Paris does Christmas quietly and then all at once. From mid-November the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann fill with moving figures, the illuminations go up over the Champs-Élysées, and wooden chalets appear in the Tuileries, outside Notre-Dame and across the parvis at La Défense. This guide covers every Christmas market in Paris for the 2026 season — where each one is, what it is actually like, and which dates have been confirmed so far.
The best Christmas markets in Paris 2026:
- Paris Christmas market dates 2026
- Tuileries Garden Christmas Market
- Notre-Dame Christmas Market
- Montmartre Christmas Market
- Paris La Défense Christmas Market
- Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l'Est
- Other Christmas markets in and near Paris
- Planning your visit
- Paris Christmas markets FAQ
Paris Christmas market dates 2026
Paris markets announce their dates in stages, and most confirm in September and October. Two of the big five are already fixed for 2026; the rest follow the same pattern every year, so the typical window is a reliable guide until the official announcement lands.
| Market | 2026 dates | Where | Nearest metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris La Défense | 12 November – 31 December 2026 | Parvis de La Défense | La Défense (1, RER A) |
| Notre-Dame | 26 November – 27 December 2026 | Square René-Viviani, 5th | Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (RER B/C) |
| Tuileries Garden | Not yet announced — typically mid-November to early January | Jardin des Tuileries, 1st | Tuileries (1) |
| Montmartre | Not yet announced — typically late November to end of December | Place des Abbesses, 18th | Abbesses (12) |
| Alsatian market | Not yet announced — typically early December | Parvis of Gare de l'Est, 10th | Gare de l'Est (4, 5, 7) |
Where a date is still to be announced, the market's official site is the fastest place to check — each one is linked in its section below.
The 5 best Christmas markets in Paris
Five main markets run across the city each year, and they are genuinely different from one another: a funfair, a craft market, a hilltop village, a small-city-sized market and a regional showcase. Between them you will find raclette, crêpes, saucisson and flammekueche, along with pain d'épices, marrons chauds and Alsatian bredele biscuits.
1. Tuileries Garden Christmas Market
Officially La Magie de Noël, the Marché de Noël des Tuileries is the largest and best known Christmas market in central Paris. Around 80 chalets run the length of the garden between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, and it is as much a funfair as a market — a big wheel, rides for younger children, and free weekend shows.
The food chalets are the reason most people stay longer than they planned: tartiflette, raclette scraped to order, mulled wine and Alsatian bredele. It is also the market that stays open latest, which makes it the easiest one to fit in after dinner.
The 1,200m² open-air ice rink is the other draw, and it is usually free to access with skate hire charged separately.
The Tuileries Christmas Market in a nutshell
- What we love: the view over the garden from the top of the Ferris wheel, with the Louvre on one side and the Concorde obelisk on the other.
- Where: Jardin des Tuileries, 1st arrondissement. Metro Tuileries (line 1) or Concorde (1, 8, 12).
- 2026 dates: not yet announced. The market has opened in mid-November and run into the first days of January in recent years.
- Good to know: it is the latest-closing market in the city, and by far the busiest on December weekends — go on a weekday evening if you can.
2. Notre-Dame Christmas Market
Set in Square René-Viviani in the Latin Quarter, directly across the water from the cathedral, this is the most craft-led of the Paris markets. The stallholders are designers, ceramicists, jewellers and regional producers rather than resellers, which makes it the best of the five for finding a gift that is not sold anywhere else.
With the cathedral's main restoration works complete, the setting has gone back to being one of the finest in Paris — the market sits under the plane trees with Notre-Dame lit up behind it.
The Notre-Dame Christmas Market in a nutshell
- What we love: the view of the cathedral from the square, and the small-scale designers you will not find at the bigger markets.
- Where: Square René-Viviani, 5th arrondissement. RER Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (B, C) or metro Cluny–La Sorbonne (10).
- 2026 dates: 26 November – 27 December 2026.
- Good to know: it is compact and can be walked in under an hour, so pair it with Saint-Germain or a walk along the Seine.
- Find out more: on the official Notre-Dame Christmas market website.
3. Montmartre Christmas Market
Montmartre does not have one market so much as several, spread across the hill. Chalets go up on Place des Abbesses as you come out of the metro, the cafés and portrait artists of Place du Tertre carry on as usual, and there are further stalls on the parvis in front of the Sacré-Coeur with the whole city laid out below.
Treat it as a walk rather than a destination. The route from Abbesses up to the Sacré-Coeur takes in most of the stalls, and the decorated side streets between them are the part people remember.
The Montmartre Christmas Market in a nutshell
- What we love: coming up the steps to the Sacré-Coeur parvis at dusk, when the lights come on across Paris.
- Where: Place des Abbesses and around the Sacré-Coeur, 18th arrondissement. Metro Abbesses (12) or Anvers (2).
- 2026 dates: not yet announced. The Abbesses chalets have typically run from late November to the end of December.
- Good to know: take the funicular rather than the steps if you are carrying shopping — it accepts a standard metro ticket.
4. Paris La Défense Christmas Market
The biggest Christmas market in the Paris region by a distance, with several hundred chalets covering the parvis beneath the Grande Arche. The business district turns into an outright Christmas village for seven weeks, and the scale is the point — this is the one to choose if you want to do all your shopping in a single afternoon.
Alongside the stalls there are food chalets, entertainment, light installations and Santa's house. The Atelier des Lutins runs Christmas craft activities for younger children on Wednesdays.
The Paris La Défense Christmas Market in a nutshell
- What we love: the sheer scale of it, and Santa's illuminated house for a photo with younger children.
- Where: Parvis de La Défense, Hauts-de-Seine. Metro line 1 or RER A to La Défense.
- 2026 dates: 12 November – 31 December 2026, with the festive zone at The Summit running on into early January 2027.
- Good to know: it opens earlier in November than any other market in the region, so it is the first chance of the season.
- Find out more: on the official Paris La Défense Christmas market website.
5. Alsatian Christmas Market at Gare de l'Est
The oldest Alsatian Christmas market outside the region itself, held on the parvis of Gare de l'Est — the station the trains to Strasbourg leave from, which is the whole idea. Around a dozen producers and craftspeople come up from Alsace with bredele, pain d'épices, vin chaud, foie gras and hand-made decorations.
It is small and it is only on for a short run, but it is the closest thing to the real article without leaving the city. If you can make the trip, the Strasbourg Christmas market is under two hours away by TGV.
The Alsatian Christmas Market in a nutshell
- What we love: buying bredele from the people who baked them, and the smell of vin chaud hitting you as you come out of the station.
- Where: Parvis of Gare de l'Est, 10th arrondissement. Metro Gare de l'Est (4, 5, 7).
- 2026 dates: not yet announced. This market has typically run for around two weeks in early December.
- Good to know: it is the shortest-running of the five, so check the dates before you build a trip around it.
Other Christmas markets in and near Paris
Beyond the main five, a number of smaller markets appear around the city each December, and a few outside it are worth the trip.
Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro
This is the most searched-for and most misunderstood Christmas market in Paris. There is no permanent market at the foot of the tower itself. A festive village has appeared in the Eiffel–Branly area and around the Trocadéro in some recent years, but it is not an annual fixture and its 2026 status has not been confirmed. If the Eiffel Tower is what you came for, the reliable plan is the illuminations and the view from Trocadéro after dark, with the Tuileries market a short walk along the river.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Les Halles and Hôtel de Ville
Smaller markets have run in each of these locations in recent seasons, generally opening later than the big five — most start in early or mid-December and run to Christmas Eve or just past New Year. Hôtel de Ville is usually paired with an ice rink on the square in front of the town hall, which makes it a good stop with children.
What happened to the Champs-Élysées Christmas market
The large market that used to run the length of the Champs-Élysées no longer takes place; the Tuileries market is effectively its successor and is where most of those visitors now go. The avenue still has its illuminations, which are the best in the city and completely free — walk down from the Arc de Triomphe once it is dark.
The Ressourcerie Créative eco-market
In the 14th arrondissement, Paris's sustainable Christmas market brings together designers working with upcycled and fairly sourced materials — clothing, jewellery and decorations. Worth a detour if you would rather your gifts did not come off a container ship. Dates are announced close to the season.
Where: La Ressourcerie Créative, Paris 14e
The medieval Christmas market at Provins
Under two hours from Paris, the medieval market at Provins is the best day trip of the season: a walled UNESCO town, jugglers, knights, artisans and torch-lit streets. It runs for a single weekend in December, so it needs planning around.
- Where: Place du Châtel, 77160 Provins
- Find out more: on the Provins medieval Christmas market website.
If you are willing to go further, the Strasbourg and Colmar markets in Alsace are the two most celebrated in France, and both are an easy train journey from Paris.
Planning your visit
A few things worth knowing before you go.
- When to go: the first half of December is the sweet spot — everything is open, and it is before the Christmas-week crowds. Weekday evenings are far quieter than weekends at every market.
- Getting around: all five main markets sit on a metro line, and a day pass costs less than two single journeys plus a coffee. La Défense is the only one outside central Paris.
- Paying: most chalets take cards, but the smaller craft stalls and some food chalets are cash-only. Carry a little.
- What to wear: Paris in December is cold and damp rather than freezing, and the markets are all outdoors. Waterproof shoes matter more than a heavy coat.
- Doing it in a day: Tuileries and Notre-Dame are a 25-minute walk apart along the Seine, which is the easiest pairing. Montmartre and La Défense each need their own half-day.
Paris Christmas markets FAQ
Does Paris have Christmas markets?
Yes. Paris has five main Christmas markets, plus a number of smaller ones that come and go each December. The five to plan around are the Tuileries Garden market next to the Louvre, Paris La Défense in the business district, Montmartre around Place des Abbesses and the Sacré-Coeur, Notre-Dame in the Latin Quarter, and the Alsatian market outside Gare de l'Est.
What are the dates of the Paris Christmas markets in 2026?
La Défense runs from 12 November to 31 December 2026, and Notre-Dame from 26 November to 27 December 2026. The Tuileries, Montmartre and Gare de l'Est markets have not confirmed their 2026 dates yet — they are usually announced during September and October. As a guide, the Tuileries market normally opens in mid-November and runs into early January, Montmartre from late November to the end of December, and the Alsatian market for around two weeks in early December.
What are the opening hours of the Paris Christmas markets?
Most Paris Christmas markets open from around 10am or 11am until 8pm, with longer hours at the two biggest: La Défense usually runs until 9pm or 10pm depending on the day, and the Tuileries market stays open latest of all, close to midnight. Hours are shortened on 24 and 31 December. Confirm on the market's own site before a late visit.
Which is the best Christmas market in Paris?
The Tuileries Garden market is the one most people mean by the best — it is the biggest in central Paris, it has the ice rink and the funfair, and the setting between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde is hard to beat. For craft and gift shopping specifically, Notre-Dame is better. For sheer choice, La Défense has several times as many chalets as anywhere else.
Which Christmas market in Paris has an ice rink?
The Tuileries Garden market has the largest, a 1,200m² open-air rink in the middle of the garden. An ice rink has also run in front of the Hôtel de Ville in recent seasons. Access to the Tuileries rink is generally free with a charge for skate hire.
Is there a Christmas market at the Eiffel Tower?
Not as a permanent annual fixture. A festive village has run in the Eiffel–Branly and Trocadéro area in some years, but it is not confirmed every season and there is no market at the foot of the tower itself. The Tuileries market is the closest large market to the Eiffel Tower and is walkable along the Seine.
When do the Christmas illuminations start in Paris?
The Champs-Élysées lights, Place Vendôme and the 150-plus streets lit by the city generally switch on from mid-November, ahead of the markets getting fully under way. Exact dates are announced by the Paris city authorities each autumn.
Is Paris worth visiting at Christmas?
December is one of the better months to see Paris. The city is lit throughout, the museums are quieter than in summer, hotel rates outside Christmas week itself are lower, and the markets give the centre an atmosphere it does not have the rest of the year. The weather is cold and often grey, so plan around indoor stops between markets.
Are there Christmas markets near Paris?
Yes. The medieval market at Provins is under two hours away and the most distinctive of them. Further afield, Alsace has the two best-known markets in France, at Strasbourg and Colmar, both reachable from Paris by direct train.
Give Christmas in Paris as a gift
A trip to the Paris Christmas markets is a better present than anything sold at them. If you would rather let someone choose their own dates — and dodge the problem of buying a stranger's taste in ceramics — an Experiencegift card is redeemable against experiences worldwide, with no expiry date to work around.
Not sure what they would pick? Browse what's available for an idea of the range, or read our guides to Christmas in London and the Cologne Christmas markets if Paris is not the only city on the list.