Christmas in Paris 2026 comes with one big piece of news: for the first time in nearly a decade, the Champs-Élysées Christmas market is back. It opens on Sunday 22 November 2026, the same evening the avenue’s lights are switched on. This guide goes through the 2026 season market by market, with the dates confirmed so far – and an honest “to be confirmed” where organisers have not announced anything yet. Updated 15 October 2026.
Christmas in Paris 2026: key dates
- 6 November: Tuileries Christmas market, “La Magie de Noël”, opens (until 8 January 2027)
- 6 to 14 November: department-store windows are unveiled (BHV Marais, Printemps, Le Bon Marché, then Galeries Lafayette)
- 12 November: La Défense Christmas market opens (until 31 December)
- 22 November: Champs-Élysées lights switched on and Christmas market opens (until early January 2027)
- 26 November: Notre-Dame Christmas market opens (until 27 December)
- Thursday 24 December and Friday 25 December: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – the Louvre and many museums are closed on the 25th
Best Christmas markets in Paris 2026
Champs-Élysées Christmas market – back after almost ten years
22 November 2026 to early January 2027 (reported end date: 4 January). The market sets up in the lower section of the avenue, on the Concorde side in the 8th arrondissement, and will share the avenue with the famous illuminations. Expect wooden chalets, crafts, food stalls and mulled wine. Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9) or Concorde.
Tuileries Garden: “La Magie de Noël”
6 November 2026 to 8 January 2027. Part Christmas market, part gourmet funfair, between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. This is the biggest city-centre market of recent years, with food stalls, rides and an ice rink in past editions. It is the longest-running of the central markets, so it is also the easiest to fit into a trip. Metro: Tuileries or Concorde.
La Défense: the largest Christmas market in the Paris region
12 November to 31 December 2026. Well over 150 chalets set below the Grande Arche, with regional food, handmade gifts and, in recent editions, an ice rink. It is a 15-minute metro ride from the centre (line 1 or RER A to La Défense).
Notre-Dame Christmas market
26 November to 27 December 2026, at Square René-Viviani, facing the cathedral. A small, charming market dedicated to French artisans and food producers – our favourite for a quiet gift shop. More about the Notre-Dame Christmas market.
Markets whose 2026 dates are still to be confirmed
- Montmartre (Place des Abbesses): a 100% made-in-France village; in 2025 it ran from 21 November to 4 January.
- Saint-Germain-des-Prés: boulevard Saint-Germain; usually late November to early January.
- Alsatian market, Gare de l’Est: short (about two weeks) from late November; pretzels, kougelhopf and Alsace wine.
- Hôtel de Ville and the Eiffel Tower village (quai Jacques-Chirac): both opened in early December in 2025 and ran until 4 January.
Organisers usually confirm the smaller markets in October and November, so check the dates before you plan a visit around one of them.
>> Christmas activities and illumination tours in Paris
Christmas lights and windows
Champs-Élysées illuminations
The switch-on is on Sunday 22 November 2026, with the avenue closed to traffic for the evening, and the lights stay on until early January. In 2025 the 400 illuminated trees shone every evening from 5 pm to midnight (1 am on Fridays and Saturdays) and all night on 24 and 31 December – expect a similar schedule. Metro: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau or George V.
Place Vendôme and the department-store windows
Place Vendôme and its neighbouring streets traditionally light up a few days after the Champs-Élysées (19 November to 12 January last year). The animated windows are unveiled in the first half of November:
- BHV Marais: from 6 November.
- Printemps Haussmann: from 7 November; the theme reported for 2026 is a train journey, “Printemps Express”, marking 100 years of animated windows.
- Le Bon Marché (left bank): from 8 November.
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann: from 14 November, with the giant tree hanging under the dome – a tradition since 1976.
Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are side by side on boulevard Haussmann (9th arrondissement); go on a weekday morning or after 8 pm to avoid the queues. The forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville and the alleys of Bercy Village are decorated too.
Ice skating
- Grand Palais des Glaces: the world’s largest indoor rink usually opens in mid-December until early January (14 December to 7 January last year). The 2026 dates are not announced yet.
- Rooftop rinks at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps: small rinks above Haussmann, open from early December in 2025.
- Tuileries and La Défense: rinks are part of the Christmas markets.
Christmas dinner, cruises and Disneyland
Book early: the best tables are gone by November. See our selection of restaurants for Christmas dinner in Paris, or Christmas lunch and dinner at Madame Brasserie, on the Eiffel Tower. If you are still looking for a bed, our selection of hotels in Paris is a good place to start.
Disneyland Paris celebrates Christmas from 7 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with parades, lights and a snowy Arendelle. Christmas at Disneyland Paris.
What is open on 24, 25 and 26 December 2026
- Thursday 24 December: shops open until the early evening; many museums close earlier than usual.
- Friday 25 December: the Louvre, Rodin, Picasso, Carnavalet and Cluny museums are closed, and so are most shops. The Eiffel Tower and many churches stay open – Christmas Day is perfect for a walk or a Seine cruise.
- Saturday 26 December: there is no Boxing Day in France: shops, museums and monuments are open as usual.
More in our guide to what’s open on Christmas and New Year’s Day in Paris.
Exhibitions to pair with the markets
- Cézanne and Us – Grand Palais, until 17 January 2027
- Monet, Painting Time – Musée de l’Orangerie (in the Tuileries, next to the market), until late March 2027
- Mary Cassatt: The Choice of Independence – Musée d’Orsay, until 31 January 2027
- Zurbarán – Louvre, until 25 January 2027
FAQ: Christmas in Paris 2026
When do the Christmas markets open in Paris in 2026?
The Tuileries market opens first (6 November), followed by La Défense (12 November), the Champs-Élysées (22 November) and Notre-Dame (26 November). The smaller markets usually start between late November and early December.
Is the Champs-Élysées Christmas market coming back?
Yes. After almost ten years away, it returns from 22 November 2026 to early January 2027, in the lower part of the avenue near Place de la Concorde.
When are the Champs-Élysées Christmas lights switched on?
On Sunday 22 November 2026, in the evening. The avenue is closed to traffic for the occasion.
Which is the biggest Christmas market in Paris?
La Défense is the biggest in the Paris region; the Tuileries is the biggest in the city centre.
Is Christmas a good time to visit Paris?
Yes, but go between early and mid-December: everything is lit and open, hotels are cheaper than in Christmas week, and museums keep normal hours. Expect 2 to 7°C (36 to 45°F) and short days. See our guide to Paris in December.
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