Christmas Markets Thriving Despite Rumors of Widespread Closures

False Claims of German Christmas Market Cancellations Debunked

Reports circulating on social media claiming that hundreds of German Christmas markets have been cancelled due to terrorism fears are false, according to a thorough investigation by AAP FactCheck.

Several Australian Facebook pages have recently spread the unsubstantiated claim, with one post stating, “Hundreds of Christmas Markets in Germany Cancelled. Towns that once came alive with lights, food stalls, and music are now scaling back or shutting down entirely under the weight of growing security concerns.” The post went on to make inflammatory statements about border control and cultural heritage.

These viral claims cite an article from Dunapress.org, a self-described “independent communication and education group” based in Norway. Upon closer examination, this website regularly publishes AI-generated content, complete with AI-generated author images, raising immediate red flags about its credibility.

The article in question, headlined “Germany cancels Christmas Markets 2025,” dramatically describes what it calls a “poignant tale of how fear and accommodation are quietly eroding the fabric of German heritage.” However, it provides no concrete evidence supporting claims of widespread cancellations due to terror threats or increased security costs.

When pressed by AAP FactCheck, a spokesperson for Dunapress.org admitted that their portrayal of “widespread” cancellations “may have overstated the situation based on early unverified reports circulating in October 2025.” This admission effectively undermines the entire premise of the original article.

Further investigation revealed that the article named only two markets supposedly cancelled – in Rheinfeld and Schongau. Both claims proved false when fact-checkers looked closer.

The Schongau Christmas market is officially scheduled to run from December 5 to 21 this year, with organizers confirming to German news outlet DW that the 2025 market will also take place as usual.

As for the alleged cancellation in Rheinfeld, fact-checkers found this claim equally baseless. There is a Rheinfeld suburb in the small town of Dormagen in western Germany, but officials told DW there has never been a Christmas market there. Another similarly named town, Rheinfelden, located on Germany’s Swiss border, confirmed its Christmas markets and other events will proceed normally.

The Dunapress spokesperson eventually acknowledged their information about both locations was incorrect, stating their “reporting relied on initial social media reports that have since been clarified.” The publication has since added an editor’s note at the end of the article linking to fact-checks that debunk their own claims.

While DW did find evidence of a small number of markets not operating this year, the reasons given by organizers were unrelated to terrorism threats or security costs – contradicting the core narrative being pushed in the viral posts.

This case highlights the increasingly common problem of misinformation spreading through social media, particularly when it plays into existing fears about security and immigration. Such claims can quickly gain traction despite lacking factual support.

Christmas markets are a deeply important cultural tradition in Germany, drawing millions of visitors annually and representing a significant economic boost for local communities. The false reports of their widespread cancellation could potentially harm tourism and create unwarranted concerns about public safety.

AAP FactCheck, an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network, continues to monitor such claims across multiple social media platforms to provide accurate information to the public.