As Christmas markets spring to life across Europe this year, authorities in Germany, France, and other nations are ramping up security measures in response to what they describe as increased threats to public safety. This comes amid rising operational expenses that are straining local resources.

In Germany alone, a recent survey by the Federal Association of City and Town Marketing reveals that spending on security for public events, including Christmas markets, has surged by approximately 44% over the last three years. Berlin’s main market has embraced the season with reinforced security, featuring concrete barriers, upgraded video surveillance, and an increased presence of private security personnel. Meanwhile, several smaller towns caution that these new demands might compel them to downsize or cancel markets in the coming year.

“The requirements have become increasingly stringent,” remarked David Russ, head of production at Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt, in an interview with Reuters. He emphasized that these enhanced measures give visitors peace of mind: “I can just let go of everything here — I feel safe.”

The Christmas market in Essen, Germany, is under the watchful eye of heavily armed police officers, ensuring visitor safety. (Roland Weihrauch/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Although many towns benefit from some public funding to host holiday markets, it is often the smaller municipalities and private organizers who bear most of the financial load. Local officials are urging Germany’s 16 federal states to assume a larger portion of the costs, arguing that counter-terrorism efforts should not fall solely on the shoulders of local event organizers.

The upgrades follow last December’s SUV attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market, which killed six people and injured more than 300. Since then, many German cities have reinforced infrastructure, revised crowd-control plans, and increased surveillance at large seasonal gatherings.

Police officers patrol the annual Christmas market on November 20, 2025 in Magdeburg, Germany. On December 20, 2024 Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, who is currently on trial, drove a car into the crowded open-air market, killing six people and injuring over 300. Christmas markets will open soon nationwide. Many are facing high costs due to increased security measures following the Magdeburg attack. (Photo by Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images) (Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images)

France has moved in a similar direction. Authorities canceled the annual New Year’s Eve concert on the Champs-Élysées after police raised concerns about crowd management and what the Interior Ministry described as a “very high” terror threat level. The ministry has classified Christmas markets and other winter festivities as “high-risk” events, prompting cities to deploy additional officers, introduce new screening points and impose access restrictions where needed.

“The real question is why European governments are tolerating a situation where they must deploy extraordinary security just so people can safely celebrate a tradition that has been central to European life for centuries,” Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society told Fox News Digital. “They’re responding to the threat, but they’re not pushing back against the radical extremists causing it. Why are Europeans forced to navigate layers of security instead of authorities making life difficult for the people who are spreading hatred and posing the threat?”

Visitors walk through the Magdeburg Christmas market after the opening in Magdeburg, Germany, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.  (Matthias Bein/dpa via AP)

“Europe needs an aggressive strategy that targets the radicals — imprisoning them, deporting them if they’re not citizens — because you can’t secure your way out of this forever,” Mendoza continued. “Every year the security will increase unless the root causes are addressed. Europeans are increasingly fed up with what’s happening to their societies, and if current leaders won’t deliver transformative change, voters will eventually choose leaders who will.”

Other European countries are also reinforcing their holiday operations. According to The Sun, the iconic Christmas market in Salzburg, Austria — which draws roughly 1.5 million visitors each year — is now monitored by round-the-clock private security and a network of 33 dedicated cameras. Elsewhere in Austria, including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s home region of Styria, some markets have been canceled entirely because organizers say they cannot afford the mandated security measures.

A member of security observes visitors walk among Christmas stalls at the opening day of the annual Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz on November 24, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Christmas markets are opening today across the city and in many other cities across Germany. (Photo by Maryam Majd/Getty Images) (Maryam Majd/Getty Images)

In Prague, large concrete blocks have been placed along popular embankments and around key foot-traffic areas, while police have increased patrols to monitor potential targets. In Budapest, additional plain-clothes officers are circulating through crowds to identify suspicious behavior and improve response speed.

Ben Cohen, a senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that authorities are treating the holiday season with heightened seriousness. “The threat level is certainly the same as last year. Arguably, it’s more acute now, which is why the authorities in Germany and France are increasing security measures at Christmas markets and fairs this year. Over the last year, both countries have cracked down on Islamist activity, so they will be especially on their guard at this time of year.”

“More broadly,” he added, “both Christian and Jewish festivals are seen as soft targets by jihadists, as evidenced by the attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur in October. Christmas and Easter carry the same risks and so extra vigilance and a strong but discreet armed police presence is definitely warranted.”

An aerial view shows the traditional 45-meter-high Dortmund Christmas tree, one of the world’s largest, at the Christmas market in Dortmund on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo by Ina Fassebender / AFP via Getty Images))

Despite the adjustments, many markets in Europe remain open and continue to draw significant attendance, though under noticeably stricter security conditions. Officials in several countries say the measures are likely to remain in place as long as threat levels stay elevated.

Reuters contributed to this story.