Angers Christmas market 2026: dates, opening hours and venues of Soleils d’Hiver, 25 November to 3 January

The Angers Christmas market opens on Wednesday 25 November 2026, the launch day of Soleils d’Hiver (« Winter Suns »), the city’s festive season. The city-centre chalets will stay open until 30 December, while the Christmas village in the Jardin du Mail park runs until 3 January 2027. Opening hours are longer on Friday and Saturday evenings. Here are the dates, venues and markets in nearby towns.

When does the Angers Christmas market open in 2026?

According to the local listings site eVous, which relays the city council’s announcement, Soleils d’Hiver starts on 25 November 2026. However, the detailed programme has not yet been published, so check the City of Angers website over the coming days. Angers is the main city of the Maine-et-Loire département, in the Loire Valley.

The event is split into two main areas. On the one hand, the city-centre market fills Place du Ralliement, Rue Lenepveu and Place du Pilori. On the other hand, a Christmas village sets up in the Jardin du Mail.

Angers Christmas market: decorated wooden chalets — Wooden Christmas chalets (illustration). Photo: Jocelyn Allen / Unsplash

Opening hours of the Angers Christmas market in the city centre

In practice, the city-centre market runs from 25 November to 30 December 2026. The announced opening hours are as follows:

Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 8pm;
Friday: 11am to 10pm;
Saturday: 11am to 11pm;
24 December: 11am to 6pm;
25 December (Christmas Day, a public holiday in France): optional opening from 3pm, depending on stallholders.

As a result, the late weekend openings suit families and people who work during the day. On Christmas Day, however, not every chalet will necessarily be open.

The Jardin du Mail village, until 3 January

The village in the Jardin du Mail is open from 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It welcomes visitors from 11am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday, until 9pm on Fridays and until 10pm on Saturdays.

Entry is free. However, purchases and rides must be paid for. A big wheel and a Christmas-tree carousel have also been announced, with no precise dates so far.

Christmas village with trees and string lights — A Christmas village sets up in the Jardin du Mail (illustration). Photo: Jocelyn Allen / Unsplash

How many chalets will there be?

For now, the council has not announced the number of chalets for 2026. For comparison, its 2024 press release mentioned « nearly 160 chalets » spread between the city centre and the Jardin du Mail.

That size puts Angers among the major Christmas events in western France. To compare, see our pages on the Nantes Christmas market and the Tours Christmas market.

Which Christmas markets are there around Angers?

In addition, several neighbouring towns hold their own markets. Here are the dates listed for 2026:

Les Ponts-de-Cé, Athlétis hall: Sunday 22 November, 9.30am to 6pm;
Beaucouzé: Saturday 28 November;
Bouchemaine: Sunday 6 December, 10.30am to 6.30pm, with more than 50 stallholders;
Avrillé: Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December, 4pm to 8.30pm.

However, these times may change, so it is best to check with each town hall before travelling.

Christmas market stall lit up in the evening — Late openings on Fridays and Saturdays extend the visit (illustration). Photo: Diogo Palhais / Unsplash

Practical tips for your visit

First, central Angers is easy to explore on foot between Place du Ralliement and the Jardin du Mail. Moreover, the tram serves the city centre, which saves looking for a parking space on busy evenings.

Finally, if you would like to run a stall yourself, our guide to the rules for Christmas market stallholders in France explains the usual steps and costs. You can also read this article in French.

Angers Christmas market: key takeaways

The Angers Christmas market opens on 25 November 2026, with the launch of Soleils d’Hiver.
City-centre chalets (Ralliement, Lenepveu, Pilori) stay open until 30 December.
The Jardin du Mail village runs until 3 January 2027, with free entry.
Late openings until 10pm on Fridays and 11pm on Saturdays in the city centre.
The detailed programme and the number of chalets for 2026 have yet to be published by the council.

Sources: eVous Angers listings (page updated on 1 November 2026), City of Angers press release on Soleils d’Hiver 2024 (presse.angers.fr), accessed on 12 November 2026; geo.api.gouv.fr for the municipality code. Featured photo: Niklas Ohlrogge / Unsplash.