors on November 13.