Saturday 21 November 2026, 5.15 pm in front of Schloss Mirabell (Mirabell Palace): the Bürmooser Blechbläser, a brass ensemble, open our Advent music at the Salzburg Christmas market at Mirabellplatz (Mirabell Square). A good hour later, at 6.30 pm, the first Saturday Turmblasen (brass music played from the city’s towers) of the season begins on Residenzplatz. Here are all the 2026 dates for Turmblasen in Salzburg and for the free open-air Christmas music in front of the palace, and how to hear both in one evening.
What is the Salzburg Turmblasen? At the Salzburg Turmblasen, brass players perform Christmas tunes from towers during Advent. At the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt – the Austrian name for a traditional Christmas market – on Domplatz and Residenzplatz, they play from three towers around Residenzplatz, according to the organiser. The custom is centuries old; on Residenzplatz it has been heard since 1950, according to Salzburg Tourism.
All the dates for our Advent music in front of Schloss Mirabell are further down.
Salzburg Turmblasen 2026: dates on Residenzplatz and Domplatz
The Turmblasen is part of the Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz. It’s a market in its own right with its own association, and we’re happy to recommend it. According to the organiser, there are two series in 2026: the traditional Turmblasen and the Junges Turmblasen (“young Turmblasen”) (as of 23 October 2026):
| What | When | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Turmblasen | Thu 19 Nov, 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 10 Dec, 17 Dec | Residenzplatz | 6.30 pm |
| Traditional Turmblasen | Sat 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec | Residenzplatz | 6.30 pm |
| Junges Turmblasen | Wed 25 Nov, 2 Dec, 9 Dec, 16 Dec, 23 Dec | Domplatz (Cathedral Square) | 6 pm |
Times can change, so check with the organiser again on the day. What else is on at the Christkindlmarkt is in our guide to the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt.
Advent music in front of Schloss Mirabell: all 20 dates in 2026
In 2026, brass ensembles play in front of Schloss Mirabell on 20 days, usually at 5.15 pm, and from 27 to 30 December earlier, at 3.30 pm. You hear them right in the middle of the market – an Advent concert in the open air – and entry is free.
| Date | Ensemble |
|---|---|
| Sat 21 Nov, 5.15 pm | Bürmooser Blechbläser |
| Sun 22 Nov, 5.15 pm | Bläserquintett Brandauer |
| Wed 25 Nov, 5.15 pm | D’Schmittenstoana Bläser |
| Sat 28 Nov, 5.15 pm | Itzlinger Posaunenquartett |
| Sun 29 Nov, 5.15 pm | Brass-Quartett-Salzburg |
| Wed 2 Dec, 5.15 pm | Weisenbläser der Postmusik Salzburg (Weisenbläser – wind players performing traditional Alpine melodies) |
| Sat 5 Dec, 5.15 pm | Posaunenquartett Bernegger |
| Sun 6 Dec, 5.15 pm | Bläserquintett Brandauer |
| Tue 8 Dec, 5.15 pm | Posaunenquartett Bernegger |
| Wed 9 Dec, 5.15 pm | Itzlinger Posaunenquartett |
| Sat 12 Dec, 5.15 pm | Bürmooser Blechbläser |
| Sun 13 Dec, 5.15 pm | Brass-Quartett-Salzburg |
| Wed 16 Dec, 5.15 pm | Weisenbläser der Postmusik Salzburg |
| Sat 19 Dec, 5.15 pm | Bürmooser Blechbläser |
| Sun 20 Dec, 5.15 pm | Posaunenquartett Bernegger |
| Wed 23 Dec, 5.15 pm | D’Schmittenstoana Bläser |
| Sun 27 Dec, 3.30 pm | Weisenbläser der Postmusik Salzburg |
| Mon 28 Dec, 3.30 pm | Itzlinger Posaunenquartett |
| Tue 29 Dec, 3.30 pm | Bläserquintett Brandauer |
| Wed 30 Dec, 3.30 pm | D’Schmittenstoana Bläser |
Two evenings have even more on: on Wednesday 25 November at 6 pm the Christmas tree in front of the palace is lit, and on Wednesday 2 December at 6 pm St. Nicholas and Krampus – a horned, fur-clad figure from Alpine folklore who accompanies St. Nicholas – come to visit us. There’s more in our article Krampus in Salzburg 2026.
Christmas programme
All 20 dates for the Advent music in front of Schloss Mirabell, plus the lighting of the Christmas tree and St. Nicholas: the whole 2026 programme at a glance.
A brass evening: combining Mirabellplatz and Residenzplatz
Our Advent music starts at 5.15 pm, the Turmblasen in the Old Town not until 6 or 6.30 pm. Between Mirabellplatz and Residenzplatz it’s a walk of around a quarter of an hour, across the Salzach and through the Old Town. This is how both fit together:
- On Saturdays (21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec): Advent music with us at 5.15 pm, then on to the traditional Turmblasen at 6.30 pm on Residenzplatz.
- On Wednesdays (9 Dec, 16 Dec, 23 Dec): with us at 5.15 pm, then on to the Junges Turmblasen at 6 pm on Domplatz, which according to the organiser lasts until 6.30 pm. It’s tight, so it’s best to set off straight after the music.
- On 25 November and 2 December we have our own programme at 6 pm, the tree lighting and St. Nicholas. On these two Wednesdays, you’ll have to pick one place.
- On Thursdays (19 Nov, 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 10 Dec, 17 Dec) there’s no Advent music at our market. Come to the market in the late afternoon and then walk into the Old Town for the Turmblasen at 6.30 pm.
To keep your hands warm while you listen, there’s Glühwein (hot mulled wine, spiced with cinnamon, cloves and orange) and Kinderpunsch (alcohol-free punch for children) at Christl-Alm and at Alexander Reisinger, and hot Maroni (roasted chestnuts) from Markus Dimmer. Everything else is in our article on food and drink at Mirabellplatz.
Who plays in front of the palace?
Seven ensembles play in front of Schloss Mirabell in 2026: the Bürmooser Blechbläser, the Bläserquintett Brandauer, the D’Schmittenstoana Bläser, the Itzlinger Posaunenquartett, the Brass-Quartett-Salzburg, the Weisenbläser der Postmusik Salzburg and the Posaunenquartett Bernegger.
Two of them bring their own history with them. The tradition of the Bürmooser Blechbläser goes back to the years between the two world wars, when musicians played for farmers during Advent in return for small donations. The Weisenbläser der Postmusik Salzburg have their roots in the Christmas brass playing at post offices.
Opening hours & getting here
Our Christmas market in front of Schloss Mirabell is open daily from 19 November to 31 December, and entry is free. Here are our opening hours and how to get here.
You’ll find all the Christmas markets in the city in our overview of the Salzburg Christmas markets.
Frequently asked questions
In 2026 the traditional Turmblasen on Residenzplatz takes place on Saturdays 21 and 28 November and 5, 12 and 19 December, and on Thursdays 19 and 26 November and 3, 10 and 17 December, each time at 6.30 pm. The Junges Turmblasen plays on Wednesdays from 25 November to 23 December at 6 pm on Domplatz.
You can hear the traditional Turmblasen on Residenzplatz; according to the organiser, the brass players perform from three towers around the square. The Junges Turmblasen is on Domplatz. Both are part of the Christkindlmarkt on Domplatz and Residenzplatz.
On 20 days from 21 November to 30 December 2026, usually on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5.15 pm. From 27 to 30 December it starts at 3.30 pm. All the dates are on our programme page.
Yes. The Advent music plays right in the middle of our Christmas market in front of Schloss Mirabell, and entry to the market is free.
Yes, ideally on the Advent Saturdays. The Advent music in front of Schloss Mirabell starts at 5.15 pm, and the Turmblasen on Residenzplatz begins at 6.30 pm. In between, it’s a walk of around a quarter of an hour across the Salzach. On Thursdays there’s no Advent music at our market, but that gives you time for the market before the Turmblasen.
According to Salzburg Tourism, the custom of playing from towers during Advent is centuries old. On Residenzplatz, Tobi Reiser the Elder first had trumpets sound in 1950 to set the mood for his Adventsingen, a traditional Advent performance of music and readings. The organiser of the Christkindlmarkt gives 1952 as the start of the traditional Turmblasen.
Sources
All retrieved on 23 October 2026: Christmas market at Mirabellplatz: programme 2026 · Home page of the Christmas market at Mirabellplatz (ensembles) · Organiser of the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, “Important dates”, “Traditional Salzburg Turmblasen” and “Young tower brass players on Domplatz” · Salzburg Tourism: The sound of Christmas