French Christmas markets 2026: opening dates city by city

French Christmas markets 2026 will open between 12 and 27 November, depending on the city. Paris La Défense starts the season on 12 November, Lille follows on the 18th, then Metz, Mulhouse and Nancy on the 20th. Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Arras and Kaysersberg open on Friday 27 November. We checked every date on the website of the city, the tourist office or the organiser. Here is the calendar, city by city.

French Christmas markets 2026: which cities open first?

This year, the season starts earlier around Paris and in the north of France. Indeed, several large cities choose six weeks of opening to spread out visitor numbers. By contrast, the historic markets of Alsace, the region on the German border, tend to follow the four weeks of Advent.

Paris La Défense, the business district west of Paris: 12 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. See our La Défense market guide;
Lille: 18 November to 30 December, place Rihour, with 90 chalets according to the city council;
Metz: 20 November to 30 December, closed on 25 December, with 130 chalets across several sites;
Mulhouse: 20 November to 27 December, place de la Réunion;
Nancy: Saint Nicholas festivities from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with the grand parade on Saturday 5 December;
Montbéliard: the Christmas Lights market opens on Saturday 21 November.

Small illuminated houses at one of the French Christmas markets 2026 — Illuminated chalets open from mid-November in several cities. Photo: Niklas Ohlrogge (niamoh.de) / Unsplash

French Christmas markets 2026 in Alsace: when do they open?

Alsace remains the leading destination of the season. However, its big markets open a little later than those in the north. Here are the dates published by the tourist offices and the cities:

Colmar: 23 November to 29 December, on five sites including place de la Cathédrale and Little Venice;
Strasbourg: 27 November to 24 December, 11am to 9pm, with the Christkindelsmärik on place Broglie. Also read our analysis of Strasbourg’s 2025 figures;
Kaysersberg: four Advent weekends, Friday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm, from 27 November.

In addition, many small Alsace villages hold shorter markets. So it is worth checking the opening days before planning a tour.

What are the dates for Reims, Arras, Bordeaux and Lyon?

Reims: 25 November to 27 December, every day, on the Hautes Promenades;
Arras: Friday 27 November to Sunday 27 December, on the Grand’Place;
Bordeaux: 27 November to 27 December, place des Quinconces, 11am to 9.30pm. Read our Bordeaux guide;
Lyon: the city announces a market on place Carnot from 20 November to 24 December. Moreover, the Festival of Lights runs from Saturday 5 to Tuesday 8 December.

Lit stall at one of the French Christmas markets 2026 — Evening opening hours vary widely from one city to another. Photo: Diogo Palhais / Unsplash

Amiens, Rouen and Nantes: dates still to be confirmed

For three large cities, we found no 2026 date on an official page on 29 October. In Amiens, the city’s 2026 market page could not be reached. Meanwhile, in Rouen and Nantes, the official websites still showed the 2025 edition. We will update this guide once they publish.

How should you plan a visit to the French Christmas markets 2026?

Weekends in December are the busiest. Therefore, a weekday visit in the early afternoon is calmer if your plans allow. Also, most markets close on 25 December, Christmas Day, and shorten their hours on 24 December.

City centres are often congested. For this reason, the train is the easiest option for Strasbourg, Lille, Reims or Colmar. You can book on SNCF Connect, the French railway booking site, and it pays to book early. French-speaking readers can also consult the French version of this calendar.

Handmade decorations sold at French Christmas markets 2026 — Crafts, decorations and local specialities make the markets famous. Photo: Humphrey M / Unsplash

Why these markets matter to French towns

For French municipalities, these markets drive activity outside the main tourist season. For example, Strasbourg welcomed 3.05 million visitors in 2025. Likewise, Arras and Amiens reported record attendance last year. As a result, shops, hotels and restaurants benefit directly. For local councils, the challenge is also to manage crowds: security, transport, cleaning and welcoming foreign visitors.

French Christmas markets 2026: key takeaways

First markets: La Défense on 12 November, Lille on 18 November;
Opening on 20 November: Metz, Mulhouse, Nancy (Saint Nicholas) and Lyon’s place Carnot market;
Colmar on 23 November, Reims on 25 November;
Opening on 27 November: Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Arras and Kaysersberg;
Amiens, Rouen and Nantes: 2026 dates not yet on official websites as of 29 October;
On 25 December, most markets are closed.

Sources: official websites accessed on 29 October 2026 — City of Lille (lille.fr), metz.fr, tourisme-mulhouse.com, saint-nicolas.nancy.fr, montbeliard.fr, archie.parisladefense.com, noel-colmar.com, noel.strasbourg.eu, reims-tourisme.com, arras.fr, bordeaux-tourisme.com, lyon.fr and fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr. Featured photo: Jocelyn Allen / Unsplash.