St. Andrew’s Church (Andräkirche) stands right next to our Salzburg Christmas market at Mirabellplatz: when you come out of the Salzburger Advent there, you’re among our huts three minutes later. But if you want to go to Salzburg Advent Singing in 2026, you have more than one choice: the big Salzburger Adventsingen (Salzburg Advent Singing – an evening of folk music, singing and a shepherds’ play before Christmas) at the Festspielhaus, the Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church and the Hirtenadvent in the Universitätsaula are three different evenings.
What is the Salzburger Adventsingen? The Salzburger Adventsingen is an evening of folk music, singing and a shepherds’ play that gets you in the mood for Christmas. Salzburg Advent Singing has taken place at the Großes Festspielhaus (Great Festival Hall) since 1960, and there’s also the Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church on Mirabellplatz.
How late we’re open before and after the Advent Singing is further down.
Salzburg Advent Singing 2026 at a glance
The city’s two big Advent Singing events have different organisers, different venues and different times. All details according to the organisers, as of October 2026:
| Salzburger Adventsingen | Orig. Salzburger Advent | |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Großes Festspielhaus | St. Andrew’s Church on Mirabellplatz |
| Programme 2026 | “Das große Geheimnis” (The Great Mystery) | “Staad wird’s!” (It’s getting quiet!) |
| Dates | 27 November to 13 December, 13 performances | 28 November to 13 December, 13 performances |
| Times | mostly 2 pm and 5.30 pm, premiere 7.30 pm | 4 pm and 6.30 pm |
| Running time | about 1 hour 40 minutes without an interval | about 90 minutes |
| Since | 1946, at the Festspielhaus since 1960 | 1991 |
| Walk to our market | about a quarter of an hour | about three minutes |
The Salzburger Adventsingen at the Großes Festspielhaus
According to the organiser, the Salzburger Adventsingen is the second-largest cultural event in the province after the Salzburg Festival. It took place for the first time on 5 December 1946, founded by Tobi Reiser the Elder, and has been at home in the Großes Festspielhaus since 1960. So in 2026 it celebrates its 80th anniversary. According to Salzburg Tourism, more than 150 performers take to the stage, including the Salzburger Volksliedchor and 17 shepherd children.
In 2026 the programme is called “Das große Geheimnis” (The Great Mystery), a staged oratorio by Hans Köhl and Shane Woodborne. The dates according to the organiser:
- Friday 27 November, 7.30 pm (premiere)
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, 2 pm and 5.30 pm each day
- Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 2 pm and 5.30 pm each day
- Tuesday 8 December, 2 pm
- Saturday 12 December, 2 pm and 5.30 pm
- Sunday 13 December, 2 pm
According to the organiser, there’s no dress code, and Tracht (traditional dress) is welcome. The Adventsingen sees itself as a family event, and the Festspielhaus has wheelchair spaces, which you book with the organiser.
The Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church on Mirabellplatz
The Orig. Salzburger Advent has been held since 1991, founded by Erich W. Holzmann. It takes place in the parish church of St. Andrä, in other words right by our market. According to the organiser, more than a hundred performers take part, including the Jugendkantorei am Salzburger Dom (the Salzburg Cathedral youth choir) and the Mirabell Bläserquintett. The 2026 programme is called “Staad wird’s!”. The dates according to the organiser:
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, 4 pm and 6.30 pm each day
- Friday 4 December, 6.30 pm
- Saturday 5 December, 4 pm and 6.30 pm
- Sunday 6 December and Tuesday 8 December, 4 pm each day
- Friday 11 December, 6.30 pm
- Saturday 12 December, 4 pm and 6.30 pm
- Sunday 13 December, 4 pm
The organiser’s website quotes a press review that sums it up well: “Kalte Kirche, warme Herzen!” (Cold church, warm hearts!). So wrap up warm.
Festspielhaus or St. Andrew’s: which Advent Singing suits you?
Both evenings get you in the mood for Christmas with folk music and singing, but they feel different:
- The Festspielhaus suits you if you like a big stage, with a shepherds’ play, choir and orchestra in a concert hall. The Adventsingen has existed since 1946, so in 2026 for 80 years.
- St. Andrew’s Church suits you if you prefer something smaller and in a church, and if you want to combine the evening with a visit to our market straight away.
- The Salzburger Hirtenadvent in the Große Universitätsaula (University Great Hall) is a third option. According to Salzburg Tourism, the 2026 performances take place from 4 to 13 December (as of October 2026).
It’s best to buy tickets directly from the respective organiser. For the Adventsingen at the Festspielhaus, according to the organiser, you can do this in the Salzburger Adventsingen web shop or in person at the Salzburger Heimatwerk. For the Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church, you order online on the organiser’s website.
Before or after: the Christmas market at Mirabellplatz
Our market at Mirabellplatz is open Sunday to Thursday until 8 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays until 9 pm. Here’s how it fits around the performances:
- After an afternoon performance at the Festspielhaus: the 2 pm performance ends at around 3.40 pm. Crossing the Salzach, you’ll be with us in about a quarter of an hour, in time for the Advent music in front of the palace at 5.15 pm. It plays on every day with an afternoon performance.
- Before an evening performance at St. Andrew’s Church: on the Saturdays 28 November, 5 and 12 December and on Sunday 29 November, there’s Advent music with us at 5.15 pm before the performance starts at 6.30 pm. You’ll reach the church in three minutes.
- After an evening performance at St. Andrew’s Church: it ends at around 8 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays you then still have about an hour for a Glühwein (hot mulled wine, spiced with cinnamon, cloves and orange). On Sunday 29 November we close at 8 pm, so on that day it’s better to come to us beforehand.
Opening hours & getting here
Before or after the Advent Singing: we’re open Sunday to Thursday until 8 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays until 9 pm.
If you’d like to know more about the brass players and Advent music in the city, read our article on Turmblasen (brass music played from the city’s towers) and Advent music in Salzburg. If you’re coming by car: the Mirabell-Congress-Garage (underground car park next to Mirabellplatz) is right in front of St. Andrew’s Church, and there’s more in our article on parking at Mirabellplatz. You’ll find all the markets in the city in our overview of the Christmas markets in Salzburg.
Frequently asked questions
According to the organiser (as of October 2026), there are 13 performances at the Großes Festspielhaus in 2026, from 27 November to 13 December, mostly at 2 pm and 5.30 pm. The Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church also has 13 performances, from 28 November to 13 December, at 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
According to the organiser, the Salzburger Adventsingen at the Festspielhaus lasts about 1 hour 40 minutes without an interval. The Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church lasts about 90 minutes.
They’re two different events with their own organisers. The Salzburger Adventsingen at the Festspielhaus offers a big stage with a shepherds’ play, choir and orchestra and has existed since 1946. The Salzburger Advent at St. Andrew’s Church is smaller, takes place in a church and has existed since 1991.
It’s best to buy directly from the organiser. For the Festspielhaus, in the Salzburger Adventsingen web shop or at the Salzburger Heimatwerk; for St. Andrew’s Church, through online ordering on the Salzburger Advent website.
According to the organiser of the Adventsingen at the Festspielhaus, there’s no dress code, and Tracht is welcome. For St. Andrew’s Church the organiser doesn’t specify anything, but warm clothing makes sense in a church in December.
From St. Andrew’s Church it’s about three minutes on foot, as it stands right by our market. From the Großes Festspielhaus it’s about a quarter of an hour’s walk across the Salzach.
Sources
Retrieved on 26 October 2026: Salzburger Adventsingen (organiser) with the 2026 programme page, FAQ and history · Orig. Salzburger Advent (organiser) with programme and ensemble · Salzburg Tourism, event pages “80 Jahre Salzburger Adventsingen” and “Salzburger Hirtenadvent” · Walking times based on OpenStreetMap routing · Opening hours and Advent music: our programme