Rouen Christmas market 2026: 25 November to 27 December, and what the city has built

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The Rouen Christmas market returns in 2026 at the foot of the cathedral, as part of « Rouen Givrée », the city’s festive programme. According to the market’s website, it will open from Wednesday 25 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. The 2025 edition also offers useful lessons for local councils: new chalets, 40% local exhibitors, Christmas lights on reduced hours and a charity chalet. Here are the dates, opening hours and key lessons.

Rouen Christmas market 2026: what are the dates?

The market will stand on the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Rouen, the capital of Normandy. Its website announces opening dates from Wednesday 25 November to Sunday 27 December 2026, with « around fifty chalets ».

In addition, the listing by Rouen Tourisme, the local tourist office, mentions a period running until 3 January 2027 for Rouen Givrée as a whole. However, the city’s full 2026 programme is not online yet. So it is worth checking the end-of-year events on the city hall website.

What are the opening hours?

On weekdays and at weekends, the market’s website lists the following hours:

• Monday: 2 pm – 8 pm;
• Tuesday to Thursday: 11 am – 8 pm;
• Friday: 11 am – 9 pm;
• Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm;
• Sunday: 11 am – 8 pm;
• Monday 21 December: 11 am – 8 pm; Thursday 24 December: 11 am – 6 pm.

Besides, entry is free, according to Rouen Tourisme. As a result, you only pay for what you buy.

How did the city organise the 2025 edition?

The City of Rouen’s press release for the 17th edition sets out the details. For example, the 2025 edition ran from 21 November to 28 December 2025. It therefore relied on several concrete choices:

• 58 new wooden chalets on Cathedral Square, including a charity chalet;
• 8 chalets for a « designers’ street » on Rue du Change;
• about 10 km of Christmas lights across 65 streets and squares;
• a 15-metre Christmas tree at the heart of the market;
• an ice rink, a merry-go-round, carriage rides and a Father Christmas house.

Moreover, the city published the make-up of its exhibitors. Thus, 40% were local exhibitors and 40% sold food. Also, 22% were craftspeople and producers, and 25% were taking part for the first time.

Rouen Christmas market: useful choices for other towns

For local councils, the Rouen Christmas market shows how a festive market can benefit the whole city centre. First, the city works with local shops: the Vitrines de Rouen association, Rouen Commerce et Artisanat and several street committees. In 2025, a shop-window game offered 7,000 winning tickets.

Second, energy saving is built into the schedule. The lights were on only from 5.30 am to 9 am and from 4.30 pm to 11 pm. This is therefore a simple way to keep electricity bills under control.

Furthermore, mobility is planned ahead. The city had announced free public transport on four two-day periods in December. Finally, solidarity is visible: around fifteen associations took turns at the charity chalet, and a 4 km charity run was open to 99 runners and 99 walkers.

There is one limit, though: the press release gives no visitor numbers, budget or economic impact. Consequently, there is not enough data to measure the real effect on local businesses.

What it means for visitors and tourism businesses

For visitors, Rouen is easy to combine with other Christmas markets in northern France or with a trip to Paris. See our guide to the Paris Christmas markets in 2026 or our overview of French Christmas markets.

Likewise, for hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions, these festive weeks are a high point of the season. The Rouen Tourisme tourist office gathers the practical information. Finally, tourism businesses wishing to present their offer can get in touch via the box below. You can also read this article in French.

Rouen Christmas market: key takeaways

• Market dates: Wednesday 25 November to Sunday 27 December 2026, Cathedral Square.
• Hours: from 10 or 11 am to 8 or 9 pm depending on the day; 2 pm opening on Mondays; 6 pm closing on 24 December.
• Free entry; around fifty chalets announced.
• 2025 model: 40% local exhibitors, charity chalet, lights on reduced hours.
• Missing data: no visitor numbers or economic impact published.

Sources: City of Rouen, press release « 17e édition de Rouen Givrée » (2025); Rouen Christmas market website, marchedenoelrouen.com (2026 dates and hours); Rouen Tourisme, « Rouen Givrée » listing. Accessed 3 November 2026. Featured photo: Ulrich Pickert / Unsplash.