WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Germany has cancelled hundreds of Christmas markets due to fears of terrorist attacks.
OUR VERDICT
False. There's no evidence of the widespread cancellation of markets.
AAP FACTCHECK - There is no evidence that hundreds of German Christmas markets have been cancelled over terror fears, despite claims on social media.
The article cited as evidence for the claim does not substantiate any widespread cancellation of festive events.
The claim has been circulated by several Australian Facebook pages in recent weeks.
"Hundreds of Christmas Markets in Germany Cancelled," one user posted.
"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.
"This is what happens when a nation loses control of its borders and values. Fear replaces freedom, and heritage becomes a liability. How much more do we have to give before we finally say enough?"
The post, among many others, references an article on a website called Dunapress.org as the source of the claim.
Duna Press claims to be "an independent communication and education group" based in Norway.
It regularly publishes AI-generated content, and several of the authors have AI-generated byline images.
The article in question is headlined "Germany cancels Christmas Markets 2025" and describes it as a "poignant tale of how fear and accommodation are quietly eroding the fabric of German heritage".
However, the article does not provide evidence of widespread cancellations due to a terror threat or increased security costs.
AAP FactCheck contacted the author of the article for evidence to support the claim.
In an email response, a spokesperson admitted the portrayal of "widespread" cancellations "may have overstated the situation based on early unverified reports circulating in October 2025".
The article names just two markets that have supposedly been cancelled due to rising costs, in Rheinfeld and Schongau.
AAP FactCheck contacted the organisers of Schongau's Christmas markets, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
However, the market is listed to run from December 5 to 21 this year.
Market organisers responded to German masthead DW, which also fact-checked the post. The organisers said the 2025 market will take place as usual.
There is a Rheinfeld suburb in the small town of Dormagen in Germany's west. However, there has never been a market in Rheinfeld, Dormagen officials told DW.
There is also a Rheinfelden on the country's Swiss border. Its Christmas markets and other events are due to take place as usual.
The DW article did find evidence of a small number of markets not being held this year.
However, the reasons cited by organisers were not due to terror threats or security costs.
The Duna Press spokesperson admitted the information about Rheinfeld and Schongau was wrong and that its "reporting relied on initial social media reports that have since been clarified".
The publication has added an editor's note at the end of the story, linking to articles that debunk the claim.
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