Paris Christmas Markets 2026: Dates and How to Fit Them into 3 Days

The Paris Christmas markets 2026 season is taking shape, but not every market has published its dates yet. As of mid October, the big one at La Défense and the smaller artisan market beside Notre-Dame have confirmed dates, the famous Tuileries market had not been officially confirmed, and the Champs-Élysées is set to get a market again for the first time in about ten years. This guide separates what is confirmed from what is not, explains which market suits which kind of visit, and shows how to fit them into three days in Paris without spending the whole trip queueing for mulled wine.

Photo: Thomon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Paris Christmas markets 2026: what is confirmed so far

Confirmed by the organiser or the City of Paris

• Paris La Défense Christmas market: Thursday 12 November to Thursday 31 December 2026 on the Parvis de La Défense. The festive area called Le Sommet stays open until Sunday 3 January 2027. Hours are 11 am to 9 pm Monday to Thursday, 11 am to 11 pm on Friday, 10 am to 11 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 9.30 pm on Sunday. On 24 and 31 December it closes at 6 pm, and on Christmas Day it opens from 3 pm to 11 pm. Free entry.
• Notre-Dame Christmas market (Square René-Viviani): Thursday 26 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. Open 10 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday and 10 am to 8 pm on other days. About 40 French makers and food producers. Free entry.

Announced, details still to come

• Champs-Élysées: the City of Paris opened a call for a full Christmas market on the lower part of the avenue from 22 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, and French press reported in the autumn that an operator had been chosen. Opening hours and the final layout were not published when we checked.
• Galeries Lafayette Haussmann: the Christmas windows and the tree under the dome are due to be unveiled on 12 November 2026, according to Paris press, with a design by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Paris press also reported that the rooftop ice rink returns from 24 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It is a department store, not a market, but many visitors combine it with a market evening.

Not officially confirmed yet

• Tuileries Garden (La Magie de Noël): the City of Paris had not published 2026 dates when we checked, and dates reported in the press did not agree, with opening dates from early to mid November. For reference, the 2025 edition ran from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, every day from 11 am to 11.45 pm.
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Abbesses (Montmartre), Gare de l'Est and Hôtel de Ville: these smaller markets usually return each winter, but none had confirmed 2026 dates when we checked. Most ran from late November or early December into late December or early January last year. The Alsatian market at Gare de l'Est was much shorter, about two weeks in early December.

If your trip is fixed, focus on the confirmed markets and treat the others as a bonus. If you can still choose your dates, the first three weeks of December give you the best chance of catching almost everything open at once.

Which Paris Christmas market suits you?

The markets are very different, and the biggest is not always the best fit.

La Défense: for size and a proper market feel. This is the largest Christmas market in the Paris region, with around 300 chalets spread across the business district's main plaza, under the glass towers and the Grande Arche. There is plenty of food, regional products and gifts. It feels more like a classic market than a fair. The downside is the setting, which is modern and windy rather than old Paris. It is easy to reach on Metro line 1 or RER A to La Défense.

Notre-Dame: for crafts and the view. Small, calm and focused on French makers, with ceramics, jewellery, knitwear, wooden toys and regional food. It sits in a garden across the river from the cathedral, so you get one of the best views of Notre-Dame in the process. Go in daylight to see the stalls, then come back past the cathedral after dark. Nearest stations are Saint-Michel and Cité.

Tuileries: for rides and a festive night out. If it opens on its usual pattern, expect around 80 chalets, a Ferris wheel, an ice rink and fairground rides between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. It is fun with children or with friends in the evening, but it is more fair than craft market, and food prices are high.

The neighbourhood markets: for something local. Abbesses in Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés are small and easy to combine with a walk around the area. They are not worth crossing the city for on their own, but they are pleasant stops when you are nearby.

How to fit the markets into three days in Paris

This plan assumes a trip in the first half of December, when the confirmed markets overlap. It mixes markets with the sights most first-time visitors want, so you are not doing Christmas shopping for three days straight. It builds on our 3 days in Paris itinerary, which has the full stop-by-stop version.

Day 1: the islands and the Left Bank

Start at Notre-Dame in the morning, then walk across to Square René-Viviani for the market once it opens at 10 am. Spend the late morning in the Latin Quarter, then cross to Sainte-Chapelle (book a time slot ahead). In the afternoon, walk along the river to Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and if its market is running, stop there before an early dinner. Sunset in December is around 5 pm, so plan your walk along the Seine for the afternoon.

Day 2: the Louvre, Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées

Spend the morning in the Louvre, with a timed ticket booked in advance. Afterwards, walk west through the Tuileries Garden. If the Christmas market is open, this is the time to see it, as the lights come on in late afternoon. Keep walking to Place de la Concorde and onto the Champs-Élysées for the lights along the avenue and, if it opens as planned, the new market at the lower end. Finish with dinner around the Madeleine or Saint-Honoré.

Day 3: department stores and La Défense

Go to Boulevard Haussmann in the morning to see the windows at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps before the afternoon crowds. The terrace on top of Galeries Lafayette has a free view across the rooftops. In the afternoon, take Metro line 1 west to La Défense. Arrive around 4 pm, walk the market as it gets dark, and stay for dinner from the stalls. Line 1 takes you straight back to the centre.

Photo: ErasmusOfParis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Practical tips for Christmas in Paris

• Go on weekdays if you can. Every market is much busier on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Weekday mornings at Notre-Dame and weekday afternoons at La Défense are the calmest.
• Bring a card and some cash. Most stalls take cards, but a few small producers prefer cash for small amounts.
• Expect reusable cups. Many markets serve hot drinks in cups that carry a small deposit. You get it back when you return the cup, or you can keep it as a souvenir.
• Watch your bag. Crowded markets and busy metro lines attract pickpockets. Use a bag that zips and keep your phone in a front pocket.
• Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Some markets close early on 24 and 31 December, and parts of the Champs-Élysées close to traffic on New Year's Eve. Check the day you plan to visit.
• Dress for damp cold. Paris winters are rarely icy, but grey, damp days feel colder than the thermometer suggests, especially at an open-air market after dark.

Combining Paris with London

Many visitors pair Paris with London, which is just over two hours away on the Eurostar. London's Christmas season starts even earlier, with some markets open from the end of October. Our guide to London Christmas markets 2026 has the confirmed dates there, and the 4 days in London itinerary is easy to put before or after these three days. If you plan both cities in one RoamerPlanner trip, you can keep the train times, hotels and market evenings on a single timeline.

FAQ

When do the Paris Christmas markets open in 2026? La Défense opens on 12 November and Notre-Dame on 26 November 2026. The Champs-Élysées market is planned from 22 November. The Tuileries market had not officially confirmed its 2026 dates when we checked.

What is the biggest Christmas market in Paris? The market at Paris La Défense, with around 300 chalets. It runs until 31 December 2026, with its festive area open until 3 January 2027.

Are Paris Christmas markets free? Entry to the markets is free. You pay for food, drinks, gifts and, at Tuileries, rides and the ice rink.

Are the markets open on Christmas Day? La Défense opens from 3 pm to 11 pm on 25 December 2026. The Notre-Dame market is open until 27 December, but check its Christmas Day hours closer to the time.

Sources: xmasparisladefense.com (La Défense dates and hours); paris.fr event listing (Notre-Dame market dates and hours); paris.fr call for interest (Champs-Élysées market, 22 November 2026 to 4 January 2027); France 3 Paris Île-de-France (Champs-Élysées operator); Sortiraparis (Galeries Lafayette windows and rooftop rink); paris.fr and press listings for the 2025 Tuileries and neighbourhood market dates. Checked 20 October 2026. Dates and hours can change, so check each organiser's site before you go.

Cover photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0