Last updated: 8 October 2026. Dates and hours come from the official market sites of Strasbourg, Colmar and the City of Paris, and from the organizers' own pages.
Strasbourg's Christmas market opens on Friday 27 November 2026 across eight sites in the old town, and Colmar's six markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026. In Paris, the Notre-Dame market runs from 26 November to 27 December 2026 and La Défense from 12 November to 31 December 2026. Colmar is about half an hour from Strasbourg by regional train, so one trip can easily cover both.
2026 dates at a glance
| Market | 2026 dates | Daily hours | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strasbourg (8 sites) | From Fri 27 November | 11:30 am to 9 pm; opens 2 pm on opening day; closes 6 pm on 24 December | Opening confirmed; closing date not yet printed for 2026 |
| Colmar (6 markets) | Mon 23 November to Tue 29 December | Mon to Thu 11 am to 7 pm; Fri to Sun 10 am to 8 pm; 24 December 11 am to 5 pm | Confirmed |
| Paris, Notre-Dame (Square René Viviani) | Thu 26 November to Sun 27 December | Fri and Sat 10 am to 9 pm; Sun to Thu 10 am to 8 pm | Confirmed |
| Paris, La Défense | Thu 12 November to Thu 31 December | Mon to Thu 11 am to 9 pm; Fri 11 am to 11 pm; Sat 10 am to 11 pm; Sun 11 am to 9:30 pm | Confirmed |
Strasbourg: the "Capitale de Noël"
The City of Strasbourg says its Christmas market opens on Friday 27 November 2026 (noel.strasbourg.eu). The official FAQ gives stall hours of 11:30 am to 9 pm every day, with a 2 pm start on opening day and a 6 pm close on 24 December so stallholders can celebrate Christmas Eve (official FAQ). The city had not printed a 2026 closing date by 8 October 2026; for reference, the 2025 edition ran from 26 November to 24 December 2025, according to the same site.
The city lists eight markets in the historic center (Les marchés):
- Christkindelsmärik, Place Broglie
- Au pied du Grand Sapin, Place Kléber, beside the big Christmas tree
- Autour de la Cathédrale, Places de la Cathédrale and du Château
- La Petite France, Places Benjamin Zix and Saint Thomas
- Le marché du Carré d'Or, Place du Temple Neuf
- Le Quai des Délices, Terrasse Rohan and Place du Marché aux Poissons
- Les Irréductibles Petits Producteurs d'Alsace, Square Louise Weiss
- Le marché OFF, Place Grimmeissen, a fair trade and local market built from shipping containers
Getting around. According to the official FAQ, motor traffic is banned on the Grande Île (the island that holds the old town) during market hours, and access controls are set up at the bridge entrances. The city's park and ride car parks (P+R) cost 4.20 euros per day with a return tram ticket included for everyone in the car. The first stalls are about a 10 minute walk from Strasbourg station, and info chalets stand on Place de la Gare and Place Kléber (official FAQ).
When to go. The city's own advice is to come on Mondays, Tuesdays or in the morning, and it says crowds are traditionally heaviest on Wednesday afternoons, Friday evenings and all weekend (official FAQ). Its crowd table, based on past years, rates every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday slot as "low", Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings as "medium", and Saturday afternoons and evenings and Sundays until 6 pm as "high" (best time to visit).
Colmar: our local tip
Our founder grew up in Colmar, so here is our honest tip: if Strasbourg feels too big, spend a day in Colmar. It is a smaller town, its markets sit a few minutes' walk from each other in the pedestrian old town, and it is calmer than Strasbourg, especially on weekdays. It is not empty: Colmar's weekends are busy too, so the same rule applies, go early or go midweek. The tourist office publishes a day by day crowd forecast for the Colmar area markets (prévisions de fréquentation).
The official dates are 23 November to 29 December 2026 (Colmar Christmas markets, opening hours):
- Monday to Thursday: 11 am to 7 pm
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 8 pm
- Thursday 24 December: 11 am to 5 pm
- Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December: 10 am to 8 pm
The tourist office lists six markets for 2026 (Les 6 marchés de Noël):
- Place des Dominicains, about sixty chalets under the 14th century Dominican church and its lit stained glass
- Place de l'Ancienne Douane, about fifty chalets around the Schwendi fountain, beside the Koïfhus
- The indoor Koïfhus market, local craftspeople inside the medieval customs house
- Place Jeanne d'Arc, regional food and drink in a small village setting
- Petite Venise (Place des Six Montagnes Noires), the children's market
- The marché gourmand, rue de la Montagne Verte, nine cabins run by chefs; it and the Ferris wheel stay open until 3 January 2027, every day 11 am to 10 pm, closing at 5 pm on 31 December
Getting around. From 23 November to 29 December 2026, Colmar's center is closed to all vehicles during market hours. A park and ride at the Parc des Expositions (3 euros per day, free bus to the center) opens only on 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December 2026, and public transport in the Colmar area is free on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December (practical information).
Villages around Colmar. The "Navettes de Noël" buses leave Colmar station for Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim, Turckheim, Munster and Neuf-Brisach from 27 November to 20 December 2026. Tickets are sold online only, from Thursday 12 November 2026 at 12:00 CET, in limited numbers per day; children under 12 ride free but still need a ticket (Navettes de Noël).
Strasbourg to Colmar by train
Regional TER Grand Est trains run between Strasbourg and Colmar all day. SNCF Connect's route page gives an average journey of about 31 minutes, with the fastest trains taking about 26 minutes (SNCF Connect, Strasbourg to Colmar). Check the exact timetable for your date before you travel.
Paris: markets with published 2026 dates
- Notre-Dame, Square René Viviani (5th arrondissement), across the river from the cathedral: Thursday 26 November to Sunday 27 December 2026, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 9 pm, other days 10 am to 8 pm, free entry, about 40 French makers (paris.fr, updated 22 September 2026).
- La Défense, the business district just west of Paris: Thursday 12 November to Thursday 31 December 2026, with the festive zone "Le Sommet" open until 3 January 2027, and about 300 chalets. Special hours: 24 and 31 December 11 am to 6 pm, 25 December 3 pm to 11 pm (organizer's site).
Other well known Paris markets, including Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the market near the Eiffel Tower, had no officially published 2026 dates on 8 October 2026, so we have left them out.
Getting there
- From Paris by TGV. TGV INOUI trains from Paris Est reach Strasbourg in about 1 hour 46 minutes on the fastest services, and the fastest Paris to Colmar journeys take about 2 hours 20 minutes, according to SNCF Connect.
- Strasbourg Airport (SXB). A train shuttle links the airport to Strasbourg station in 9 minutes, up to four times an hour (Visit Strasbourg).
- EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL/MLH), for Colmar. Bus line 11 runs from the French side of the terminal to Saint-Louis station every 15 to 30 minutes from 5 am to midnight, a ride of about 10 to 15 minutes, and Saint-Louis has direct trains to Mulhouse, Colmar, Sélestat and Strasbourg every 30 minutes (EuroAirport).
- Flying into Paris. See our arrival guides for Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly.
Staying connected
Most of what you need on a market day lives on your phone: train tickets in the SNCF Connect app, the official Strasbourg events agenda in the city's StrasApp app, the live P+R availability map, Colmar's crowd forecast, and the Navettes de Noël tickets, which are sold online only. Packed squares on a December weekend can slow mobile data for everyone, so download your tickets and the official market maps before you arrive, and agree on a fixed meeting point (the big tree on Place Kléber, or the Koïfhus in Colmar) in case your group gets separated. A Europe eSIM covers France, so your data works as soon as you land; it is data only, with no phone number, so check its country list if you plan a side trip across the border. See our guide to an eSIM for Europe and check whether your phone supports eSIM before you go.
Compare our France eSIM plans, or a Europe plan if you cross the border.
Crossing the Rhine? See the best Christmas markets in Germany, or see them from the water on a Christmas market river cruise.
FAQ
When does the Strasbourg Christmas market open in 2026?
It opens on Friday 27 November 2026, at 2 pm on opening day, according to the City of Strasbourg. After that, stalls open daily from 11:30 am to 9 pm and close at 6 pm on 24 December.
What are the Colmar Christmas market dates for 2026?
Colmar's six markets run from 23 November to 29 December 2026, Monday to Thursday 11 am to 7 pm and Friday to Sunday 10 am to 8 pm. On 24 December they close at 5 pm, and they are open on 25 and 26 December from 10 am to 8 pm.
Is Colmar less crowded than Strasbourg at Christmas?
Colmar is a smaller town and usually calmer than Strasbourg, especially on weekdays, but its weekends are busy too. Go on a weekday or early in the day, and check the tourist office's crowd forecast before you go.
How long is the train from Strasbourg to Colmar?
About half an hour on a TER Grand Est regional train, with the fastest trains taking around 26 minutes, according to SNCF Connect. Trains run throughout the day.
Are Paris Christmas market dates for 2026 out?
Some are. The Notre-Dame market runs from 26 November to 27 December 2026 and La Défense from 12 November to 31 December 2026; Saint-Germain-des-Prés had not published 2026 dates by 8 October 2026.
Can I drive into central Strasbourg or Colmar during the markets?
No. Strasbourg bans motor traffic on the Grande Île during market hours, and Colmar closes its center to all vehicles from 23 November to 29 December 2026; both cities point drivers to park and ride car parks.
Facts checked on 8 October 2026 against noel.strasbourg.eu, noel-colmar.com, paris.fr, xmasparisladefense.com, visitstrasbourg.fr, euroairport.com and SNCF Connect. Strasbourg had not yet printed its 2026 closing date, and hours can change: check the official sites the week you travel.